18/01/2022
GEL OR LITHIUM BATTERY?
Many People Ask:
Which Battery Type Should I Use Between Gel Or Lithium On My Solar System?
Although, they both store energy and then converts it to electricity to power up appliances, the material that make up Gel and Lithium batteries are different hence this affects how they work. Here are the key differences between Gel and Lithium batteries:
Cycle Life (Lifespan)
When you discharge a battery (use up its power on your appliances), then charge it back up, that is known as a one charge cycle. The lifespan of batteries is measured by how many cycles they can have before they expire (as opposed to absolute years). This means the same battery can last for 2 years or 10 years in different environments depending on how it is used. Lithium batteries have a higher cycle life than gel batteries, therefore they generally last longer.
Depth Of Discharge
Discharge depth refers to percentage of the capacity which has been used from a fully charged battery before the battery requires recharging. Gel batteries have on average a lower depth of discharge, i.e., 50% on average, using it beyond that point risks affecting the battery lifespan. On the other hand, Lithium batteries can have deep discharges of over 80%, meaning they have higher usable capacity than Gel Batteries.
Efficiency & Capacity
Lithium Batteries charge at a faster rate than Gel Batteries and they channel most of the power they store to appliances as compared to Gel batteries. When a battery has been fully charged, only about 80% of the power maybe available for use on a Gel Battery while a Lithium battery can provide more than 95% of its power. In addition, Lithium batteries have a higher energy density than Gel Batteries meaning they fit more storage capacity into less space. For example, it may take 4 Gel Batteries to provide the same power that a single lithium battery provides for the same number of hours. Meaning that Lithium batteries are more efficient and have higher storage capacity than Gel Batteries.
So, Which One Should I Use For My Solar Installation?
From the above, it’s clear that Lithium Batteries are much better than Gel Batteries, however this comes at a cost. Lithium batteries are pricier compared to Gel Batteries but it’s important to note that they are worth every cent. If you are working on a small budget or using very few appliances on your solar system like just lights and a TV, Gel Batteries will work well for you but if you want to use on many appliances, you definitely need to go for a Lithium Battery. Whilst Gel Batteries can do the work on any system size, you will soon find out that you will need to replace them earlier than Lithium Batteries, hence in the long term the cost for Gel Batteries may creep up to be more than the cost of Lithium Batteries, the difference being that you will not pay it all at once.
