How to Mix Deep Cycle Batteries With Regular Batteries for Solar Energy
Two types of batteries are used in home solar collection units: standard and deep cycle. Either type works for storage as long as the charge controller is set for the right voltage. Besides creating a mismatch in voltage, however, mixing battery types in a single solar bank will shorten the life of both types of battery and could damage your inverter. The best option is to set up two parallel battery banks with their own charge converters and inverters. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 12-volt standard batteries
- 12-volt deep cycle batteries
- 2 solar charge converters
- 2 solar inverters
- 10-gauge wire battery cables (one less than the number of batteries in a bank)
Instructions
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Separate your batteries into two individual banks. One bank should be all standards and the other all deep cycle.
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Connect the batteries of the first bank in parallel with 10-gauge battery cables. Run a cable from the positive terminal of the first bank to the positive terminal of the second battery. Continue this process for each battery. Once the positive terminals are connected move to the negative terminals and connect them in the same fashion. Follow these steps to connect the second bank as well. Do not connect these two banks to each other.
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Attach one charge controller to one end of the standard bank and match the voltage output of the charge controller with the voltage of the batteries in the bank. Follow the same process for the deep-cycle battery bank.
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Connect one power inverter to the opposite end of the deep-cycle battery bank. This inverter can either be run directly into your 120-volt fuse box or attached to successive individual appliances. Follow the same procedure for the standard battery bank. Having two separate banks allows you to have a constant flow of power from the deep-cycle batteries and added power when you need to run several high drain appliances (air conditioners, microwave) at once from the standard bank.
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