Whether you have had solar panels on your Erie, CO home for years or are only just deciding to get some, there comes a time when you are faced with the question of how you should go about achieving more energy usage from your solar panels. You can either decide to get more panels added to your roof or you can instead choose to purchase a solar battery to use instead. Each of these has their own set of benefits and downsides, each of which will be broken down in this article.

Getting a Battery

If you decide that you want to go the route of getting a battery, then there are a few things that you should know. One of which is that they actually do not produce exactly what they absorb. Unfortunately the amount of energy that is gathered by your panels is slightly lowered due to the small portion of energy that is lost during the transfer into the battery, storage, and eventual return back to the house’s electrical system for use. However this does not mean that they are not still good at gathering up solar power and saving it for later, because they definitely are.

Speaking of saving it for later, one of the huge advantages of having a battery is that they enable your house to operate even during a power outage. Having this peace of mind is the main reason that most people decide to get a battery, because otherwise you are reliant on the power grid and when the power goes out in your neighbourhood you will be affected just like everyone else, even if you have panels on your roof.

If a battery is starting to sound like it might be what you are after, then you should be aware of the pricing and quality options available to you. Generally speaking, you can either get a lead acid battery or a lithium based battery to handle your solar needs. Lead acid batteries are cheaper by far, but they are also much bigger in size and weight and require replacement every couple of years. Whereas if you go with the lithium batteries they are often smaller, lighter, and long lasting, but also much more costly.

Adding More Panels

There are certain situations where getting more panels put on your roof might actually be the better decision for you. This is usually the case when you live in an area where the electric company gives you full credit for the amount of excess energy that your panels send back to the grid. This can result in you getting even more savings, and as long as you do not mind being vulnerable to blackouts, it can be a good decision.