1. What is Solar Battery Runtime?

Solar battery runtime refers to how long a battery can power a solar system before needing recharging. It's crucial for designing reliable off-grid solar systems and backup power solutions.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the runtime formula:

Where:

• Battery Capacity — The total amp-hour rating of the battery
• Voltage — The nominal voltage of the battery system
• Solar Load — The total wattage being drawn by the solar system

Explanation: The formula calculates how many hours a battery can sustain a given load by converting amp-hours to watt-hours and dividing by the load in watts.

3. Importance of Runtime Calculation

Details: Accurate runtime estimation helps in sizing battery banks appropriately, ensuring uninterrupted power supply, and optimizing solar system performance.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter battery capacity in amp-hours (Ah), system voltage in volts (V), and solar load in watts (W). All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Does this account for battery efficiency?
A: No, this is theoretical runtime. Actual runtime may be 10-20% less due to battery inefficiency and other factors.

Q2: What's a good runtime for solar systems?
A: Typically 1-3 days of autonomy is recommended for off-grid systems, depending on location and criticality.

Q3: Should I use total or usable battery capacity?
A: For lead-acid batteries, use only 50% of total capacity to avoid deep discharge. For lithium, 80-90% can be used.

Q4: How does temperature affect runtime?
A: Cold temperatures reduce battery capacity significantly (up to 50% at freezing temps for lead-acid).

Q5: Can I use this for battery banks?
A: Yes, use total capacity of all batteries in parallel and system voltage (12V, 24V, 48V etc.).