Imagining a life without electricity is impossible in today’s generation. This is why inverters and power backup solutions have become a common sight in every household. They provide emergency backup in times of a power cut and make sure that we are connected to the world always. However, when it comes to buying the best inverter batteries, a lot of users end up making the wrong decision due to the lack of information about how to select the one best suited for their needs.
What Is An Inverter Battery?
While an inverter converts DC power into AC and vice-versa, it’s the battery that makes the backbone of any inverter. Inverter batteries mainly store a small amount of current which is used to power up appliances when there is a power cut. In a lot of places, power supplied from the main grid can be unpredictable and there’ll be days with no power cuts and there’ll be days when the grid can’t supply power at all. Inverter batteries come in really handy in these places.
Types Of Inverter Battery
The advancement in technology has given rise to multiple types of inverter batteries each having a different working procedure and purpose. Let’s have a look at different types of inverter batteries:
Gel Battery
Gel batteries are some of the most commonly used battery types and are similar to the traditional lead-acid batteries. They also have silica added inside of them and since they are built sturdy, require less maintenance as well. These batteries are sealed, environmental-friendly, valve-controlled and completely safe as well.
Flat Plate Inverter Battery
As the name might suggest, flat-plate batteries are flat shaped and are made up of positive and negative plates, just like any other lead-acid battery. It consists of two components: reactive chemicals that generate electricity within the battery and the structure which is responsible for electricity transmission on the plates.
Tubular Plate Inverter Battery
In a tubular plate battery, the positive plate is shaped tubular while the negative plates are flat. They are similar to any lead-acid battery and the tubular shape keeps the responsive portion in place for the entire battery lifespan.
How To Buy The Best Inverter Battery?
Buying an inverter battery can be a daunting task as it is responsible for lighting up your home in case of emergencies and power cuts. Hence, you would be looking for a reliable battery that can provide significant backup and doesn’t require too much maintenance as well.
Understand Your Power Requirement
There is a difference between a generator and an inverter. A generator can power up the entire home granted it is provided with sufficient fuel. An inverter on the other hand has a set power rating beyond which it would get discharged and won’t power up anything.
Thus it is important to understand your power requirement and how many lights, fans, and other appliances you want to use on inverter power. Calculating the total power rating will give you an idea about the total power your battery needs to supply.
How Long Do You Need The Backup
Ampere hours is used to specify the battery capacity. Battery capacity is the measure of the battery’s performance and how long can it power up your equipment and your home. Batteries come in varied capacity ranges and it is important to analyze how many hours you want the inverter to run in order to get a suitable one. It also depends on the appliances you are powering up.
Battery Type
Every battery type has its pros and cons. While Gel batteries are easily available and commonly used, it has a relatively small lifespan and needs frequent maintenance and water top-ups to be done. While a tubular battery demands very little maintenance and is suitable for places where power cuts are short but happen frequently.
Frequency Of Power Cuts
This is also an important factor while choosing which inverter battery to buy. A battery with high capacity provides a longer backup but also needs to be charged quickly so that it is ready to be used again. Hence, if you live in a place where there are frequent power cuts, going with a tubular battery makes more sense as these batteries can charge much quicker than traditional batteries. Similarly, flat plate batteries take a long time to charge but provide higher backup as well and are suitable for places with prolonged power cuts.
Other Important Factors
Apart from the above factors, you should consider the warranty provided with the inverter, the brand, and your budget as well. After all, you wouldn’t want to buy an inverter that needs to be maintained every now and then or gets damaged after just a couple of years.
Takeaway
There are a lot of options to choose from when it comes to buying the best inverter battery. With the help of this guide, you can shortlist the best batteries that fulfil your requirements and make an informed purchase decision.
