A common mistake people make when looking for an inverter battery is that they only consider the price of the battery and focus less on other important factors such as the type of battery, its longevity, after sales service from the manufacturer and more. If you too are planning to buy an inverter battery and are unsure of how to buy one then here are a few steps to help you choose the best inverter battery for home. Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Step 1 – Determine the Required Battery Capacity
The amount of charge that a battery can hold is measured in terms of its battery capacity. Those who live in areas where power cuts are common, and of comparatively longer duration, would require a battery with a higher battery capacity. Reputable brands like Luminous India offer batteries with capacities that lie in the following three ranges.
- Below 150 Ah
- 150-180 Ah
- Above 180 Ah
The formula for calculating battery capacity
Battery capacity =(power requirements *backup-time*aging factor)/ (battery voltage*battery efficiency*inverter efficiency)
The following values are fixed.
Aging factor=1.25
Battery efficiency=0.8
Inverter efficiency=0.8
For lead acid battery, battery voltage = 12 V
Now let’s say you want to find out the right battery capacity for your home. Also, let us assume that you would require the following appliances during a powercut.
| Appliance / Electronics | Power required per appliance / electronics | No of Appliance / Electronics | Total Power Requirement per appliance / electronics type |
| Led light | 7 Watts | 8 | 56 Watts |
| Tube light | 40 Watts | 3 | 120 Watts |
| Fan | 70 Watts | 3 | 210 Watts |
| LED television | 70 Watts | 1 | 70 Watts |
| Refrigerator | 140 Watts | 1 | 140 Watts |
| Total Power Requirement | 596 Watts |
Let’s say required backup = 2 hrs
Battery Capacity=(596*2*1.25) / (12*0.8*0.8)= 194
Remember – Your battery’s performance would degrade with time, and therefore, you should buy an inverter battery with a capacity higher than you actually require. For example, in the above case it would be advisable to go with a battery capacity of 200 Ah.
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Step 2 – Choose the Right Battery Technology
Inverter batteries can be categorized into 3 main types – Flat Plate, Tubular and Gel Batteries.
Flat Plate Batteries
Flat plate batteries are a type of lead acid battery and they consist of two flat plates – a positive and a negative. Flat plate batteries charge at a faster rate but they can hold very little charge. That’s why flat plate batteries are best suited for areas that experience rare power cuts. Another advantage of flat plate batteries is that they are very economical.
Tubular Batteries
Just like flat plate batteries, tubular batteries too are a type of lead-acid battery. However, unlike flat plate batteries, tubular batteries can also be used for areas with longer power cuts. Also, tubular batteries come with a much higher life expectancies and longer warranty periods as compared to flat plate batteries. And last but not the least, tubular batteries are easy to maintain and require very little maintenance. The only limitation with tubular batteries is that they occupy more space and are comparatively more expensive.
Gel Batteries
Though Gel batteries are far more expensive than flat and tubular plate batteries, they have a much better performance. They have a long battery life and the best part is that their performance doesn’t degrade with time. Also, you don’t have to worry about their maintenance as GEL batteries do not require any water top up. And last but most important, GEL batteries are environment friendly and they emit minimal amount of gases when compared to other battery types.
3. Check the Warranty and After Sales Support
If you want peace of mind and don’t want to replace your battery after every few years then make sure you buy a battery from a reputable brand that not only offers quality products with a higher life span but also offers excellent after sales support. To find out about the after sales service of a battery of any brand, you can google their reviews. We suggest that you buy from a trustworthy brand like Luminous India that has an excellent track record of offering great after sales support to its customers.
Want to buy the best inverter battery for home?
If you want to buy the best inverter battery for home and are unsure of what brand you should buy from, it is advisable that you go with one of the market leaders, Luminous India. They are one of the most trusted brands in the country with more than 11 million families in the country having shown their trust in them. So, what are you waiting for? Look no further and check out the wide range of inverters and batteries Luminous India has to offer.
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