So as I continue to dig I've come up on a few more questions in regard to "what type of battery would be best for my intended use case?"...
As a reminder my use case is "I want to be able to have a small amount of power if the grid went totally south..."
I define the use case above as follows:
1) Solar setup is just sitting in pieces in the storage locker until it is needed.
2) The battery must be maintained while in the storage locker so it is still in good condition when it is needed.
3) The battery must be maintained when it is being used.
Question #1 - this question is in regard to item #2 above. I want to use the battery type that will require the least amount of maintenance, both while in storage as well as in use. I have decided that this will be one of the following:
1) U.S.Battery 12volt FLA
2) U.S.Battery 12volt AGM
The thing that I'm concerned about is getting distilled water when there is no power in the case of the FLA.. I have read that the distilled water that you get at the grocery store is actually distilled by some chemical process and still has impurities in it which can damage the battery. So, I am unsure how/where to get "truly" distilled water for my battery needs. I believe that in the case of an AGM battery it is closed and so this is not a problem but they obviously cost more. Both require you to keep them charged correctly so they don't get build up on the plates or rolls in the rolls in the case of the AGM.
Is the above correct? or do you have any comments on the FLA battery and the maintenance of it when there is no AC power available (and all that means..)?
Question #2 - I'm going to go with a turnkey folding panel setup which includes the solar charger as part of the unit. That means I only need to purchase the AC tending, floating, maintenance (whatever you want to call it) charger for the battery while it is in the storage unit. Can you point out a few recommendations for this? I've seen them all over the map and they mix the terminology such that it is very unclear what it is I'm looking for exactly.. Also, would the same type of charge unit work for either the AGM or FLA battery?
So, bottom line to the two questions are 1) what type of battery: AGM or FLA & 2) what type of charger for either while in storage
thanks again for your help,
david
As a reminder my use case is "I want to be able to have a small amount of power if the grid went totally south..."
I define the use case above as follows:
1) Solar setup is just sitting in pieces in the storage locker until it is needed.
2) The battery must be maintained while in the storage locker so it is still in good condition when it is needed.
3) The battery must be maintained when it is being used.
Question #1 - this question is in regard to item #2 above. I want to use the battery type that will require the least amount of maintenance, both while in storage as well as in use. I have decided that this will be one of the following:
1) U.S.Battery 12volt FLA
2) U.S.Battery 12volt AGM
The thing that I'm concerned about is getting distilled water when there is no power in the case of the FLA.. I have read that the distilled water that you get at the grocery store is actually distilled by some chemical process and still has impurities in it which can damage the battery. So, I am unsure how/where to get "truly" distilled water for my battery needs. I believe that in the case of an AGM battery it is closed and so this is not a problem but they obviously cost more. Both require you to keep them charged correctly so they don't get build up on the plates or rolls in the rolls in the case of the AGM.
Is the above correct? or do you have any comments on the FLA battery and the maintenance of it when there is no AC power available (and all that means..)?
Question #2 - I'm going to go with a turnkey folding panel setup which includes the solar charger as part of the unit. That means I only need to purchase the AC tending, floating, maintenance (whatever you want to call it) charger for the battery while it is in the storage unit. Can you point out a few recommendations for this? I've seen them all over the map and they mix the terminology such that it is very unclear what it is I'm looking for exactly.. Also, would the same type of charge unit work for either the AGM or FLA battery?
So, bottom line to the two questions are 1) what type of battery: AGM or FLA & 2) what type of charger for either while in storage
thanks again for your help,
david
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