In another article about calculating the time a 12 volt battery run a refrigerator, we know that there are two kinds of refrigerators which is residential refrigerator rated at 110-220V or the RV fridge rated at 12V for camping. What about the situation when the battery is 100ah? Suppose both the residential and RV refrigerators in the following examples are mid-sized energy star certified refrigerators and the load factor is 80%. The residential refrigerator has an initial spike of 720 watts and consumes 240 watts regularly, and the RV fridge is rated at 250W for running and 750 watts for the spike starting. As a result, the inverter capacity should be at least 1500 watts for the two refrigerators, three times the refrigerator’s starting power. For  the lithium ion battery case, 80% DOD is applied. 110-220V residential refrigeratorThe required battery rating is supposed to be 1500/100/80%=18.75 volt at least. Considering the battery voltage can be 24V or 48V for common cases, the lithium ion battery can be 48V for longer time, in which case the battery power (Wh)= battery capacity (AH) X battery voltage (V) X number of batteries = 100 X 48 X 1 = 4800 Watts. As a result, the backup time is equal to battery power (Wh) / connected load (W) = 4800/240=20 hours theoretically. 12V RV fridgeIf the refrigerator is the 12V RV one, then the 100ah battery is rated at 1500/100/80%=18.75 volt, and the backup time is battery power (Wh) / connected load (W) = 4800/250=19 hours theoretically. In case the battery is the lead-acid one, 50% DOD is applied.110-220V residential refrigeratorThe required battery rating is supposed to be 1500/100/50%=30 volts. As a result, battery power is 100 X 30 X 1 = 3000 Watts, and thus the backup time is 3000/240=12.5 hours theoretically. 12V RV fridgeThe required battery voltage is at least 1500/100/50%=30 volts, and thus the required battery power is the same as the example of above residential refrigerator. The backup time is battery power/fridge power=3000/250= 12 hours.

In the previous industry report, it is mentioned that the supply of the raw materials of the lithium battery is insufficient to meet the demand. A coin has two sides. The innovation of direct lithium extraction technology is emerging due to the supply constraints concerns. According to spectrum.ieee.org, the mismatch of the lithium demand driven by the EV boom and the supply deficit in the years coming will result in the disruption of the production and development of the battery-powered vehicles and energy storage systems. As shown in the graph below, EV demand occupies more than half of the total demand, and there is a requirement of about $14 billion investment to fill the finance gap for the pipeline of lithium production capacity as projected toward 2025, even though the pipeline is slightly over the estimated demand in 2025.Considering lithium can be scarce in the long term which can be a decade, the technology of direct lithium extraction has been tested to meet the challenge of sustainability of the lithium mine resources. The new technology uses electricity and chemical processes to isolate and extract concentrated lithium. DLE, short for direct lithium extraction, is supposed to revolutionize the lithium industry, and many projects are ongoing in North America and European countries. It is estimated that the annual capacity of lithium hydroxide will be 15,000 to 20,000 metric tons by 2024, and the producers exploit the marginal reserves in a more energy-intensive way and more underground brines.

In another article explaining deep cycle a battery, we know the characteristics of the two types of deep cycle batteries and starting batteries, and in some circumstances, you may want to use the starting battery for dual-purpose. In this situation, are the deep cycle batteries better? Comparing the two types of batteries from the angle of structure and material as shown below, deep cycle batteries have the following advantages of longer cycle life, larger capacity, improved cycling ability, and less water loss.StructureDeep cycle batteryStarting batteryGrids & PlatesThickerThinnerActive materialHigh densityLower densityAntimonyHigh percentageLower percentageSeparatorRubber with a glass matGlass fiber mat soaked in sulfuric acidCan we draw the conclusion that deep cycle batteries are better? Not really. It depends on your needs for the battery. We know that a high burst of power is required for the car to get started, which is small in amount, and thus starter battery suits the requirement. But for camping? Can the regular lithium starting battery make do as the dual-purpose battery?  It’s not suggested to do so. We need power supply for camping, as well as lithium marine over a longer period of time, which is what the deep cycle battery is designed for due to its ability to be constantly discharged and recharged. When it comes to the starter battery, damage will be made if it is utilized for the deep cycle applications. A direct result is shortened lifespan of the starter battery, and in this case, it is out of warranty. Multi-purposing the starter battery is not a good idea. Below is the general expected lifespan of different batteries if you try to deep cycle the battery for your reference.Battery TypeExpected LifespanStarting battery3-13 monthsMarine battery1-6 yearsAGM deep cycle battery4-7 yearsGel cell deep cycle battery2-5 yearsFlooded lead acid deep cycle battery4-8 yearsAll in all, it depends on your requirement for the battery when you compare between different types of batteries. If you are looking for a battery to supply power for longer time periods, lithium ion deep cycle battery is a better choice, otherwise the starter battery is the right option.

Going off-grid has become popular in recent years, and many things are considered for the choice, from homeowners’ energy storage goal to the legality and local legislations. A hassle-free option is to choose the RV system or portable PV system for emergency energy storage. Taking all things into consideration, you may wonder that is going off grid worth it?ProOne obvious advantage is the economic savings, especially when you choose renewable energy as the off-grid solution. An solar system for home can reduce the cost on electrical bills about $20,000 in average for a homeowner in over two decades in most states of United states. The other advantage is less dependence on the public utilities, which means self-sufficiency and master of your own electrical equipment.Most off-grid solution utilizes the natural energy, which creates the least carbon footprint and is environment-friendly In addition, governments of some countries, such as Belgium, encourage their residents to choose green energy product with tax credits and rebates as incentives.ConUp front cost is not low at the beginning, while they can pay for themselves in the long run. Take the same example as mentioned above, the payback periods for the same US homeowner are 3-5 years for the solar panels and a decade for the battery systems.Since solar, hydro, and wind are not actively producing energy considering the natural weather cycles, you need to invest on the energy storage system to meet your daily energy needs when the natural energy source is not available. Battery maintenance is required hence, but lifepo4 lithium battery can reduce the workload to the minimal.Homes suitable to go off-grid is smaller than common homes and wired for battery power, that is wiring for alternative current instead of direct current to convert electricity.Transition to the off-grid power system can be inconvenient and effort-taking when you have large energy usage, especially when HVAC system is included. Adjustments are required.Considering wind turbines have a much shorter lifespan than the solar panels which is 20 to 25 years, off grid solar system is more popular and cost-effective with low maintenance cost. If you weigh the pros over cons or have resources to overcome the inconvenience, it is worth the investment on the solar power system, especially in the long run.