To ensure your panels keep producing electricity at an optimal rate, you need to monitor every part of the solar panel system and ensure they function properly. One area that especially needs monitoring is the solar battery.

It's crucial to monitor solar battery installation to maximise its performance and give you peace of mind. With that in mind, read on to learn the basics of monitoring solar battery performance.

Picking the Right Solar Battery Monitor

Solar battery monitors are important for tracking the performance of your system and updating you on the energy being charged and discharged from the system.

To maximise solar battery performance, you need first to pick the right tool for the job. In this case, you need to select a solar battery monitor that ticks all the boxes for maximum output.

Have a look at the features you need to search for when selecting a solar battery monitor:

1. Detailing

A good solar battery monitor should provide detailed information about solar array production. That is made possible by a data monitoring platform that'll help track solar panel performance and battery status and identify issues early enough.

2. Monitor Charging State

A good solar battery monitor should make it easier to track battery status so you know when it's low. At the same time, you should be able to see how much charge it's getting to know when it's fully charged.

3. Energy Usage Data

Another key feature is access to real-time energy usage data. That will inform you of the energy you're using and compare it with the amount of energy being produced. That way, you'll know how and where to improve energy production and usage.

4. Mobile Device Compatibility

You'll also need to ensure you can monitor your solar system performance from anywhere using your mobile device. That way, you'll only need an internet connection to check in with your system from anywhere.

What are the Different Ways to Monitor Solar Batteries?

The first phase of effective solar battery installation monitoring is to understand the features of a good monitor. The other part involves understanding the different ways to monitor solar battery performance. Here's a list of them:

1. Shunt Based Battery Monitoring

Features:

  • Uses a shunt – an electrical device that measures the current flowing through it.
  • The battery and shunt are connected in series, and the shunt measures the current drawn from the battery.
  • Based on the use of PCs, mobile devices, and local displays.

2. Bluetooth and Wifi Battery Monitoring

Features:

  • An integrated battery management system commonly fused in lithium-ion batteries.
  • Battery status is communicated via Bluetooth and WiFi.
  • It allows battery performance to be tracked via a local connection from anywhere in the world.
  • Suitable for portable power stations.

3. Load Center Based Battery Monitoring

Features:

  • Also involves the use of PC and mobile devices, but tracking is done from the electrical panel.
  • Monitors circuit level consumption.
  • Useful for monitoring electrical bills by knowing where your energy is going.
  • Takes things to the next level through its broad power consumption monitoring system. Hence, you can track the energy yields of any solar array.

Conclusion

The safe and efficient functioning of your solar system is heavily dependent on how well its battery performs. In the same vein, optimal solar battery health and performance can only be guaranteed when there's an effective monitoring platform in place.