The C rating for the battery is the safest, most secure, and maximum discharge rate the battery supports. The rating is obtained by adding load to a battery and making it dead in 5, 10, or even 20 hours. The battery capacities are measured in Ampere hours or Milliampere hours.
Anyone new in the realm of the inverter industry might confuse a lot. If this is the case with you, then don’t panic. After much research, I’ve finally compiled an article that gives insight into everything about the C20 batteries. So, let’s get down to the business.
What is the C20 Battery Rating?
All the C-rated batteries have the same capacity, i.e.150AH, on specific load conditions. In other words, the integer mentioned in the type of battery represents an attribute of the battery. Like in C10, the battery will last for about 10 hours and shouldn’t be discharged within 10 hours. Suppose it acted because otherwise, the battery life would get affected.
A battery at C20 does last for 20 hours, having a load of 7.5A with the condition that it should not be discharged before 20 hours. If it does so, its battery life would be affected like that of a C10 rated battery. The faster the battery discharges, the less energy you’ll take out of it. The C10 rating is called fast discharge, while the C20 rating is known as medium discharge.
When the power outage is less and the discharging time is extended, the C20 rated batteries are used. Most of the batteries in UPS are C20 rated because the battery power is less and small loads like bulbs and fans can withstand the pressure. A C20-rated battery also ensures that you get more potential from the battery even with faster and higher discharge. However, one should be extra careful and might replace the cells with the ones to ensure efficiency.
Which C Rating Type Battery Should be Preferred for a Solar Inverter With Solar Panels?
The solar energy systems are made up of solar batteries, panels, mounting tools, and a monitoring system to maintain their overall performance. The energy from the sun is collected by the panels that later send the converted energy into the inverter from where you can utilize electricity at your home, office, or any other industrial area. These systems are more used for backup among the homeowners as most houses are tied to the grid. But many people are looking for a replacement for their utility supply. A common reason why people are switching to solar is to steer clear of high-energy costs.
Though the batteries are typically connected to home solar energy systems for functioning, they don’t need solar panels useful for homeowners. The electricity from the grid can also charge the batteries in small-scale solar energy storage. The solar battery is the storage portion of your solar panel system for the energy supplied by the panel to the home. When the solar panel isn’t generating electricity, the battery will release its stored energy for your use.
But if you stay completely grid-off, these batteries can provide 100 percent sufficiency that homeowners need to have long batteries because they can be charged with solar panels.
Moreover, the storage ability of different kinds of solar batteries corresponds to their capacity. Instead of returning the solar electricity directly to your grid, the battery collects it for later use. When your batteries are fully charged, the system sends electricity back to the grid. However, when the battery is used, and its charges are depleted, it will resume charging and draw electricity from the panels again.
The C20 battery has 7.5A charging and discharging capacity and takes 20 hours to get fully charged. The peak sun hours for a day is five to seven hours. Hence the C5 battery is more suitable to use for solar inverters with solar panels.
Which Battery is Best for a Solar Inverter?
The C10 rated batteries are the best known for solar and industrial purposes because of their best charging and discharging rates. As the high load uses the battery to power, it can deliver more energy in a short time.
Can Solar Panels Charge Lithium Batteries?
Lithium batteries can be damaged by regular, continuous charging because of their charge response, among all other things. Most of the solar batteries are charged in three stages that are bulk acceptance and float. Lithium batteries are charged in two stages.
The first is similar to the bulk stage for other batteries, where it is charged at a constant voltage until it is fully charged. But the charging amperage will be left to drain while it goes to the second and final stage of charging. These batteries can be destroyed by store charging, increasing discharge and putting battery life at risk.
The first is similar to the bulk stage for other batteries, where it is charged at a constant voltage until it is almost complete. However, the charging amperage will be left to drain while going through the second and final charging stage. Lithium batteries can also be destroyed by store charging as that can increase discharge and endanger battery life.
Can We Use a C10 Battery for a Normal Inverter?
A C10 battery provides more power over a 10-hour cycle compared to a C20 that’s designed for a 20-hour cycle. But it is better not to let the battery get discharged. In most applications, you won’t notice any significant difference as long as you ensure that your system has a big enough battery for your needs.
c10 vs c20 battery: What are the differences?
C10 and C20 are standards used to rate the capacity of a battery in terms of the discharge time. Specifically, C10 refers to the discharge time over 10 hours, while C20 refers to the discharge time over 20 hours.
The main difference between a C10 and C20 battery is their discharge rate. A C10 battery is designed to discharge its full capacity over a period of 10 hours, while a C20 battery is designed to discharge its full capacity over a period of 20 hours. This means that a C10 battery will discharge its energy at a faster rate than a C20 battery.
The choice between a C10 and C20 battery will depend on the specific application and the power requirements of the device. In general, a C10 battery is better suited for applications that require high power output over a short period of time, such as starting an engine, while a C20 battery is better suited for applications that require a more consistent power output over a longer period of time, such as running household appliances or powering solar panels.
Eng. Matthew Joseph Nandirio is the Founder of walkingsolar.
After graduating from the University of Houston in 2002, matt started working as a Solar Electrical Engineer for several multi-national solar energy companies.
He has a wide range of experiences including solar system requirement analysis, planning, maintaining, debugging and even solar device development through research.
He now shares his 20 years of expertise through his articles on the walkingsolar website.
Further, he is also the author of two books on Solar Technology, “Solar Power for Villages” and “DIY Solar System for Dummies”.
