Power cuts are a fact of life in India. Is your home running on an inverter? If so, you really need to invest in one efficient inverter battery for a robust and efficient power backup.
Inverter battery is a vital part of any inverter system which impacts its performance and lifespan. There are many brands available but what’s important when buying them for our homes or offices is knowing all different types before making final decisions.
In this article, we explain what each classification means and its pros/cons!
TYPES OF INVERTER BATTERIES:
The three types of inverter batteries you’ll find on the market today are lead-acid, Tubular, and Maintenance free.
LEAD ACID BATTERY:
Lead-acid batteries are literally the oldest type of rechargeable battery. They consist of two electrodes dipped in a sulfuric acid electrolyte solution, generating DC current when lead and lead dioxide react with it.
PROS:
- Light Weight
- Comparatively lower costs
- Comparatively produces a large amount of current
- Rechargeable
CONS:
- High maintenance
- Frequent water toppings
- Release harmful gases
TUBULAR BATTERY:
These inverter batteries are an improved version of lead-acid batteries and a great buy for homes. The pencil-type armored tubular plates ensure uninterrupted power delivery in case of long power cuts, and their leak-proof tower design ensures better safety and lower maintenance.
These battery packs come with abrasion resistance which is good because it prevents wear over time – this means that they will last longer than other types of cells!
What’s more? They’re environmentally friendly too so you can feel confident about your purchase knowing that these are safe options both inside and outside of home-usage.
PROS:
- More life
- Low maintenance
- Suitable for heavy-duty appliances
- More efficient
- Good Value for money
- Most suitable for both regular long and short power cuts.
CONS:
- Comparatively costlier than lead-acid, but provides values for money.
Note: As technology improves, batteries are becoming better. they do emit hydrogen fumes and other gases. They also get heated when they are being used or charged but they are not something to be afraid of. It is recommended to keep it in an open location which would let the heat dissipate. Also, keep it away from fire and smoke.
MAINTENANCE FREE BATTERY:
Maintenance-free batteries are lead-acid replacements that don’t require water to be added or service attention. The sealed design prevents electrolyte loss making them more efficient than the maintenance models.
Maintenance-free batteries are a great option for anyone who doesn’t want to deal with battery acid, service maintenance, or the annoyance of checking water levels!
PROS:
- No maintenance
- 100% Leakproof
- Highly environmentally friendly.
- No water toppings required
- Safer as no battery emissions.
- Suitable for the indoor house.
- No electrolyte check required
CONS:
- Costly
- Comparatively short life.
TYPES OF INVERTER BATTERIES – COMPARISION TABLE:
| FEATURES | LEAD-ACID BATTERY | TUBULAR BATTERY | MAINTENANCE-FREE BATTERY |
|---|---|---|---|
| BATTERY LIFE | ~ 3 YEARS | ~ 5 YEARS | ~ 3 TO 4 YEARS |
| MAINTENANCE LEVEL | HIGHER THAN TUBULAR AND MAINTENANCE-FREE. | LOWER THAN LEAD-ACID TYPE. | NO MAINTENANCE |
| OVERALL SAFETY | LOWER THAN TUBULAR AND MAINTENANCE-FREE. | HIGHER THAN LEAD-ACID TYPE AND LOWER THAN MAINTENANCE-FREE TYPE. | HIGHER |
| EMISSION OF HARMFUL GASES | YES. HIGHER THAN TUBULAR TYPE. | YES. BUT LOWER THAN LEAD-ACID TYPE | NO |
| VENTILATION REQUIREMENT | YES | YES | NO NEED |
| WATER TOPPINGS | REQUIRED | REQUIRED | NOT REQUIRED |
| ACID LEAKAGE | POSSIBLE | POSSIBLE | LEAKPROOF |
| WEIGHT | COMPARATIVELY LOW | COMPARATIVELY HIGH | MEDIUM |
| COST | COMPARATIVELY LOW COST | MEDIUM | COMPARATIVELY HIGH COST |
Note: As technology improves, batteries are becoming better. they do emit hydrogen fumes and other gases. They also get heated when they are being used or charged but they are not something to be afraid of. It is recommended to keep it in an open location which would let the heat dissipate. Also, keep it away from fire and smoke.
FINAL WORDS:
I hope you above information helped you understand various types of batteries and their pros/cons.
Among the above, we recommend you going with tubular or maintenance-free batteries for better performance.
Note:
It is always advisable to go for branded inverter batteries e.g Luminous, Exide, Amaron than local ones due to their higher standards. With branded ones, you may get great performance over an extended period while also enjoying warranties provided on these products.
