Berther the battery is part of the family
Solar power varies over the year as the hours of sunlight and weather conditions change. John explores how seasonal changes make a difference to his battery and bills.
Tuesday 11 April 2017
I'm pleased to report the battery has become an integrated part of our daily life, and the process of tracking the batteries progress and modifying our behaviours accordingly, is now the new norm in our household.
The beginning of this billing cycle looked to be tracking to a much higher level during the later parts of February and early March. Days were mostly warm and we used the air conditioner almost daily.
During late March and early April we have become almost totally self-sufficient. Billing cycles are normally around 60 days, of which we are currently sitting on 26 days, and I estimate it will be 29 days by month end.
The current estimate is around $60 against a normal bill of $450, which is approximately an 87% reduction.
We've arrived at this new norm by altering our lifestyle to meet best usage. Even with the shorter days, the battery does take longer to charge but hasn't failed to completely charge since the 18th of March. Previously, there were several days where the battery did not reach full charge and at least four days in early March where the battery did not charge past 50%. These days featured predominant clouds and stormy weather.
It will be interesting as we move into the winter months to see how the scales will tip.
There are definitely exciting things to come as battery technology develops at a faster rate than ever. For now, the technology could help to reduce your bill slightly and could power your home for a short time. Learn more about battery systems for your home or read our battery FAQs.