What is a Solar Tubular Battery? Know its Types, Functions, Application, and More

A solar battery provides power backup during the night and power cuts. But the dilemma arises when you need to select an appropriate battery for your solar panel system. 

Do you know one of the most used solar battery types is the solar tubular battery? Read this blog to understand what solar tubular batteries are, their types, and their specifications to make a wise decision while making a purchase.

What is a Solar Tubular Battery?

A solar tubular battery is also known as a lead-acid battery. It comes in a tubular-shaped structure and is among the most widely available solar batteries in the market. 

The solar tubular battery uses power from the solar system during the day for getting charged. Further, during power outages and at night, it provides an uninterrupted power supply.

However, to improve the safety of your premises, you must place this battery in a non-flammable surrounding. This is important because it produces hydrogen gas while getting charged, and hydrogen is flammable. 

If you want to choose the most affordable option for solar batteries, you must go for tall-tubular batteries. Apart from the price benefit, most manufacturers provide a warranty of 3-5 years for various lead-acid batteries of different capacities. 

Types of Solar Tubular Battery

Are you wondering which type of solar tubular battery is suitable for your solar panel? The following sections will clarify your doubts.

There are four capacities of lead-acid batteries available in the market, namely:

• 40 Ah
• 150 Ah
• 200 Ah
• 12 V

Let’s take a detailed look at all these types.

#1. 40 Ah Solar Tubular Battery

A 40 Ah solar tubular battery has a compact and portable structure, ensuring comfortable handling. Therefore, it is suitable for household and vehicle applications. Some common applications include powering small bulbs, trolling motors, solar backup power, etc.

When you search for the specifications of a 40 Ah battery, you will notice a variation in dimension, weight, and warranty from one manufacturer to another. However, certain specifications remain unchanged. These are listed in the following table:

Voltage	12 V
Capacity	40 Ah
Charge current	4 Amp

Now let’s look at the pricing of a 40 Ah battery:

• A lead-acid battery is 2.5 times cheaper than a lithium-ion battery. 
• Although the price varies with brands, a high-quality small tubular battery costs between Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 3,000.

#2. 150 Ah Solar Tubular Battery

This lead-acid battery functions according to the solar panel duty cycle. It means it provides a smooth flow of electricity during power cuts. Moreover, it requires minimum maintenance for efficient performance. 

A 150 Ah capacity solar battery is widely used for commercial purposes. 

The price of a solar battery is a factor that influences a customer’s buying decision. Although you will find a variation in the prices of different brands, the average cost for a 150Ah battery is around Rs. 14,499.

#3. 200 Ah Solar Tubular Battery

Now let’s look at the features of a 200 Ah lead-acid solar battery!

It requires minimum maintenance for smooth functioning. Moreover, it functions according to the duty cycle of solar panels. Hence, it’s an appropriate device to provide a smooth power supply during the night. 

Apart from an uninterrupted electricity supply, it also stores a large amount of solar energy for commercial applications. Vital specifications you need to consider before buying a 200 Ah tubular battery for a solar system are:

Maximum charge current	60 Amp
Voltage	12 V
Capacity	200 Ah

Once you check all the specifications of a 200 Ah solar battery, the next thing you want to know is the price. 

Although there are some differences in the cost from manufacturer to manufacturer, you will need around Rs. 20,000 for a 200 AH lead-acid battery. 

#4. 12 V Solar Tubular Battery

This battery type is widely used for solar panel systems and is suitable for the duty cycle. 

• The battery charges during the day with the energy from solar panels. 
• The stored power is supplied to the premises at night till the battery discharges completely. This process completes one cycle. 

Crucial specifications of this solar battery are:

Voltage	12 V/unit
Maximum charge current	45 Amp
Nominal capacity	150 Ah at a 10-hour rate
Maximum discharge current	1500 Amp

This battery has a portable and compact structure suitable for versatile applications. It is the most appropriate device for BESS or Battery Energy Storage Systems and is generally applicable for commercial purposes. 

In addition, it is a maintenance-free power storage system that is available at an affordable rate of Rs. 14,499.

How is a Solar Tubular Battery different from a Lithium-ion Battery?

All solar batteries are broadly grouped into two types, namely tubular/lead-acid batteries and lithium-ion batteries. They both have the following differences:

Tall tubular batteries	Lithium-ion batteries
Recharges using a chemical reaction.	An electrochemical reaction occurs during the recharge process.
Requires minimum maintenance for proper functioning.	Efficient performance with zero maintenance.
Releases hydrogen gas during operation.	Does not release hydrogen.
The warranty period ranges from 3-5 years.	The average warranty ranges between 7-8 years.
The discharge rate is 1,200 cycles DOD.	The discharge rate is 10,000 cycles DOD.
Affordable price.	Requires slightly high investment.

Although lithium-ion batteries offer many benefits, they need a high investment for the manufacturing process. Therefore, they are expensive and not scalable as lead-acid batteries.

Factors to Consider While Choosing a Solar Battery

Look for the following factors to choose an appropriate battery for your solar system:

• Capacity: The capacity of the solar battery indicates the unit of electricity it can store and supply to power the electrical appliances.
• Round Trip Efficiency: This figure compares the units of electricity you can use from the solar battery and the energy the battery consumes during the storage process.
• Power Rating: It shows the power supply of a solar battery at a particular time for running electrical appliances.
• Durability: This factor ensures the efficient operation of the battery. To make a smart purchase, you must go for brands that offer a warranty for optimum performance.
• Cost: To make an appropriate comparison between batteries, consider their price per kWh.

Conclusion 

A solar battery is a crucial part of off-grid and hybrid solar systems. However, selecting an appropriate solar battery is equally important. 

Solar tubular batteries come at affordable prices and require minimum maintenance. Thus, they are ideal for normal power usage. 

However, you must carefully check the specifications before selecting a solar battery that is suitable for your requirements. 

FAQs

Q. What is the average price of a 150 Ah solar tubular battery?

Although the prices of solar batteries differ from one manufacturer to another, the average price of a 150 Ah capacity lead-acid battery is Rs. 14,499.

Q. What is a solar tubular battery?

Solar tubular batteries are commonly known as lead-acid batteries. They have a sturdy and compact structure and use solar power for recharging purposes.

Q. What is the difference between a solar battery and a tubular battery?

A solar battery is a device that stores power from the solar system for usage during nighttime. On the other hand, a tubular battery has multiple cells that are connected in the form of a long tube. Each cell has a cathode and anode to regulate the flow of charge.