The important parameters of a lithium cell are:

• Nominal voltage: The nominal voltage is the average voltage of the cell when it is fully charged and discharged. For most lithium-ion cells, the nominal voltage is 3.2 or 3.7 volts, depending upon the lithium cell chemistry.
• Capacity: The capacity is the amount of energy the cell can store. It is measured in milliampere-hours (mAh) or Ampere-hours (Ah). It’s in mAh for smaller cells, and bigger lithium cells, it’s in Ah called Ampere Hour.
• Energy density: The energy density is the amount of energy the cell can store per unit mass or volume. It is measured in watt-hours. This energy can be converted into simple wattage terms by multiplying the cell voltage with the cell capacity. say 3.2 volts multiplied by 100 Ah if the cell has 100 Ah, which comes to 320 Watt capacity.

prismatic cell Lithium pack

• Power density: The power density is the amount of power the cell can deliver per unit mass or volume. It is measured in watts per kilogram (W/kg) or per litre (W/L). So if the 100 Ah cell is 3.2 Volts, then what is the weight of the 320 Watt cell? And that can be converted into the per-watt weight and cell size.
• Charge rate: The charge and discharge rate is the rate at which the cell can be charged and discharged. These two are very important to understand as the manufacturer specifies the maximum charge rate in terms of the total capacity of the lithium battery cell. Say a 100 Ah cell has a 0.5 charge rate, so one has to understand that the maximum charge we can give is 50% of the capacity of a lithium cell so that we can charge the cell with a 50 Amp charging current.
• Discharge Rate: This is defined as the nominal or maximum discharge current we can discharge from the Lithium cell, so it’s defined in terms of 1C or 0.5C, 2C or 3C, which means we can discharge the maximum cell current in that capacity only, say 0.5C means we can discharge 50 Amps in one hour from the 100 Ah capacity lithium cell or 1C means 100 Amp we can discharge in 1 hour and so on. This is very important to understand while reading the specifications of the lithium cell.

• Internal resistance: The internal resistance is the cell’s resistance to the current flow. It is measured in ohms. So, generally, internal resistance plays an important role while grouping the cells to make the lithium cell pack. When we charge or discharge them in a battery pack, we can get the cell equalization in voltage under check. If the two cells have different internal resistance, the battery will give less life, and one of the cells might get overcharged over time. The cell IR is generally in milli Ohms, and the IR will increase from the time of cell cycle life. So, we measure two types of IR: the Lithium cell IR value and the Lithium cell pack IR value, which indicates the health of the Lithium cell and Lithium battery pack. As the battery pack goes old after use of maybe three years, one can see the increase in IR value of the total cell pack, which will increase in milli ohm, indicating the battery pack life left.

IR testing

• Self-discharge rate: The self-discharge rate is when the cell is not in use, neither it’s charged nor discharged. Also, the cell is losing some charge, called the self-discharge rate. Lowering the self-discharge improves the battery cell life as every battery cell has its self-discharge rate at which it will be discharged when not in use. When the lithium cell is made and despatched, reaching the destination takes a lot of time. Then, the cell is stored at a particular temperature, which is generally supposed to be 25 degrees Celsius. So, a better life can be expected by lowering the self-discharge rate of any lithium cell. Every manufacturer specifies the self-discharge rate at a standard 25 degrees Celsius.
• Cycle life: The cycle life is the number of times the cell can be fully charged and discharged before it reaches a specified capacity level. This denotes the life of a battery, as more cycles mean it has a better life. Generally, the cylindrical cells of LifePo4 of 6 Ah capacity have 2000 cycles, and it has a lot of riders, like the charging rate, discharging rate and the temperature at which it’s kept, etc. So, the cycle life can increase or decrease depending on the variables.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_iron_phosphate#:~:text=Lithium%20iron%20phosphate%20or%20lithium%20ferro-phosphate%20%28LFP%29%20is,iron%20phosphate%20batteries%2C%20a%20type%20of%20Li-ion%20battery.

• Operating temperature range: The operating temperature range is the range of temperatures at which the cell can operate without damage, and the life can increase or decrease if the temperature varies. The cell’s capacity will also vary depending on the temperature range specified by the manufacturer.https://suvastika.com/the-lithium-battery-is-going-to-change-the-energy-storage-solutions/

These are just some of the important parameters of a lithium cell. Other parameters may be important depending on the specific application of the cell.

What is a Solar Tubular battery? Is it a battery made for Solar purposes? We will discuss this topic in this article. A solar tubular battery is a lead-acid battery specifically designed with a C10 rating. It has more capacity than a C20 battery, which is generally used for the Inverter/UPS application. It is characterized by its tubular-shaped cells, which comprise a series of lead plates separated by separators and immersed in an electrolyte solution.https://suvastika.com/difference-between-c20-and-c10-tubular-battery/

Solar tubular batteries were launched by making them C10 battery, which means it has more capacity than C20 battery, which is not very helpful in a solar battery. Most people were told that Solar batteries could take more charging current as it’s a C10 battery, and the dealers and resellers believed the same theory. The Solar battery is no different from the ordinary Tubular battery except it has a little more capacity, so if we take the example of a 150 Ah tubular battery, the solar battery with a C10 rating will have 170 Ah capacity. So in technical terms, there is hardly any difference as it will give slightly more backup.https://medium.com/@alphazee17/what-is-the-difference-between-a-solar-battery-and-a-tubular-battery-872140135ec4

In India, companies started making Solar PCU with higher capacity solar charge controllers like 40Amp and 50 Amps and 60 Amps so that users can install more solar panels with a smaller battery bank. Solar charge controllers of such high capacity in the Solar PCU are a very dangerous trend as these charge controllers are destroying the life of batteries, and many battery blasts are taking place because the batteries are charged at a very high rate of charge. The Tubular Lead Acid battery will be charged at 10% of its capacity, so a 150 Ah Tubular battery can be charged only with a 15 Amps charging current. Still, nowadays, most branded companies are making solar PCUs with charging currents of 50 and 60 Amps which are becoming the cause of battery explosions. The battery needs water topping every month as the heat is created inside the battery when the battery is charged with such a high current.

solar panels

On the other hand, companies are telling the customer that the Solar charge current is shared between the load and the battery charging. This is another lie the companies are making fools of people when the grid is available. There can’t be any charge sharing between the Load and battery charging. It can only happen when the grid is not available.

In the Solar PCU, which are made in India, they keep charging the battery through the Solar Charge controller, and when the battery is fully charged than they cut the gid power and run the load, which is a very old technology adopted by the manufacturers and the battery life is restricted as the battery is charged and then discharged in each cycle. So Tubular battery, which can last for 500 to 600 cycles if charged properly, cannot perform in the Solar PCU system. There are a lot of complaints within two years of functioning, and the culprit is Solar PCU designed for higher charging current to install more panels. Generally, the dealer tells the customer to install 1000-watt solar panels with a 2 KW solar PCU with two Tubular batteries, so 2KW has a 24 V battery system. In this system, the batteries are charged with almost a 40 Amp charging current, creating many problems for the user. Also, people who install the Solar PCU complain their electricity bill has increased rather than reduced as people installing the solar PCU think that their electricity bill will reduce after installing the solar system. Still, the Solar PCU increases the electricity bill rather than reducing it.

Solar PCU is successful with tubular batteries as an off-grid system with no grid available, or a grid is available for much less time, so in that case, the solar is properly utilized.

In the areas where the Grid is available, and power cuts are not for a longer period, the solar PCU is a failure concept as it increases the power bill and reduces the Tubular battery life.

Now the real solution is a Lithium battery for the solar PCU systems as this can charge the battery faster as Lithium has the C/2 charging capacity, or we can charge the lithium battery at 50% of its rating in comparison to 10% of its capacity in case of Tubular Lead Acid batteries. The life span of Lithium compare to the Tubular battery is also four times, so this is the ideal solution to install with the Solar PCU.https://suvastika.com/tubular-battery-is-c20-and-c10-and-lithium-battery-is-c1-capacity/

A solar PCU (Power Conditioning Unit) is a device that converts solar energy into usable electricity. It can be used to power your home or business or to provide backup power during outages. A lithium battery is a type of battery that is known for its long lifespan, high efficiency, and low maintenance requirements.https://www.solarsquare.in/blog/solar-pcu/

Here are some of the benefits of using a solar PCU with a lithium battery:

Uninterrupted power supply: During a power outage, the solar PCU will switch to battery power, ensuring a continuous electricity supply. This is especially important for critical appliances and systems, such as refrigerators, medical devices, and sump pumps.

Energy savings: A solar PCU can help you save money on electricity bills by using solar energy to power your home or business. Lithium batteries are also more efficient than lead-acid batteries, which can further reduce your energy costs.

Long lifespan: Lithium batteries have a lifespan of up to 10 years, much longer than lead-acid batteries. This means you will have to replace your batteries less often, saving you money in the long run.

Low maintenance: Lithium batteries require very little maintenance, which makes them a more convenient option than lead-acid batteries. You do not need to add water to them, and they are less susceptible to sulfation.

Environmentally friendly: Lithium batteries are more environmentally friendly than lead-acid batteries. They do not contain lead, which is a toxic heavy metal.

Overall, a solar PCU with a lithium battery is a good choice for homeowners and businesses who want to save money on their electricity bills, have a reliable backup power source, and reduce their environmental impact.

Here are some additional benefits of using a solar PCU with a lithium battery:

The Bluetooth and Wi-Fi feature is added and can monitor the solar PCU.https://suvastika.com/benefits-of-bluetooth-hybrid-solar-pcu/

The lithium battery can be charged more quickly than a lead-acid battery, so you can get back up and running after a power outage more quickly.

Lithium batteries are more resistant to extreme temperatures, which makes them a good choice for areas with hot or cold climates.

Lithium batteries are lighter and more compact than lead-acid batteries, which makes them easier to install and maintain.

If you are considering installing a solar system, I recommend talking to a solar installer about the benefits of using a solar PCU with a lithium battery.

A tubular battery is a lead-acid battery that uses tubular-positive plates. The positive plates are made of lead dioxide and are enclosed in a tubular separator. The negative plates are made of lead and are located between the positive plates in the electrolyte. These batteries are also called Deep Cycle batteries, which can be used in power backup applications like Inverter/UPS and Solar backup applications. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep-cycle_battery

A Tubular battery uses High-pressure casted spines to reduce grid corrosion.

A tubular battery uses High-density active material to improve performance under deep discharge conditions.

In Tubular lead Acid batteries, Special additives chemicals are added to enhance the recovery from deep discharge.

Use a special Polyethylene separator to reduce water loss & stratification and increase puncture resistance.

For the life of Tubular lead Acid battery charging technique is very important.https://suvastika.com/how-to-charge-tubular-battery-in-inverter-ups/

Tubular batteries are typically used in applications where high discharge rates and long lifetimes are required, such as in electric vehicles, solar power systems, and UPS systems. They offer several advantages over other types of lead-acid batteries, including:

• Longer lifespan: Tubular batteries can last up to twice as long as flat-plate lead-acid and VRLA batteries.https://suvastika.com/what-is-c-rating-in-the-battery-means-for-home-inverter-ups/
• Higher discharge rates: Tubular batteries can be discharged at higher rates without damage as the tubular battery has a strong plate construction called tubular plates.
• Better performance in extreme temperatures: Tubular batteries can perform well in hot and cold temperatures compared to other types of lead Acid batteries.
• Less maintenance: Tubular batteries require less maintenance than flat-plate lead-acid or other lead-acid batteries.

The cost of a tubular battery varies depending on the size and capacity, but they typically cost more than flat-plate lead-acid batteries.

Here are some of the common uses of tubular batteries:

• Electric vehicles: Tubular batteries are used in the propulsion systems of electric vehicles. They can provide these vehicles with high discharge rates and long lifetimes.
• Solar power systems: Tubular batteries are used in solar power systems to store the energy generated by solar panels. They can provide backup power during power outages and can also be used to smooth out the output of the solar panels.
• UPS/Inverter systems: Tubular batteries are used in Inverter/UPS systems to provide backup power during power outages. They can also protect sensitive electronic equipment from power surges and spikes.

A tubular battery is a good option if you want a long lifespan, high discharge rates, and good performance in extreme temperatures. However, they are more expensive than flat-plate lead-acid batteries.

The importance of BMS in Tubular battery needs to understand in this blog. When the user uses two or more tubular Lead Acid batteries in an Inverter/UPS of high Ah value, like 100 Ah and above, then after six months to 1 year, the imbalance between these two batteries starts building up. As the Inverter/UPS tries to charge the 24 V system to 28.8 Volts, one of the batteries will be imbalanced. The total of 28.8Volt will remain the same, and the individual battery may reach 15.4 Volts. Other batteries might remain at 13.4, resulting in an overcharge of the battery, which has touched 15.4 volts, as the Inverter/UPS cant differentiate the individual battery voltage while charging and discharging the batteries. The Battery Management System can correct this Tubular Lead Acid batteries imbalance. A battery management system (BMS) is critical to any Tubular lead-acid battery bank. It monitors and controls the battery’s performance, ensuring it operates within safe limits and delivers optimal performance.https://suvastika.com/what-is-battery-management-system-bms/

The main functions of a BMS for lead-acid batteries include:

• Overcharging and over-discharging protection: This is the most important function of a BMS. Overcharging can damage the battery and shorten its lifespan, while over-discharging can lead to sulfation, shortening the lifespan. The BMS monitors the battery’s voltage and current and prevents it from being overcharged or over-discharged.
• Cell balancing: Tubular Lead-acid batteries are imperfect, and each battery in a battery bank will have a slightly different voltage. This can lead to uneven discharge and premature ageing of the battery. The BMS balances each battery by equalizing the voltage between them.
• Temperature monitoring: The temperature of a battery can affect its performance and lifespan. The BMS monitors the battery’s temperature and takes steps to prevent it from overheating, such as reducing the charging current.
• Fault detection: The BMS monitors the battery for faults, such as short circuits, open circuits, and battery imbalance. The BMS will shut down the battery if a fault is detected to prevent further damage.

A BMS is an essential component of any lead-acid battery bank. It helps to ensure the battery’s safety, performance, and lifespan.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_management_system

Here are some additional benefits of using a BMS for Tubular lead-acid batteries:

• Improved battery life: A BMS can help to extend the lifespan of a lead-acid battery by preventing overcharging and over-discharging, as well as by balancing the individual battery.
• Increased safety: A BMS can help to prevent fires and explosions by preventing the battery from overheating or being overcharged.
• Improved performance: A BMS can help improve a lead-acid battery’s performance by ensuring it operates within its safe operating limits.
• Reduced maintenance: A BMS can help to reduce the need for maintenance by monitoring the battery and alerting the user to any problems.

If you are using a Tubular lead-acid battery bank, it is important to use a BMS. A BMS can help ensure your battery’s safety, performance, and lifespan. The importance of BMS in Tubular battery is very important to understand.

1. Luminous Power Technologies : Luminous is the largest inverter manufacturer in India. It offers a wide range of inverters for residential, commercial, and industrial use. The company has a strong brand presence and is known for its reliable products and customer service.
2. V-Guard Industries : V-Guard is another major player in the Indian inverter market. It offers a variety of inverters at different price points. The company is known for its innovative products and its focus on customer satisfaction.
3. Microtek International : Microtek is a leading manufacturer of inverters, UPS, and other power backup solutions. The company offers a wide range of products for both residential and commercial use. Microtek is known for its high-quality products and its commitment to customer service.
4. Su-vatika Systems Pvt. Ltd : Su-vastika is a well-known brand in the Indian inverter market. It offers a variety of inverters for different applications. Su-vastika is known for its affordable products and its wide dealer network. Su-vastika is a brand promoted by Mr Kunwer Sachdev Founder Su-kam and focussing on Lithium Inverter technology and they have launched a complete new range in the market. Su-vastika’s lift Inverters and Battery Energy Storage Systems are creating waves in the indian and International market.
5. Exide Industries : Exide is a leading manufacturer of batteries in India. It also manufactures inverters under the brand name Exide Home. Exide inverters are known for their durability and reliability.

These are just a few of the many inverter manufacturers in India. The best inverter for you will depend on your specific needs and budget. It is important to do your research and compare different brands before making a purchase.