How To Choose The Right Emergency Power Battery For Home?

Not all battery backups have the same lifespan.Some may run only a few hours, while others can go a full day or longer.The time depends on several important factors:

1. Battery capacity (kWh or Wh)

The battery capacity is expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh) or watt-hours (Wh).The greater the kWh number, the greater the stored energy.For example, a battery of 5 kWh will not keep the charge as long as a battery of 13 kWh, even when they are operating the same appliances.

2. Power draw (Watts or kW)

The more devices you utilize, the quicker the battery will run out.Light, fans, and Wi-Fi routers are small devices that require less energy.Bigger appliances like an air conditioner or an electric stove use a lot of energy.When you have a high power draw, the backup will not last long.

3. Depth of Discharge (DoD)

Batteries are not utilized to their full capacity.Most systems do not allow you to utilize the entire energy to ensure that the health of the battery will be maintained.This limit is called Depth of Discharge (DoD).When the system is only allowed to utilize 80% of its capacity, then the 10kWh battery will yield 8kWh of usable power.

4. Efficiency & losses

When a battery outputs energy, some energy is lost during conversion of DC to AC. This is called inverter loss. Usually, this process consumes 5-10% of the energy.Therefore, with a 10 kWh battery, it may actually deliver only 9 kWh.

5. Temperature, age, battery chemistry

Batteries do not work equally under all conditions:

• Temperature:With extreme temperatures(too hot or too cold), the batteries will be drained faster.
• Age:Batteries will gradually become less capable over the years of usage.A battery that used to give you 10 kWh of energy when it was new, might give you 8 kWh of energy now when it is old.
• Chemistry:Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries are far more durable than the older lead-acid batteries.

Real-World Examples & Typical Durations

To better understand the battery backup time span, we will consider real life scenarios.It depends on the battery size and the amount of power you are consuming.

These figures are just estimates.In the real world, the duration may be shorter or even much longer depending on how exactly you will use it, the weather and the kind of battery.

For example, the average American household consumes an average of 10500 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity annually. Assuming that you had a 13.5kWh battery, then that would normally feed a house for about half a day. However, it may last longer when you only run the most important devices.

Which Battery Types Last Longer?

Not every battery is made the same way.Older lead-acid batteries (such as car batteries) have a lifespan of approximately 3-5 years.They cost less, but drain power faster, and can not be recharged many times.

Modern LiFePO4 and Lithium-Ion batteries have a much longer life.Most of them have 8-12 years of life and will provide you with thousands of charge cycles.It means that you can use and charge them every day over several years and they still do not lose a lot of power.Lithium batteries are also safer, lighter, and more efficient than lead-acid batteries.

Tips to Maximize Runtime During Outages

When the power goes out, you want your battery backup to last as long as possible. Here are some simple tips:

1. Run only essentials: Keep lights, fridge, and Wi-Fi running, and avoid heavy appliances like AC, heaters, etc.
2. Use efficient devices: Switch to LED bulbs and energy-saving fans.
3. Unplug extras: Turn off chargers and devices you do not need.
4. Keep batteries at room temperature: Very hot or very cold weather causes batteries to drain faster.

For powerful, long-lasting options, explore portable power stations or home backup systems from Oupes to find a model that suits your needs.

How Long Will the Battery Itself Last (Over Years)?

Every battery gradually loses power capacity as it becomes older.How long it lasts depends on the type and frequency of use.

• Lead-acid batteries: 3-5 years, fewer cycles.
• Lithium-ion batteries: 8-10 years with regular use.
• LiFePO₄ batteries: 10+ years, over 3,000 charge cycles before losing 80% of capacity.