How does a home battery work?

A home battery allows you to store generated power and use it later when you need it most, such as during peak voltage or at times when the sun isn't shining. But what exactly goes on behind the scenes of such a battery, and how does it ensure that your energy is put to optimal use? In this article you will discover step by step how a home battery works and what role it plays in an efficient and future-oriented energy system.

What is a home battery?

A home battery is a smart home energy storage system that stores electrical energy for later use. Instead of sending excess power directly back to the grid, the battery temporarily stores it. This allows you to use the stored energy during peak hours or at night when the sun is not shining.

This ensures more stable energy consumption and relieves the grid during high loads. In the context of renewable energy, the home battery makes it possible to become more self-sufficient by using locally generated energy more efficiently.

The operation of a home battery in 4 steps

A home battery operates using a smart and automated process that generates, stores, uses and shares energy with the grid. This makes you less dependent on external energy sources and better accommodates peak voltages. Below you will discover step by step exactly how this process works.

Step 1: Generation of energy

The operation of a home battery starts with the generation of energy, usually through solar panels. When the sun shines, the panels convert sunlight into direct current (DC), which is then converted through an inverter into alternating current (AC) that you can use in your home. Often more energy is produced than you need at the time.

Step 2: Energy storage

The excess energy that is not consumed immediately is stored in the home battery. Inside the battery, the electricity is safely stored in the form of chemical energy, ready to be converted back into usable power later. This ensures that energy remains available even when there is temporarily no sunlight or when energy demand peaks.

Step 3: Consumption from the battery

When you use more electricity than is currently being generated, the home battery automatically supplies power to your home. This happens fully automatically thanks to smart control. This allows you to still use your own stored solar energy at night, in cloudy weather or during moments of peak power, without depending on the grid.

Step 4: Interaction with the power grid

When your home battery is fully charged and still generating energy, the excess is fed back into the grid. At times when your battery is empty or when your consumption exceeds its storage capacity, power is automatically drawn from the grid. This dynamic interaction between your home battery and the grid ensures a stable energy supply and helps to reduce peak voltages in the grid.

The role of the inverter in a home battery

The inverter is the beating heart of a home battery system. It ensures that the energy generated or stored becomes usable for your home. Solar panels produce direct current (DC), while household appliances run on alternating current (AC). The inverter converts this direct current to alternating current so the energy can be used directly in the home or stored in the battery.

In addition, the inverter also controls the direction of the power. When more energy is generated than consumed, it sends the excess to the battery or, if full, to the grid. When the battery discharges, the inverter causes the stored direct current to be converted back to alternating current. Modern inverters communicate continuously with smart energy management systems to optimize efficiency and avoid surges. This way, your home battery works efficiently, safely and fully automatically.

How does a home battery with solar panels work together?

When you combine a home battery with solar panels, it creates a clever interplay between generation, storage and consumption of energy. During the day, the solar panels generate electricity, often more than you need at that time. Instead of sending this surplus back to the grid, it is stored in the home battery. This keeps the generated solar energy available for later use, such as in the evening or during peak hours.

The home battery and the solar panels are connected through the inverter, so the energy automatically flows in the right direction. This system ensures that you make maximum use of your own solar energy and reduces the load on the grid. Thanks to this cooperation, you always have renewable power, exactly when you need it, regardless of the time of day or weather conditions.

Solar panels with or without home battery?

Solar panels generate renewable energy from sunlight, but how you use this energy depends greatly on the presence of a home battery. Below you'll discover the difference in operation between the two situations.

Without home battery

When you have solar panels without a home battery, you use the generated energy as it is produced. Anything you don't use right away automatically goes back into the grid. At times when the sun isn't shining, you draw energy from the grid, often at a higher rate. As a result, you use only part of your own solar energy and remain partially dependent on external power suppliers, especially during peak voltage or in the evening hours.

With home battery

When you combine solar panels with a home battery, you can store the excess energy you produce during the day for later use. Thus, at night or during times of high demand, you consume your own green power instead of energy from the grid. This provides a higher degree of self-consumption, more control over your energy consumption and a more stable load on the grid. In addition, the battery helps absorb peak voltages, making your system operate more efficiently and reliably.

Tips for proper operation of your home battery

A home battery is a valuable investment that will only really pay off when it is properly matched to your energy needs and used optimally. By taking some important factors into account, you can not only increase the efficiency, but also extend the life of your battery. Here are some practical tips for getting the most out of your home battery.

Tip 1. Customize storage capacity

Choose a home battery with a storage capacity that fits your consumption and the size of your solar array. A battery that is too small will fill up quickly, leaving you still sending energy back to the grid, while one that is too large will be unnecessarily expensive and not fully utilized. By having a professional analyze your consumption profile, you will know exactly what capacity is optimal for your situation and avoid unnecessary surges.

Tip 2. The right kind of home battery

Not every home battery is the same. There are different types, such as lithium-ion and lithium iron phosphate batteries, each with its own advantages. For residential use, lithium batteries are the most efficient due to their high energy density, long life and low maintenance requirements. Choose a battery that is compatible with your inverter and energy management system so that the whole works seamlessly together and your energy storage is stable and secure.

Tip 3. High number of charging cycles

The number of charge and discharge cycles determines how long a home battery will last. The more cycles a battery can handle without losing capacity, the more durable it is. Therefore, choose a battery with a high cycle rate and do not always charge or discharge it fully to reduce wear and tear. A properly tuned charging system ensures that the battery is charged and discharged at the right time, which significantly extends its life and ensures stable operation.

Tip 4. Intelligent features

Modern home batteries have smart software that analyzes and automatically optimizes energy consumption. These intelligent features ensure that your battery knows exactly when to charge or discharge, based on solar production, power rates or peak load, for example. By using these functions, you increase the efficiency of your system and reduce pressure on the grid. This way, you get the maximum efficiency from your home battery, while keeping your energy usage fully aligned with your daily habits.

Invest in a (home) battery from Frax

Choose Frax's smart, reliable and fully integrated solutions. Whether you are an installer or looking to make your own home more sustainable, with our plug-and-play battery storage systems you are ready for the future of energy. Contact Frax today to find out how we can take your energy project to the next level.