Today I will make a review on the Exide battery for you. As a culture or a usual habit that we usually have here at IstallOffGridSolarSystem.com, we strive to deliver various solar budgets to choose which suits your needs. As we do these we also try to explain why we choose to use the products we recommend. Here I would love to review one of the products that we used to form our battery banks.
Let´s go to the review!
product: Exide XMC-31 MEGACYCLE AGM-200
Price: $249 on amazon
Cheapest Place to buy: amazon.com
voltage: 12 volts
capacity: 200 AH
type: sealed and maintenance AGM battery
Our rating: 9/10
Introduction
As you may have realized solar off grid systems can’t work without battery banks because they are stand alone systems. They don’t have utility power for support. They all depend on storage facilities to store power generated by the solar panels to use during the night or during the days of autonomy.
Battery banks come in various types and voltages. So why did we choose this particular product?
Product description
From way back wet batteries have always been the order of the solar systems but now things have change for the best with the developing technologies. Our battery is sealed this means that we don’t have to top up with distilled water or battery acid. This particular battery is 100% maintenance free.
This battery has better cycling, has better vibration resistance and forty percent more charge acceptance over other types of batteries. For that reason, it provides us with some of the functions essential for off-grid solar systems.
Another reason why we choose to use this particular battery is because of its capacity, it suited our system as required.
The voltage was easier to add up even to our system voltage or even for higher system voltage, perhaps we needed to increase our system voltage. The system would still work with the same batteries.
Uses
Our battery is used for way more tasks apart from in off grid solar systems. According to customer reviews on amazon people have purchased this battery for various uses and this is what makes this product popular and more recommended.
The battery can be used for the following purposes:
- the battery cab be used I locomotives to start the engines
- it’s also best suits solar energy systems
- it is also used to run water pumps at boreholes
- the battery is used in marine engines
What is this battery for?
This particular battery has proved its self to be “monster” due to its degree of efficiency. This battery can be used for various tasks and applications. The battery mainly is used in backup systems apart from as engine starters. They properly suit back up system such as solar systems, water pumps, and in the telecom industry.
What is this battery not for?
All in all this battery has to be handled with care though it’s maintenance free. The battery is a deep cycle battery, you will need to maintain it in such a case that you don’t you don’t cycle it many times. By this I mean that don’t let the battery get discharged completely. By doing this you will be increasing the battery’s lifespan and maintaining its efficiency.
Another point that you will have to consider is that the battery is a high utility one. By this, i mean that the battery needs to be recharged several times in a day for an instant in off-grid systems, the battery system needs to power the loads and at the same time needs to be recharge. So you find that you will need a strong charge for the battery.
You should not use this battery with a weak solar charger electrically. Always go for a monster solar charge just as the battery its self.
Others Reviews
when you order the battery from amazon you don´t have to worry about damages on the product since it comes with a carton and a 1” protective material. The package is delivered on time too. It also comes with a 24 months warranty. If your battery developed issues within this period you can return it for a replacement with a new one.
Conclusion
The Exide XMC-31 MEGACYCLE battery should work just fine in the system. If you choose to increase the size of your battery bank it is advised that you use the same type of the battery and if possible one from the same manufacturer.
The reason is because different products are manufactured in a different environment and their performances may differ. This would make the system unstable and take long to charge.
Before proceeding to connect your battery please consult the manual for a guide because batteries are hazardous. We are also here to help you with any questions you might have so please don´t hesitate to ask away!
So, what do you Think about this review and about this Exide battery?
I really like AGM battery over acid battery because it is maintenance free and safer because of that! What about life cycle which one is better? What battery is better AGM or Acid?
EXIDE is a good brand and they have good quality batteries!
You say nothing about Lithium batteries, are they still over budget, the lifecycle is much better than AGM!
Regards,
Hugo