Don’t just judge battery simply by its size. The secret is getting a battery with a good flow rate as well – here’s why.
Understanding your battery’s flow
When it comes to batteries, size isn’t the only thing that matters. In this blog, we’re talking ‘flow rate’ – a term you might never heard of, that could be the secret to getting maximum bang from your battery buck.
What is a flow rate?
Think of your battery as if it were a water tank. Water tanks have the capacity to hold plenty of water, but when it comes time to use it, you need to attach a hose. There is a limit to how much water can flow from the tank at any given time, which is based on the size of the hose. When it comes to batteries, your ‘flow rate’ is the total amount of energy you can use from your battery at any given time.
Are all flow rates the same?
Some lower quality batteries have a flow rate that’s capped at 3kW (3000 watts) per hour. That means if you’re using more than 3kW of energy through your appliances, you will end up paying for power from the grid – even if your battery is full! Higher quality batteries have a flow rate of 4.6kW (4600 watts), meaning they’re capable of supporting more appliances and energy usage without needing to draw expensive power from the grid.
4.6kW of usage would allow the batteries power to the following appliances simultaneously:
- 15 energy efficient lightbulbs (1.05 kW)
- 50” Flat screen TV on (0.21 kW)
- Washing machine (0.9 kW)
- Two laptop computers (0.2 kW)
- Electric cooktop on low (1.7 kW)
Want to know how much you could potentially run from your battery? Take a look at the appliance list below.
| Appliance | kW |
| Ducted air conditioner | 6.0 kW |
| Bathroom light/heater unit – Electric | 1.1 kW |
| BBQ | 2.4 kW |
| Clothes Dryer | 4.0 kW |
| Computer & monitor | 0.1 kW |
| Dishwasher | 2.4 kW |
| Electric cooktop – large hotplate | 2.2 kW |
| Electric frypan | 1.7 kW |
| Freezer (new) – 200L | 0.056 kW |
| Hairdryer | 1.5 kW |
| Heater – Large fan/radiator | 2.4 kW |
| Kettle | 2.4 kW |
| Microwave oven | 1.0 kW |
| Mobile phone charger | 0.005 kW |
| Pool pump | 1.1 kW |
| Pool heater | 5.0 kW |
| Spa | 6.0 kW |
| Television – large flat screen (3 stars) | 0.21 kW |
| Underfloor heating – one room | 3.6 kW |
| Vacuum cleaner | 1.2 kW |
| Washing machine (warm wash cycle) | 0.9 kW |
| Welder | 2.4 kW |
| Electric wok | 2.0 kW |
| Energy Efficient Lights | 0.07 kW |
| Incandescent Lights | 0.60 kW |
*See the full appliance usage guide here
So, what can you do to get maximum bang from your batteries buck?
- Make sure you have a good quality battery – the better your flow rate, the less likely you are to be drawing power from the grid.
- Understand the energy usage of your appliances – stagger your usage with flow in mind!
- Replace your old appliances with new energy-efficient ones.
Keen to find out more? Book a free consultation with our team of solar experts.
