Are 6v Batteries Better Than 12v Batteries For A Solar Panel System

Updated 06/17/2023 | Published 06/15/2023

Question:

Is it better to use 6 V batteries or 12 V batteries for solar panel systems?

asked by: Robert T

Expert Reply:

People do prefer to use 6v batteries in series because they can better handle 50% discharge cycles than a 12v will. They also tend to have more charge/discharge cycles in their lifetime compared to a standard 12v. That being said, the abilities of the battery to handle discharge and the amount of charging cycles they have can vary greatly depending on the manufacturer.

A lot of people setting up larger solar panel systems, like the Go Power Solar Extreme Charging System # 34282185 you were looking at, are also switching over to lithium because they can be discharged below 50% and recharged without damaging the battery. A standard lead acid battery will typically have around 100 - 200 charging cycles before it starts to degrade, whereas a lithium battery will typically have 300 - 500 charging cycles before it starts to degrade. Lithium batteries are a large cost upfront but with increased lifespan they tend to equal out when you add up the cost of the multiple lead acid batteries you'd need to buy to reach the same lifespan.

Certain batteries do have some stipulations on how they can be wired together so before you purchase you'll definitely want to confirm that they can be wired in parallel or series and how many can be tied together.

expert reply by: Kevin C