This article was updated on October 2023
There is no point having solar panels in your home if you don’t have the best batteries to store power for use when the sun goes down is there?
A solar battery needs to have the durability and strength to provide the power that you need for a long period of time. If your solar battery lets you down then you will be in trouble so you need solar batteries that you can depend upon.
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We decided that we would help you by testing a number of solar batteries and then create our list so that you can be sure of purchasing the right one. We review all five batteries here for your convenience.
The solar batteries that appear here deserve to be as they were the best from our tests in terms of price and performance. We have provided you with the important information that you need to make the right choice.
There were a number of solar batteries tested and we have really chosen the best five for you here.
We rejected a lot on performance and some because of their high price (you do not always get what you pay for).
So here are the five that made it to our best solar battery list:
1. VMAX Solar Battery SLR100 Vmaxtanks AGM 100ah 12V Rechargeable Battery Review
When you are looking for a solar battery you need to consider one that is safe to use in your home. The VMAX SLR100 battery is a very good choice for this. This is a high performance solar battery with a very long life span. It uses deep cycle technology which is just right for solar battery storage.
The VMAX SLR100 has an expected lifespan of 8-10 years. This lifespan assumes that the battery will be used constantly, being charged and maintained just as it should be. If the battery is left dormant and inactive for a long period of time then the overall lifespan is likely to be reduced.
The VMAX SLR100 is a very well made and durable solar battery. Primarily for indoor use, this battery can be used external as its design will withstand even the most extreme of weather conditions.
You can literally use the VMAX SLR100 in any position thanks to the techniques used for sealing in its construction. It is guaranteed to be leak proof and the battery is non hazardous which is why it has been approved for maritime, surface and air transport of the military.
This battery has an AGM (Absorbed Glass Matt) electrolyte suspension system. What this does is assist in the total absorption as well as the containment of the electrolyte. This battery does not contain any silica gel.
You will not be required to add any water to the VMAX SLR100 for the checking of the specific gravity throughout the float service life. The self discharge rate is low at around 1-2% of the rated capacity each month. This is measured at room temperature.
The performance of the VMAX SLR100 is very impressive. The design of the battery ensures an ultra low resistant which means that it is 99% efficient. It has a high power density due to the technology used in assembly.
The VMAX SLR100 weighs 60 pounds and has dimensions of 12 inches long by 8.2 inches in height and 6.7 inches wide. It is pretty much a solar battery beast. It is heavier than a lot of the other batteries available but once it is in place this is not a problem.
This is a high quality, high performance and long lasting battery that is well worth the money and our top recommendation.
Pros of the VMAX SLR100
These are summaries from real customer reviews:
- “Very good performance” – there were a number of positive comments about how well the VMAX SLR100 performed even when placed under considerable loads.
- “This battery is high quality” – a lot of customers thought that the quality of the VMAX SLR100 was excellent. People purchased more than one of these batteries for their applications because they were so impressed.
- “Completely safe for indoor use” – the customers that used this battery for indoor use were very complimentary about how safe it was.
Cons of the VMAX SLR100
These are summaries from real customer reviews:
- “The battery was defective” – one customer reported that the battery didn’t work at all after receiving it. This was an isolated incident and the customer has full warranty coverage.
- “Didn’t hold a charge after a while” – this again was the experience of one customer. Nobody else experienced this problem so not considered to be a big issue.
- “Battery is very heavy” – this is an interesting comment. This is a well constructed and has a very long lifespan. Of course it is heavy!
2. Vmaxtanks VMAX SLR155 AGM 12v 155ah review
If you are looking for even more power from a high quality, long life solar battery, then look no further than the VMAX SLR155.
These batteries can be used on 12 volt, 24 volt or 48 volt systems.
Like most VMAX batteries the plates are military grade custom and these high quality plates will deliver an incredibly high lifespan of 10 – 12 years when used in float mode. As with all solar batteries if there are prolonged periods of inactivity or the battery is used incorrectly then the lifespan will be reduced.
These batteries are idea for solar panel storage but they can also be used with wind turbines and other inverters. The maximum charging current that the VMAX SLR155 can handle is 35 amps and the charging voltage is recommended at 14.7 volts.
Before you buy this battery you can use a battery calculator to assess how many batteries you need for your specific application. This will take into account both AC and DC requirements. The VMAX SLR155 weighs over 90 pounds and it is 13.5 inches long, 11.3 inches high and 6.8 inches wide.
You can use the VMAX SLR155 safely both indoors and outdoors and because of its totally leak proof design you can store these batteries at any angle. The battery is completely maintenance free and you will never have to deal with gases or dangerous fumes. It uses non hazardous materials as well.
The VMAX SLR155 has a fast recharge rate and like other VMAX batteries uses an AGM (Absorbed Glass Matt) electrolyte suspension system. This improves the efficiency of the battery overall.
This is the perfect solar battery where high power output is required. It is more expensive than some of the others in our list but you certainly get a lot of battery for your money.
Pros of the VMAX SLR155
These are summaries from real customer reviews:
- “No other solar battery comes close” – there were many customer comments about how well the VMAX SLR155 performed and many stated that it was an “exceptional” product which met all of their requirements.
- “The quality is amazing” – several customer reviews commented on the high quality build of the VMAX SLR155.
- “Very high power from this battery” – the power output of this battery was something that almost all of the customers were happy about. There were examples provided of how a single battery was powering several appliances with ease.
- “The ideal battery for solar” – there were a lot of solar power users that purchased the VMAX SLR155. The vast majority were very happy with the way that the battery performed.
Cons of the VMAX SLR155
These are summaries from real customer reviews:
- “Didn’t work well for some golf cart applications” – one customer was disappointed with the VMAX SLR155 when used on a specific golf cart system. Although this battery can be used in certain golf carts it is primarily a solar battery so this was not considered to be a big problem.
- “Only worked for two months” – another customer found that the battery stopped working after only two months. You should expect that the odd battery in a batch will be defective which is why there is a full 12 month warranty.
- “It is very heavy” – yes it is! This is a solidly built battery designed to last a long time.
3. NPP 12V 150 Amp NPG12 150Ah Rechargeable Gel Deep Cycle Battery Review
The NPP 150Ah Battery is different to the first two batteries that we have reviewed as it is a gel battery rather than using lead / acid technology. Many people believe that gel technology is better than lead / acid as it holds charge better and should last longer.
This battery has a high quality construction and the case is made of an ABS plastic which is strong and non conductive.
This provides the NPP NPG12 150Ah with a very good resistance to heat, vibration, the weather, chemicals and shock.
There are strict quality controls in force at the NPP battery factory and this means that almost all of the batteries that they produce should work to maximum efficiency. The NPG12 150Ah has a two year warranty which shows that NPP believe in their products.
With a 150Ah output, this deep cycle gel battery will meet most solar battery requirements. It has button style terminals and 12 volts and 150 amps. This battery has ISO9001 and ISO14001 certification and certified to UL and CE standards.
This battery has ISO9001 and ISO14001 certification and certified to UL and CE standards.
There is an expected lifespan of around 10 years with the NPP NPG12 150Ah. It has a low discharge rate per month of less than 2%. The battery can operate in temperatures from -20° C to 50° C. You can use it inside or outside and is ideal for solar power use in your home.
The battery can operate in temperatures from -20° C to 50° C. You can use it inside or outside and is ideal for solar power use in your home.
Apart from being a solar battery you can use the NPP battery with wind turbine systems and all manner of applications such as emergency lighting, telecommunication systems, alarm systems and computer standby power as well as many more.
The NPG12 150Ah is maintenance free and very easy to install anywhere.
This is a long battery measuring 19.1 inches in length, 9.4 inches in height and 6.7 inches in width. It is fairly heavy weighing in at around 100 pounds. The weight is due to the rugged construction of the NPG12 150Ah which has been built to last a long time.
If you like the sound of a gel solar battery rather than lead / acid then the NPP NPG12 150Ah is a very good choice and we are proud to have it in our list.
Pros of the NPP NPG12 150Ah
These are summaries from real customer reviews:
- “This battery is excellent” – a number of satisfied customers called the NPG12 150Ah an excellent battery. They were impressed with its build quality as well as its overall performance.
“Works well with 150 watt solar panel” – one customer was delighted at how well the NPG12 150Ah worked with a 150 watt solar panel. He was so impressed that he is going to purchase more.
- “Gel is better” – there were a number of customer comments about how they preferred the gel based solar battery to the lead / acid type.
Cos of the NPP NPG12 150Ah
There were no negative reviews about this battery recorded. Here are two things that you might want to take into consideration:
- “Price” – this battery is more expensive than similar performing lead / acid solar batteries. There is a general consensus that gel is better but it is really only opinion.
- “Battery is heavy” – this is a pretty heavy battery for the output provided.
4. Chrome Battery 35ah 12v DC Deep Cycle SLA Solar Energy Storage Battery Review
The last two solar batteries on our list are lower powered They cost considerably less than the top 3 solar batteries, and as a result you cannot expect the same kind of power output and build quality. This is the review of the Chrome Battery 35ah.
This solar battery uses lead / acid technology and it is fully sealed. Like its more expensive counterparts it uses AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) technology to make it completely maintenance free. No requirements to check on electrolyte gravity here.
With only a 35 Ah capacity it will be suitable for a number of solar power applications. You may have to buy a number of them to achieve the storage capacity that you are looking for. You can use this battery for other applications such as emergency lighting and powering electric scooters.
You may have to buy a number of them to achieve the storage capacity that you are looking for.
You can use this battery for other applications such as emergency lighting and powering electric scooters.
The Chrome Battery 35ah has an estimated output of 420 watt hours so you need to consider this for your power output needs. When converting to 120 volts AC you will experience a small loss in this output.
The Chrome Battery 35ah may not have the lifespan of the top solar batteries but it does use high cell compression which helps to prolong battery life. A lead / calcium alloy used in construction provides it with strength and durability.
If you are looking for a reasonably well made solar battery with a modest output then the Chrome Battery 35ah is a very good choice. The price is certainly affordable and tests have proven this to be a reliable battery.
Pros of the Chrome Battery 35ah
These are summaries from real customer reviews:
- “Great battery for low voltage items” – a lot of customers purchased the Chrome Battery 35ah to power their low voltage items such as laptops. They found that the solar battery provided several hours of power once charged from a solar panel.
- “Very good battery for the price” – there were several positive comments about the affordability of this solar battery. Overall customers felt that it represented very good value for money.
- “This is a sturdy battery” – quite a few customers commented on the sturdiness of the Chrome Battery 35ah and felt that the build quality was good for the money that they paid.
Cons of the Chrome Battery 35ah
These are summaries from real customer reviews:
- “Only holds charge for a short while” – there were a few customers who stated their disappointment over the Chrome Battery 35ah not holding a charge for much time. This was not the general view of the solar battery though.
- “Battery suddenly stopped working” – a couple of customers reported that there batteries suddenly stopped working after a fairly short period of time. Some experienced dead batteries in weeks and with others it was between 1 and 2 years.
5. ExpertPower BLPFM12_35 Sealed Lead Acid Battery Deep Cycle Solar Energy Storage Review
Our final solar battery is the ExpertPower BLPFM12_35 sealed lead / acid deep cycle. This is another low power output that comes at a very affordable price. These batteries are pretty well made and will deliver a good performance.
There are high quality materials used to build the ExpertPower BLPFM12_35. This makes them pretty rugged and durable and up to most indoor tasks.
Solar power storage is a main application but also you can use this battery for emergency lighting, uninterruptable power supply, home security systems, electric scooters and so on.
This is a 12 volt 35 amp sealed lead / acid battery that is maintenance free and leak proof. You can use this battery over different temperature ranges thanks to the AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) technology. The ExpertPower BLPFM12_35 is very easy to install and the batteries are valve regulated.
The ExpertPower BLPFM12_35 only weighs 25 pounds and its dimensions are 7.7 inches long by 6.1 inches high by 5.1 inches wide.
For solar panel storage and low power applications this is a very good choice of solar battery.
Pros of the ExpertPower BLPFM12_35
These are summaries from real customer reviews:
- “This small battery performed well” – customers were happy overall with the performance of this solar battery.
- “It was easy to connect to my solar power inverter” – there were a few comments about how easy it was to connect the ExpertPower BLPFM12_35 to solar power inverters.
- “A good sized battery that is well made” – the smaller size of this solar battery was appreciated by quite a few customers. There were also complimentary comments about the overall quality of the battery too.
Cons of the ExpertPower BLPFM12_35
These are summaries from real customer reviews:
- “Battery lost capacity quickly” – a small number of customers stated that their batteries had started to lose capacity in as short a time as three months.
- “Will not hold a charge” – one customer was disappointed that the ExpertPower BLPFM12_35 did not hold a charge. This was certainly not the majority viewpoint.
Summary
We hope that you found all of the information that you need in our top solar battery review.
We strongly believe that the 5 solar batteries that made it to our list are the best in terms of performance and price.
If you want quality and performance then the Vmaxtanks Vmaxslr125 AGM Deep Cycle 12v 125ah take some beating.
If a gel solar battery is a preference for you then go for the NPP 12V 150 Amp NPG12 150Ah Rechargeable Gel Deep Cycle solar battery.
At the lower power end of the scale then we recommend the Chrome Battery 35ah 12v DC Deep Cycle SLA Solar Energy Storage battery.
Here are some other good picks available on Amazon:
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