What happens to solar power when batteries are full?

Solar power is a popular and environmentally friendly way of generating electricity. However, one of the challenges with solar power is that it's intermittent, which means it's not always available when you need it. Fortunately, battery storage technology has made it possible to store excess solar power generated during the day for use at night or during times when the sun isn't shining.

So, what happens to solar power when batteries are full? When solar panels generate more power than is needed to power a home or business, the excess energy is stored in batteries. The batteries are designed to store excess solar power during the day, so it can be used at night or during periods of low solar power output. Once the batteries are full, any excess energy generated by the solar panels is lost.

This might seem like a waste, but it's important to remember that batteries have a limited capacity. If excess energy continued to be stored in the batteries after they were full, it could cause damage to the batteries or even cause them to explode.

To prevent this from happening, solar power systems are typically designed to prevent overcharging of the batteries. This is achieved through a charge controller, which regulates the flow of electricity from the solar panels to the batteries. When the batteries are full, the charge controller stops the flow of energy from the solar panels to the batteries, preventing them from becoming overcharged.

In addition to preventing overcharging, the charge controller also ensures that the batteries are always charged to their optimal level. Over time, batteries can become degraded if they are not charged to their full capacity. By ensuring that the batteries are always charged to their optimal level, the charge controller helps to extend the lifespan of the batteries.

In conclusion, when solar power batteries are full, any excess energy generated by the solar panels is lost. This is done to prevent overcharging of the batteries and to ensure that they are always charged to their optimal level. Although it might seem like a waste, this is an important part of the design of solar power systems that helps to ensure their long-term reliability and effectiveness.