Batteries and Solar Fit Outs in Lake Macquarie NSW

After travelling Australia to find the right place for their new business, husband and wife power duo Terry and Debbie Luckman threw open the doors of Battery World Port Macquarie. The store specialises in batteries and solar fit outs including dual systems.

Batteries that are incorrectly disposed of are causing fires in garbage trucks and recycling centres. A fire at Blacksmiths this year was reportedly caused by a laptop battery concealed in a cardboard box.

Solar Batteries

Solar batteries are an increasingly popular way to harness the sun’s free energy. They can save you money and reduce your electricity bills, while reducing your carbon footprint. They are also safe to use and don’t contain any toxic substances, making them a great choice for Lake Macquarie residents.

A large community battery – made up of Telsa battery packs – was unveiled at a development in Lake Macquarie this week by distribution network Ausgrid. It’s part of a trial that lets participants store their excess rooftop solar energy, which is then exported to the grid. The project was welcomed by federal energy minister Chris Bowen, who visited the site.

Developer CEP Energy has announced plans for what it says will be Australia’s biggest big battery, to be built in the NSW Hunter Valley. The $2.4bn project, at Kurri Kurri near Newcastle, would have a capacity of up to 1,200MW – eight times greater than the Hornsdale Power Station battery in South Australia.

Lead Acid Batteries

Invented in 1859, lead acid is the most widely used rechargeable battery technology. Its bulk power capability and cost-per-watt basis make it popular for automotive, golf cart, marine, electric scooters, motorcycles, and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).

In a standard “flooded” lead acid battery, electrodes are immersed in liquid sulfuric acid. Each discharge/charge cycle permanently depletes the battery of a small amount of capacity. This deterioration in performance is known as ‘wearing-down’.

A flooded battery requires periodic maintenance to monitor the specific gravity of the electrolyte and for periodic “boost charging”. This is a process that reverses the electrolyte stratification, which causes gassing of hydrogen and oxygen.

A flooded battery must also be regularly treated with a compound such as Epsom salts or EDTA to temporarily revive the electrodes and restore lost capacity. However, such treatment does not extend the life of a flooded battery. It is important to store damaged batteries in a bunded area until they can be collected for recycling.

Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries

Nickel metal hydride batteries (NiMH) are rechargeable batteries that can be used over and over again. They are smaller and lighter than traditional batteries and can be used in many electronics. They also have a higher energy capacity than other battery types. They do not contain hazardous substances like lead, mercury or cadmium.

They use water as an electrolyte solvent and do not explode or ignite when they come in contact with sparks. This makes them safer than other rechargeable batteries, including lithium-ion and nickel-cadmium batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are more expensive than NiMH batteries, but they have a longer life and offer better cycle life than other rechargeable battery chemistries.

These batteries are often used in portable electronic devices. They contain a small amount of rare earth metals (REMs), which are becoming increasingly important due to their lack of availability from natural resources. REMs can be found in e-waste, which contains a much higher concentration of them than in natural materials.

Lithium Ion Batteries

Lithium technology powers a mind-boggling amount of the devices we use. It is found in our cellphones, tablets, laptops, electric toothbrushes and scooters, solar power backup storage devices, and even some of our power tools.

Inside each battery are sheets of lithium cobalt oxide and graphite, surrounded by an electrolyte solution, typically made from ether. The solution acts as a separator, keeping the two electrodes (anode and cathode) apart through microscopic holes, and allows lithium ions to pass between them.

Increasing the charge current does not hasten the full-charge state by much – a high current will reach Stage 1 faster, but Stage 2 and the saturation charge will take longer. It’s important to know this before using a lithium battery, as it will be significantly damaged if you take it all the way down to zero. This is why marine sparkies recommend putting layers of electrical tape over battery terminals and placing rubber boots on cable connections.

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