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Solar Dictionary & Guide

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Lithium vs. Tubular Batteries

Tubular/Lead Acid: Cheaper upfront but heavy, require maintenance (distilled water), and only last 2-3 years. Usable capacity is ~50%.
Lithium (LiFePO4): More expensive but lighter, maintenance-free, and last 10-15 years. Usable capacity is ~90-100%. Over 5 years, Lithium is actually cheaper.

Understanding Solar Panels

Monocrystalline: Higher efficiency, black look, works better in low light/cloudy weather.
Polycrystalline: Bluish look, slightly cheaper, but less efficient. requires more roof space for same output.

Inverter Sizing (kVA)

kVA is Load Capacity: It determines *what* you can turn on at once. A 3kVA inverter can run a freezer + TV + lights. To run an AC, you likely need 5kVA+.
kWh is Storage: Battery size determines *how long* things run.

Depth of Discharge (DoD)

Never drain batteries to 0%. For Lead Acid, stop at 50% to prevent damage. For Lithium, you can safely go down to 10% (3v/12v/48v is approx 10%)

Terminology

Inverter

The heart of the system. It converts DC power (from batteries/solar) into AC power (what your appliances use). Most modern hybrid inverters combine the features of inverting, as well as charging input via AC (grid) and MPPT PV (Solar) input

Battery (Storage)

Stores energy for later use. Capacity is measured in kWh. A larger battery bank means your appliances run for longer hours during a blackout.

Solar Panel (PV)

Generates electricity from sunlight to charge your batteries and power your home during the day. PV stands for PhotoVoltaic

Wire Sizing (Gauge)

Selecting the correct cable thickness. Think of wire like a water pipe: a thin pipe restricts flow and bursts under pressure. A thin wire resists current, causing heat (Fire Risk) and power loss (Voltage Drop). We measure thickness in mm² (e.g., 16mm, 50mm). Thicker is always safer. Funny enough, lower voltage needs thicker cables

Lithium vs. Tubular

The battle of technologies. Tubular (Lead-Acid) is cheaper upfront, heavy, requires water topping, lasts 3-4 years, and should not be used in confined spaces because they release gases during charging. Lithium costs more upfront but is maintenance-free, lighter, charges faster, and lasts 15 - 20 years. Over 10 years, Lithium is actually cheaper.

kVA vs. kWh

The "Pipe" vs. the "Tank". kVA (Inverter) is the width of the pipe—it determines how many appliances you can turn on at once. kWh (Battery) is the size of the tank—it determines how long those appliances will run.

kW vs. kWh

Power vs. Energy. kW is Speed, kWh is Distance. A 1kW Iron (Speed) running for 1 Hour (Time) consumes 1kWh (Distance). To size an inverter, we look at your total kW. To size a battery, we look at your total kWh.

kVA (Apparent Power)

The total capacity of an inverter. Think of it as the muscle. A 5kVA inverter is stronger than a 3kVA one, allowing you to run heavier loads like pumping machines or freezers.

kW (Kilowatt)

A measure of Real Power. It represents how much electricity you are using right now. If you turn on a 2kW electric iron, you are instantly demanding 2kW of power.

kWh (Kilowatt-Hour)

A unit of stored energy. If you have a 10kWh battery, it means you have enough "fuel" to run a 1kW load for 10 hours, or a 2kW load for 5 hours.

Cycles (Battery Life)

How we measure battery lifespan. One "Cycle" is discharging a battery and charging it back up. Tubular batteries last roughly 1,200 cycles. Tinitop Lithium batteries last over 8,000 cycles.

DoD (Depth of Discharge)

The safe usage limit of a battery. Old batteries only allowed 50% usage before dying. Our modern Lithium batteries allow 80-90% usage, effectively giving you nearly double the usable power for the same rating.

MPPT (Solar Tracking)

Smart technology in our solar chargers. It tracks the sun's intensity to squeeze 30% more energy out of your panels compared to older PWM chargers.

LiFePO4

Lithium Iron Phosphate. The safest modern battery chemistry. Unlike phone batteries (which can overheat), LiFePO4 is non-explosive, stable, and offers the longest lifespan in the industry.

Tenor

The duration of your loan repayment (e.g., 12 or 24 months). A longer tenor results in smaller monthly payments.

Equity

The initial deposit required for financing. Usually 0% for short loans and 20% for long-term bank financing.

Reducing Balance

A fair interest method where the interest amount drops as you pay off the principal. You only pay interest on what you still owe, not what you borrowed initially.

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Solar Dictionary & Guide

Expert Knowledgebase

Lithium vs. Tubular Batteries

Understanding Solar Panels

Inverter Sizing (kVA)

Depth of Discharge (DoD)

Terminology

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