Having a backup battery system is one of the best investments you can make for your home.
In the event of a power outage, a backup battery provides a safety net for you and your family. Keeping your home up and running. It can power all your essential appliances, such as lights and refrigerators, and even keep your heating going during the cold winter months.
But it’s no secret that batteries don’t last forever, and many are curious about how long a battery backup system will last.
Modern technological advancements have dramatically increased the efficiency and durability of battery systems. But even so, there are still plenty of things you can do as a user to maximize the longevity of your battery system.
In this guide, we’ll take you through all the essential things you can do to ensure you're getting the most out of your backup system and keeping it healthy for as long as possible.
How Long Do Batteries Normally Last?
Modern lithium-ion batteries, such as those found in Bluetti’s systems, are expected to last as long as 15 years. Essentially, every time you fully charge and then fully discharge a battery, we call that a ‘cycle’.
Batteries are manufactured to last for a certain number of cycles before their total capacity drops below 80%. For example, the Bluetti AC500+B300S batteries have a LiFePO₄ (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery with 3,500+ life cycles before capacity falls to 80%. This means you can fully charge and discharge the battery 3500 times before the total capacity reaches 80%.
By comparison, older nickel-cobalt (NCM) batteries often only last for 1,000 to 2,000 cycles. With lead-acid being even lower with just 500-1000 cycles. However, usage habits and several other factors can diminish or help improve the lifespan of a battery.
Factors That Affect a Backup Battery’s Lifespan
Cycles aren’t the only thing that influences the longevity of these batteries. The way you use them and the environment they are kept in also will have an impact on how well they perform over time.
We’ve already touched on how battery types and usage cycles influence their lifespan.
Let’s take a look at what else affects a battery's longevity and discuss how to get the most out of them so you can keep your system running healthily for many years to come.
Depth of Discharge
Depth of Discharge, or DoD, refers to how low the battery's charge gets before it’s recharged. Depending on how deeply a battery is run down before it’s recharged, it will affect the overall lifespan of the battery slightly.
When a battery is deeply discharged, which generally means more than 80% of the total capacity of the battery has been used, the process of recharging causes more stress on the battery. This stress leads to wear on the internal components, which hastens the decline of its overall health. Doing this once or twice isn’t such a big deal, but if done consistently, it will negatively impact the battery's performance and longevity.
To circumvent this, you can do what’s called a shallow discharge by using less than 80% of the battery’s total capacity (meaning you’re leaving at least 20% in the tank) and then recharging it. For example, if you normally let your battery drain to 10% or even 0% before charging it, you could instead aim to not let it discharge below 50%.
This will reduce accumulative stress on the battery and ultimately help to extend its lifespan.
Temperature Conditions
While it may be tempting to store your backup battery system in the garage, exposure to extreme temperatures (both high and low) can significantly impact its lifespan. This is especially important in those cold Canadian winters where temperatures might be extremely low in certain areas of your home. Generally, batteries perform their best at moderate temperatures of around 20°C to 25°C.
When the temperature is much higher than this, it causes additional stress on the battery. Extremely low temperatures temporarily reduce battery capacity as the chemical reactions that generate power slow down in colder conditions.
Prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures will reduce the number of your effective cycle charges and cause the total capacity to diminish sooner than expected. Where possible, find a nice, moderate area to keep your batteries.
Charging Practices
Similarly to DoD (Depth of Discharge), when it comes to charging the battery backup, the voltage used needs to be within the recommended amounts:
Charging voltage for lithium-ion batteries is typically around 14.4V to 14.6V per 12V battery (for systems using 12V batteries).
For larger systems (e.g., 24V or 48V setups), the charging voltage will scale accordingly, usually around 28.8V to 29.2V for 24V systems, and 57.6V to 58.4V for 48V systems.
When a battery is charged beyond its recommended voltage, it can damage the battery. Similarly, undercharging a battery will lead to reduced inefficiency.
While these issues are rare and usually caused by a faulty charger, you can use Buetti’s in-built Battery Management System (BMS), which is accessible through the app, to regulate voltage during charging.
It also provides valuable insights into how the battery has performed during the charging process, helping you optimize its usage.
This incredibly helpful feature will ensure your battery is charging optimally for maximum lifespan.
Physical Damage
This one might seem obvious, but it’s still very important. Physical damage to the power unit or any batteries, such as impacts, drops, or spills, can cause damage to the unit's internal components.
This will affect the unit in a number of ways, usually leading to reduced efficiency. But in rare cases, it can cause overheating or even a complete system failure. Where possible, try to keep your system in a safe place where it’s not going to be accidentally damaged.
Load Demand and Power Draw
The load amount and frequency of use affect battery lifespan. If your backup battery system is frequently required to power high-demand appliances, such as air conditioners and heaters, it will eat through charge cycles faster.
During a power outage, you can reduce the total load demand on the battery by limiting the amount of high-demand appliances being used during that period.
Great Choices for Lasting Battery Backup
While there are plenty of excellent options within Bluetti’s catalog, here are two recommendations that will ensure your home battery system stays up and running for years to come.
Bluetti AC300 + B300K Home Battery Backup
The Bluetti AC300 + B300K is built to last with LiFePO₄ batteries, ensuring both high performance and a long lifespan. It utilizes a modular system so you can easily expand your power capacity down the line. It’s a system designed to maximize battery health and longevity.
- 3,500+ life cycles to 80% capacity for long-term reliability
- Modular design for scalable power storage, adaptable to your needs
- Advanced Battery Management System (BMS) that optimizes voltage, temperature, and safety
- Efficient charge-discharge regulation helps reduce wear and tear on the battery
- Designed for energy-efficient usage, ensuring minimal energy loss and prolonged battery life
Bluetti AC500 + B300S Home Battery Backup
The Bluetti AC500 + B300S is engineered for both efficiency and endurance, once again featuring high-performance LiFePO₄ batteries. It has integrated safety and smart management systems you can access through the convenient app. This setup ensures you get the most out of your backup power system for years to come.
- 3,500+ life cycles to 80% capacity, delivering sustained high performance
- Active Battery Management System (BMS) for intelligent voltage regulation and safety
- Thermoregulation mechanisms to maintain optimal temperature for longer battery life
- Adjustable power output prevents overloading, extending the lifespan of your system
- Ideal for continuous use, providing consistent power while reducing overall stress on the system
- Both systems come with a mighty 4-year warranty, ensuring absolute peace of mind for years to come!
Is a Home Battery Worth the Investment?
Ultimately, whether a home battery backup system is worth it or not depends on your goals.
For those who are looking to keep their home up and running during power outages, it’s perhaps less about making a monetary return and more about convenience. Having your electronics disabled for a period of time can be a real hassle, but a robust backup solution ensures you’ll never have to deal with it.
Others may be looking for more of a tangible monetary return on investment. Thanks to the modularity and numerous ways to expand Bluetti’s battery systems, you can easily create optimizations that increase the return on investment.
For example, pairing a power unit with solar panels is a fantastic way to assist in charging the batteries with green, renewable energy sources.
Similarly, thanks to the Battery Management System, you can optimize charging times outside of peak hours for cheaper electricity.
Combining these cost-saving systems with the best practices we’ve mentioned here to ensure ideal longevity can add up to substantial cost savings over time.
Power Up for the Long Haul
Maximizing the lifespan of your home backup battery system comes down to mindful usage, proper maintenance, and optimizing environmental conditions. By understanding key factors like depth of discharge, temperature control, and charging practices, you can significantly extend the effectiveness and longevity of your battery. Investing in high-quality systems like the Bluetti AC300 + B300K or AC500 + B300S ensures your backup power remains reliable when you need it most. With proper care, your battery can continue providing peace of mind and energy security for many years to come.
