As discussed in the previous article, the cost of electricity is on the rise. As a result, people are shifting towards solar energy and energy storage systems. When it comes to energy storage, one popular battery size that comes to mind is 10kWh. However, the question arises: How long will a 10 kWh battery last?
Buying a 10kWh battery without knowing its duration is not wise. I always recommend buying batteries that can meet your electricity demands smoothly. Therefore, knowing how long batteries last is essential before going to market. In this article, we will discuss everything about 10 kWh batteries. Let’s begin!
What is a 10 kWh Battery?
Before delving into the details, let’s first understand what 10 kWh batteries are.
The 10 kWh battery is a type of small energy storage system. It can store a maximum of 10 kilowatt-hours of power (energy). These types of batteries are ideal for domestic use in the event of electricity outages. Their storage capacity is enough to supply electricity to homes with moderate power consumption.
The “kWh” is something that confuses people when they go out to buy batteries. Let’s understand the exact meaning of this “kWh.” The letters k, W, and h indicate specific units as shown below:
k = kilo
W = Watt
h = hours
k represents the kilo, which means thousand (1000). W is representative of watts, which is the unit of power. The electricity that is supplied to our homes is measured in watts. The kWh represents the kilowatt-hour of power used in one hour. Now, let’s return to our battery type, which has a 10 kWh specification.
It means that these batteries can store a maximum of 10 kilowatt-hours. In simple terms, these batteries can supply 1000 kilowatts of power for one hour. If you have an appliance that consumes 10 kilowatt-hours per hour, this battery will run that appliance for one hour. Batteries of 10 kWh are a decent option to use as a backup power source in any home.
10 kWh 電池可使用多久？
There is an exact answer to this question. The timing and the lasting of a 10 kWh battery depend on the energy consumption. These batteries may last for many days if the power consumption is lower and vice versa. On the flip side, these batteries may last for an hour if you have multiple high-power demanding appliances running at a time.
As I said earlier, 10 kWh batteries can store a maximum of 10 kilowatt-hours of power, which can be used for one hour. Suppose you have a device that consumes 10,000 watts of power in an hour. In such a case, the battery will run that appliance for one hour.
Remember, there is no single practical appliance that consumes 10000 watts per hour. I used it as an example to help you better understand. Similarly, suppose you have a device that uses 1000 watts in an hour. In such a case, the 10 kWh battery will last for 10 hours and keep the 1000-watt appliance running.
How Long Does a 10 kWh Battery Last as Per Different Devices?
Suppose you have a 10 kWh battery and you want to know how long it will last. In case you have to check the devices you’re using. Each appliance has a different power consumption. For example, an LED bulb consumes very little power (approximately 100 watts). If a 10 kWh battery powers a single LED bulb, it will last for over 1,000 hours.
On the other hand, air conditioners use more power (around 1500 watts). If the battery is powering an air conditioner, it will last approximately 7 hours. Additionally, the simultaneous operation of multiple appliances also affects the timing of 10kWh. Here is a table showing various devices, their power consumption, and a 10 kWh battery lasting:
| 裝置 | Power Usage | 10 kWh Battery Lasting |
| LED Light Bulbs | 100 watts | 100 hours |
| 筆記型電腦 | 50 watts | 200 hours |
| Refrigerator | 150 watts | 66 hours |
| TV (Medium Size) | 200 watts | 50 hours |
| Wi-Fi Router | 20 watts | 500 hours |
| Washing Machine | 500 watts | 20 hours |
| Electric Heater | 2,000 watts (2 kW) | 5 hours |
| Small Air Conditioner | 1500 watts (1.5 kW) | 6.6 hours |
| Whole House (average) | 2,000–3,000 watts | 3–5 hours |
Quick Note: The power consumption of the device mentioned may differ from your specific device. Additionally, devices of different brands can consume slightly higher or lower power. You can check the power consumption of your device by referring to the device’s user manual. The table above provides a general overview of the lasting power of 10 kWh batteries.
How Long Does a 10 kW Battery Take to Charge?
The battery’s charging time depends on the charging power. Remember, there are different types of chargers available that differ in terms of the charging power. For example, you have a 2 kW charger to charge the 10kWh battery. Here is the formula for finding the charging speed.
Charging Time = Battery Size ÷ Charging Power
In our case, the battery has a capacity of 10 kWh, and our charger has a total power of 2 kW.
Charging Time = 10 kWh ÷ 2 kW = 5 hours
The 2kW charger will easily complete charging the 10kWh batteries in five hours. However, the charger rated for 2kW generally doesn’t have ideal output. Their practical charging power is slightly lower than 2kW. So, you can expect the battery to charge in between 5 or 5.5 hours.
In some cases, people use solar panel energy to charge the batteries.
Some people believe that charging the battery directly by solar energy is faster. The charging time of a battery depends on the charging power. Suppose you have a solar system that produces 4 kW of power. You can use this power to charge the battery. You can use the formula mentioned above to find the charging speed:
Charging Time = Battery Size ÷ Charging Power
Charging Time = 10 kWh ÷ 4 kW = 2.5 hours
For charging speed, the energy source does not matter (either use conventional energy or solar). The charging speed of a 10kWh battery depends on the charging power. If your solar system provides more charging power, the battery will charge faster. Similarly, if you have a 5kW charger instead of a 2kW charger, this will also decrease the charging time of the battery.
Can a 10 kWh Battery Power a Whole House?
The answer is YES! The 10kWh batteries can easily meet the energy demand of a home with optimal power needs. However, you should not expect these batteries to run your home for many days. Instead, this battery can serve as a power backup, supplying power for a few hours in case of an electricity outage.
However, it still depends on the power consumption of your home. Suppose your home has few fans, one air conditioner, and a refrigerator. In such a case, this energy storage system of 10kWh can efficiently run your home for a few hours. However, if you have a large appliance that consumes more power, these batteries may not be sufficient.
If you have a smaller number of appliances and require less power, the 10 kWh batteries can last even longer than 20 hours. Here’s how a 10 kWh battery performs when used in a typical home:
| Usage Scenario & Active
Appliances |
Estimated Power Usage | How Long Will 10 kWh Last? |
| Basic use: LED lights, Wi-Fi, laptop | 300 watts | About 33 hours |
| Normal use: lights, fridge, TV, fans | 800 watts | About 12.5 hours |
| Medium use: fridge, AC (1 unit), lights | 2,000 watts (2 kW) | About 5 hours |
| High use: AC, microwave, washing machine, etc. | 3,000 watts (3 kW) | About 3.3 hours |
Factors That Affect 10kWh Battery Runtime
As I said earlier, the timing, lasting, and overall performance of 10 kWh batteries depend on many factors. To maximize the battery’s lasting power, you must control these parameters. In the section below, I’ll discuss the key factors that can influence the timing of a 10 kWh battery.
1- Power Consumption
10kWh batteries offer 10 kilowatt-hours of power, which can be used over a period of one hour, right? Now, if your power consumption is higher, the battery won’t last as long. Suppose you have many appliances that require higher power. Using such an appliance on a 10kWh battery will result in a shorter-lasting battery. Similarly, if you have an appliance that requires smaller power, the 10kWh can last for a long duration.
2- Battery Efficiency
The battery’s efficiency is another essential parameter to consider. Some batteries have an efficiency of 85-90%. They don’t lose much energy during the charging and recharging process. Generally, energy-efficient 10 kWh batteries can store around 9.5 kWh of power, and their timing is also good. Lithium-ion batteries are the best example. On the flip side, some batteries are less efficient (70 to 75%). The loss of energy happens in these batteries, affecting their lasting power.
3- Temperature and Environment
The lower temperature affects the battery’s capacity. A 10kWh battery may charge up to 90% in winter seasons. During charging and discharging, some more energy is also lost. You get 80 to 85% of net energy storage in the winter. As a result, the battery lasts for a shorter duration in the winter. When the temperature is favourable, the batteries charge completely, which increases their performance.
4- Age of the Battery
The newer batteries have excellent storage capacity. Over time, the storage capacity of the batteries decreases significantly. Suppose you have an old 10kWh battery. It will only charge up to 75-80%, depending on its age. During use, these batteries will drain quickly. Additionally, batteries with higher charging cycles also offer reduced lasting power.
總結
Are 10 kWh batteries worth the value? The answer is a big YES! They offer optimal power, which can easily meet the power demand of small houses. I don’t consider them ideal if you have a large home with extensive electricity usage. However, you can use it as a power backup during an electricity outage.
As you are aware, grid stations are facing increased loads. Due to this, their electricity outages are becoming common. In such a case, you can purchase 10kWh batteries to manage the load shedding. Remember, how long a 10 kWh battery lasts depends on your usage. If you manage their use carefully, these batteries can provide power for around 10 to 12 hours easily.