Cycle: the mileage counter of your battery
The battery life is not expressed in years but in cycles: one cycle is fully charged and discharged once. Modern home batteries with lithium iron phosphate cells (LFP) are built on 6,000 cycles or more. Count on it: a well-sized battery makes about one cycle per day, around 300 to 350 per year because in the dark winter months it doesn't get full every day. At that rate, the cells last almost two decades before they reach their cycle limit.
In practice, half cycles and partial loads also reach the counter: two times half loads count roughly as one cycle. How the battery makes that cycle daily, read in how a home battery works. Important to remember: a battery that is too large for your profile, makes less cycles and lasts longer, but also less. Longevity is not an end in itself; rendering during those years is.
Degradation: your battery doesn't die, it shrinks
A home battery does not suddenly stop working at the end of its life. It gradually loses capacity: each year it can store a little less energy. This process is called degradation and it is normal, just as with your smartphone, only much slower. LFP cells typically degrade by only a few percent in the first years, then the rate levels off. Manufacturers typically promise that 70 to 80% of the original capacity remains available after ten years.
For your calculation: a battery of 10 kWh behaves like a battery of 7 to 8 kWh after ten years. She's still working fine, she's just not making any sense. We take that shrinkage into our calculations on your quarter dates, so that the payback period Which we predict also at year eight is still true.
Warranty: read what it really says
Almost every manufacturer advertises with ten years warranty, but the small print varies considerably. Check these points before you draw:
- Cycle or energy transfer limit: Many guarantees expire after a maximum number of cycles or spent kWh. Anyone who intensively makes his battery work on a dynamic contract will reach that limit faster.
- Who executes the guarantee: A guarantee is only worth as much as the party she has to keep. A brand without Belgian support and an installer that disappeared next year make every promise worthless. Also read our article about what to do if you installer no longer available is.
- Conditions: registration within a time limit, placement by an approved installer, Internet connection for monitoring. Miss one, and your claim can be denied.
That's how you stretch the life span.
The biggest enemies of battery cells are heat, freezing cold and extreme charging conditions. You can take this into account when installing and using:
- Choose a good place: a garage, storage room or technical space with stable temperature. Not in the full sun against a south facade, not in an unheated garden house that freezes in winter.
- Respect the charging limits: the battery management system maintains a buffer at the upper and lower limits by default. Those settings are there for a reason; leave them unchanged.
- Keep the software up to date: Updates often improve thermal management and loading strategy. A monitoring system gets it automatically.
- Have any abnormalities checked: error messages or a module that deviates, you better report early. We often see it through monitoring rather than the customer himself.
A correctly placed and correctly used battery achieves its promised service life; we deliver any installation AREI-compliant and tested. Want to know what that means for your situation? All info and prices can be found at our home batteries, or read first whether a home battery is profitable for your profile.
Frequently asked questions about the lifespan of a home battery
Cannot find your question? Call or email us for an answer from an installer rather than a salesperson.
How long does a home battery last?
Modern LFP batteries are built on 6,000 cycles or more. About one cycle a day means 15 years or more. The battery does not fail afterwards, but has noticeably less capacity.
Does a dynamic contract shorten the life of my battery?
More intensive use means more cycles per year, so the cycle limit comes in sight faster. On the other hand, every additional cycle also brings extra benefits. Check if the warranty contains a cycle or continuous limit.
What exactly does the guarantee of a home battery cover?
Usually a capacity warranty: a minimum percentage of the original capacity after ten years, often limited to a maximum number of cycles or kWh throughput. Read the conditions: registration, installation by a recognised installer and monitoring are often mandatory.
Where do I place my battery best for a long life?
In a room with stable temperature, such as a garage or storage room. Avoid places that heat up heavily in summer or freeze in winter. We look at the best essay during the site visit.
Do I have to maintain my home battery?
Physical maintenance is minimal: keeping the space dust-free and ventilated is usually sufficient. More important are software updates and monitoring, so abnormal cells or error messages are noticed early.
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What applies to your situation?
Equipment selection, price, scheduling and any conditions will be confirmed for your project. This information does not replace an assessment of your installation or an individual quote.