Comparative energy analysis of static and automated switching configurations in lead-acid battery systems

Abstract

The widespread deployment of lead-acid batteries in energy storage systems necessitates the optimization of circuit configurations to enhance power efficiency. In this study, we experimentally compare static (series/parallel) and automated switching configurations in lead-acid battery systems using 5 Ah and 20 Ah VRLA packs under a constant resistive load. Energy is computed from synchronized voltage–current logs. Across five switching intervals (15–120 min), dynamic operation consistently yields higher energy than static baselines. In 5 Ah tests, the 60-min interval delivered 318.39 Wh (+ 47% vs. best static); in 20 Ah tests, the 90-min interval delivered 706.64 Wh (+ 42% vs. best static; + 59% vs. series). The data indicate an optimal interval of 60–90 min, explained by a balance between diffusion-limited voltage recovery during rest and rate-dependent Peukert losses during discharge. These results demonstrate a simple, low-cost path to enhance energy utilization without changing battery chemistry or capacity, informing storage design for renewable and distributed DC systems. These findings underscore the potential of dynamic switching strategies to enhance battery energy utilization, particularly in renewable energy integration and distributed power management applications. Notably, this study focuses on output energy performance resulting from circuit design variations, without examining the internal electrochemical characteristics of the batteries.</p