Help CenterPV Calculations
Depth of Discharge (DoD) by battery technology
Calculation3 min readUpdated: 2025-06
Depth of Discharge (DoD) is the maximum percentage of nominal capacity that should be discharged. Regularly exceeding this threshold dramatically reduces battery lifespan.
SolarDim Pro auto-updates DoD when you change battery technology. Never manually enter 80% for a Gel battery — it would reduce its lifespan by 70%.
| Technology | Recommended DoD | Cycles (at nominal DoD) | African context |
|---|---|---|---|
| LiFePO4 | 80% | 3,000–6,000 | Recommended > 2 kWh, high temperatures |
| AGM Lead-Acid | 50% | 300–500 | Economic backup, temperate zones |
| Gel Lead-Acid | 50% | 400–600 | Handles heat better than AGM |
| Flooded Lead | 50% | 200–350 | Tight budget only, requires maintenance |
C_Ah = (E_Wh × autonomy_days) ÷ (V_sys × DoD)E_Wh = daily consumption · V_sys = system voltage · DoD = depth of discharge
3,450 Wh
Daily consumption
2 days autonomy
359 Ah
LiFePO4 (80% DoD)
8.6 kWh nominal
575 Ah
Gel (50% DoD)
13.8 kWh nominal
For sub-Saharan Africa with temperatures > 35°C, SolarDim Pro recommends LiFePO4 for any system > 2 kWh. The higher upfront cost is offset by longer lifespan (10 years vs 3–4 for Gel).
Common mistakes
- Entering 80% DoD for a Gel/AGM battery "because it worked with lithium"
- Ignoring ambient temperature > 35°C, which accelerates lead-acid battery aging
- Comparing only purchase price instead of total cost (cycles × capacity) across technologies