Solar Batteries
Lithium vs tubular batteries, sizing for load-shedding and cost per kWh.
Solar batteries · Tubular
Tubular Battery Price in Karachi
Tubular batteries are the familiar low-cost option. They are heavy and need care, but with the right bank and habits they give years of backup.
- ✓ Building a battery bank
- ✓ Usable capacity
- ✓ Free estimate on WhatsApp
What a tubular battery is
A tubular battery is a lead-acid battery with tube-shaped positive plates. The design is built for deep, repeated discharge, which is why it is the usual choice for inverters and solar. Exide, Phoenix and Hawk are common names in Pakistan.
The standard size is 12 V. A battery described as 200 Ah at 12 V stores about 2.4 kWh on paper. You cannot use all of it. To protect its life, a lead-acid battery is normally used down to around half its capacity, which leaves about 1.2 kWh.
That gap between paper capacity and usable capacity is the main thing buyers miss.
Tubular battery prices we quote
Prices are per 12 V battery. A working system needs several.
| Item | Detail | Price (PKR) |
|---|---|---|
| Tubular 100 Ah, 12 V | Lead-acid, needs a bank of several | Rs 15,000 to 40,000, by capacity and brand |
| Tubular 150 Ah, 12 V | Common mid-size battery | Rs 15,000 to 40,000, by capacity and brand |
| Tubular 200 Ah, 12 V | Lead-acid, needs a bank of several | Rs 15,000 to 40,000, by capacity and brand |
Prices updated on 22 October 2026. Prices change often, so contact us for the latest exact price.
Building a bank: examples
Batteries are joined in series to reach the system voltage. These are arithmetic examples using 12 V, 200 Ah batteries.
| System voltage | Batteries in the bank | Paper capacity | Usable at half depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 V | 1 battery | 2.4 kWh | About 1.2 kWh |
| 24 V | 2 batteries | 4.8 kWh | About 2.4 kWh |
| 48 V | 4 batteries | 9.6 kWh | About 4.8 kWh |
| 48 V, two strings | 8 batteries | 19.2 kWh | About 9.6 kWh |
Always connect batteries of the same brand, age and capacity. A mix drags the whole bank down.
Looking after a tubular bank
Tubular batteries reward care. They punish neglect.
- Top up with distilled water. Flooded types lose water when charging. Check levels on a schedule and never use tap water.
- Keep terminals clean and tight. Corrosion adds resistance and heat.
- Ventilate the room. Charging releases hydrogen. Keep naked flames and sparks away.
- Avoid deep discharge. Set the inverter cut-off to protect the batteries.
- Match the charge settings. The inverter charge voltage must suit tubular batteries, not lithium.
Heat and the Karachi battery room
A common rule of thumb says lead-acid life roughly halves for every 8 to 10°C above 25°C. Karachi has an average daily maximum of about 35.7°C in May and June, and a closed store room can be hotter than that.
That makes placement important. Choose a shaded, ventilated spot, not a closed cupboard. A cooler room can add a year or more of life to a bank. Ask the installer where the batteries will sit before the quote is final.
Lithium or tubular?
Tubular costs less upfront, needs care and wears out sooner under daily use. Lithium costs more and gives more usable energy and cycles. For occasional backup, tubular can make sense. For daily cycling, run the cost-per-usable-kWh sum on both. The method is on our lithium battery page.
How warranty claims work with us
If a part fails under warranty, we file the claim with the brand and replace the part once the brand approves it. The time depends on the brand's approval. Repairs under warranty are done by the brand. All other after-sales service is done by us.
FAQs
Questions people ask us
Short answers. For your own property, send us your electricity bill and roof details.
Ask on WhatsAppIt depends on the brand and the dollar rate on the day. Send the number you need and we will quote it.
It depends on your system voltage and your backup hours. A 48 V system uses four 12 V batteries per string.
It depends on how deeply you discharge it, the heat and the care. Ask for the warranty terms in writing.
Flooded types do. Check the levels on a schedule and top up with distilled water only.
No. Mixed batteries pull each other down and shorten the life of the whole bank.
We file the claim with the brand and replace the part once the brand approves it. Repairs under warranty are done by the brand, and all other after-sales service is done by us.
Related pages
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Lithium LiFePO4 batteries: capacity maths, compatibility and safe placement.
Crown, Max Power, Homage
Crown, Max Power and Homage inverters: what budget models offer and what to check.
Solar Guide
How solar works, what Karachi's climate means, and how to plan a project.
Planning a tubular battery bank?
Tell us your inverter voltage and the hours of backup you want. We will size the bank and give you a free estimate.