best home made inverter enclosures

rollandelliott
rollandelliott Solar Expert Posts: 834 ✭✭
in Solar Beginners Corner #1
I spoke with SMA and they told me to NOT place their sunny boy inverters facing south or West because the hot sun would make them deteriorate over time.
Unfortunatley my electrical panel is on the west side of my home and I 'm wondering what kind of enclosure people make to shade the unit?
obviosuly it can't be totally enclosed because it needs to be ventilated.

I was just thinking of a over hang, made out of roofing sheet metal.

any other ideas?
· Share on Twitter

Comments

  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: best home made inverter enclosures

    I'd think a simple window awning , or a bush in the right spot, would be fine.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

    · Share on Twitter
  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #3
    Re: best home made inverter enclosures

    Putting it inside the house would be favourite. :cool:
    · Share on Twitter
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,654 admin
    #4
    Re: best home made inverter enclosures

    Reducing temperature is a win... For every 10C (18F) reduction, the life of your electronics will be doubled.

    Reduce by 20C, life will be 2*2=4x longer, etc.... (of course, this will be over actual time--if inverter is "hot" 10 hours per day, a reduction of 10C would add 10 Hours for every day it is reduced).

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
    · Share on Twitter
  • Seven
    Seven Solar Expert Posts: 292 ✭✭
    #5
    Re: best home made inverter enclosures

    Put up some lattice and let vines grow on it. Make sure it is a couple of feet out. That is my project next weekend for my ac unit.
    · Share on Twitter
  • rollandelliott
    rollandelliott Solar Expert Posts: 834 ✭✭
    #6
    Re: best home made inverter enclosures

    I could put it in my home, but just afraid it will hum too much and act like a mini furnace? how hot do these things get?

    I guess you dont' need to vent to the outside, but would it be a good idea to?
    · Share on Twitter
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,654 admin
    #7
    Re: best home made inverter enclosures

    I have a 3.3 kW rated GT Inverter (3.5kW array) mounted in my insulated/shaded garage--If 96% efficient inverter:
    • 3.5 kW * 0.04 loss = 140 watts...
    The heat sink will feel pretty warm to my hand--but it in no way seems to heat the garage. About as much power as the old 150 watt reading lamps. (little more than a pair of 60 watt ceiling lamps in the typical fixture).

    140 watts is not a lot of heat (typical plug-in heater is around 1,000-1,500 watts or so)...

    A couple people that have "hot" garages have put a small fan on a lamp timer to blow at the inverters on hot days. The little breeze really seems to drop their temperatures.

    -Bill

    PS: I should add that I have never heard a hum (bolted outside my dining room wall). Right now, could not hum anyway--Failed a couple days ago and waiting replacement.
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
    · Share on Twitter
  • solarvic
    solarvic Solar Expert Posts: 1,071 ✭✭✭✭
    #8
    Re: best home made inverter enclosures
    rollandelliott wrote: »
    I could put it in my home, but just afraid it will hum too much and act like a mini furnace? how hot do these things get?

    I guess you dont' need to vent to the outside, but would it be a good idea to?

    I plan on connecting my inverters in my utility room. I figure any heat the inverters put off will be utilized by my geo spring waterheater. Yhey should complment each other. :Dsolarvic:D
    · Share on Twitter

Categories