Battery Box

inthejungle
inthejungle Solar Expert Posts: 91 ✭✭
in Off Grid Solar & Battery Systems #1
Just a quick question, wondering if someone can help me


I am living overseas and just had some batteries and panels sent from the US. When they arrived there was lots of great plywood. I am wondering what do people think


I have two rolls s-430's, I could just let them sit on the a pallet on the floor. Ambient temp is never below 70F and always 80-90F

or do I keep the plywood box around them, vent them with a fan? I do have a few pieces of 2" pressure pipe lying around if I could use that to vent the box.


What would be best practice? Why even use a battery box?

INJ
In Niger, trying to keep a LG FMA 102NAMA fridge(This has the inverter compressor) backed up with solar using a Victron Multi-Plus Inverter/Charger Compact 12v 1600w with a 70a charger built in.I want to back it up for 4-8 hours. I am also running a few O2 cool fans and a few Thin Lite LED's of my batteries for when the grid is down so my kids can sleep.
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Comments

  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,646 admin
    #2
    Re: Battery Box

    In cold climates, battery boxes are nice to keep the batteries above freezing (cold batteries last longer but have less useful AH capacity).

    Otherwise, it depends on the area around the batteries.

    Boxes will help contain the "acid mist" that equalizing batteries produce. If there is good ventilation and not much in the way of goods/appliances in the area--And the area has limited access (no kids, people with metal tools, etc. around the battery bank--such as behind a locked door), then boxing is not really helping.

    If the batteries are in a work shop, a cover over the top so that nothing falls on the batteries tops is very important. And boxing/ventilating will keep the acid mist and "sulpur smell" from working/storage areas.

    A box with an "acid proof floor" can keep an acid spill from destroying concrete, etc...

    Boxes can concentrate explosive hydrogen gasses--So some sort of ventilation (fans or low input and pipe to ceiling can help keep H2 levels low).

    What ever box you choose (or not), make sure it is easy to get at battery caps (check electrolyte levels), clean batteries and connections, and work on cabling. Metal boxes can be an issue (shorting of wrench to metal box).

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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