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  • Gpearston
    Junior Member
    • Nov 2015
    • 22

    #1

    Off grid battery box - venting suggestions

    I live in Alaska. Winter is usually no colder than 10° F, summer no warmer than 75°F. I have a pair of Concorde PVX 1040 Tbatts (12v 100ah) wired in parallel. The batts will be in the living space of my cabin (spare room), in a batt box. The box will be vented. The batts will be charged with an Iota DLS 45 over the winter and solar in the summer using a Mppt CC. I have been trying to do some research on the best/most practical way of venting the batt bax. I have seen:

    - two holes, one high one low, pvc to the outside
    - copper tubing, one large diameter, one small. The smaller pipe inside the larger. The small pipes goes almost to the bottom of the box, the larger goes to the top of the box
    - power vent,venting outside via pvc

    I am leaning towards the power vent. I understand that fan needs to be monitored to ensure it is working. I am home most of the time so that is viable.

    So I have two questions. First, what would you recommend for venting? Second question, should I build an outdoor box knowing it would not be heated? I am not liking the idea of an outdoor box due to the temp but maybe I am being to worried about that.

    Thanks and have a good one
  • Sunking
    Solar Fanatic
    • Feb 2010
    • 23301

    #2
    A1. I recommend you do nothing.
    A2. Leave them inside where it is nice and warm.

    They are AGM and good ones at that. No worries you would have to seriously over charge them to make them vent. You really do not need the box or anything. No need to vent outside, they will never gas unless you seriously FU. Even if they do highly unlikely you would generate enough gas to get to 4% concentration the minimum required for ignition with air. So relax, you already over killed it.

    Look Telephone office are inside high rise building in hundreds of basement level floor. Power rooms have AGM's stacked to the ceiling an djust enough room to walk between the aisles. Installed a many of them with 48 volt @ 30,000 AH. That is about 800,000 pounds worth. That is why there are in the Basement below ground level. They keep the building from topping over. There is no special ventilation in the battery rooms. The rooms are so full of batteries there is only enough room to walk between the stacks. Only thing required is a hydrogen monitor, and electric thermometers to monitor battery temp for Thermal Runaway.

    An AGM will get hot before it vents. That is what the Temperature sensors are there for to prevent them from venting. All you have is two very small batteries that do not amount to a hill of beans. Relax, keep them inside and relax. You do not need to do anything. I would not even put them in a box. If I did anything, all I would do is elevate them off the floor so I don't have to bend over to measure voltage.
    MSEE, PE

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    • Gpearston
      Junior Member
      • Nov 2015
      • 22

      #3
      Sunking, thanks for the answers. I was hoping the answer would be along this line, not punching a hole in my walls does not break my heart. I will still use a box, just not seal it and put holes in it just to keep the batts clean and out of harms way.

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