Do sealed lead acid batteries require ventilation when used in a home?

[Logan005]

understood. since not required by code I will not have to rush to build box, the space is under my work bench so i can do any kind of enclosure I want. Yes made decision 4 months ago, still not installed. but should be by Hurricane season. I am hopeful.

[ButchDeal]

I still have not decided on the battery box, but since hydrogen rises I was thinking a vent hood with small computer fan for draft. keeping batteries in straight line along outside wall. it's CBS but I already have the hole saw bit for 4" vent. Our sub panel will be located 25 to 30 cable feet from batteries and inverter, I do not expect a problem with that, do you?>

I would not use a computer fan for exhaust it would have internal sparks. You would want batteries in an enclosed box. You can use plywood like mine with rubber at bottom to catch any potential spill. Paint the inside to protect the wood if you have flooded too.

You would want batteries as close as possible to inverter, sub panel to inverter length is not a problem. FlexPower 1 includes a lot of parts, breakers etc that make it a great buy.

[Logan005]

I still have not decided on the battery box, but since hydrogen rises I was thinking a vent hood with small computer fan for draft. keeping batteries in straight line along outside wall. it's CBS but I already have the hole saw bit for 4" vent. Our sub panel will be located 25 to 30 cable feet from batteries and inverter, I do not expect a problem with that, do you?>

[Logan005]

very good. I hope our contractor accounted for the sub panel. We have everything planned for 8 L16's, but Iron Edison and Aquion are both soliciting our buy. either is nearly double for same capacity. we also plan to use the generator hookup for extended outages. I like a portable w/auto start, but will be a future buy and integration. we have no well pump and all Gas appliances and the house was built with all LED lighting. so we expect long service from our batteries. we went with FlexPower One, per your mention.

[ButchDeal]

Thanks ButchDeal I had not seen those pic's. very nice, of the flexPower one, layed out. do you have to use a sub panel? or did you chose? I have been told it uses smart breakers to shed loads, and does not require sub panel? still waiting to see. I also notice you are using 12v batteries, how long can you last on grid fail?

Thank you.
yes you need the sub panel if you want emergency power. the inverter has two AC connection, and will disconnect from AC1 on grid outage leaving AC2 connected to the E-panel up. for my fridge, freezer, well pump, etc.
My system is a bit under batteried from what we would sell. It can generally last 24 hours with no grid and no solar but I would cut usage if there was still no solar (or grid) after 12 hours. The chest freezer doesn't pull much unless it is opened, our Fridge is dual compressor energy star, The well pump is by far the biggest draw and we would just limit our usage.
I would also cut the TV / Satelite usage

I can fit larger batteries in the box if need be. My batteries spend 95% of the time between 98-100% charge waiting for the frantic use


As for smart breakers, the flexpower does not come with that though it could control them. it would cost more and you would still need some other way to disconnect. In my configuration (most typical) it already has all that is needed to disconnect from the grid and the other panel didn't cost very much. Wiring it up was trivial as I could just pull out of the main and feed into the new sub.


Also a neat trick we did is on the roof in some of the photos you can see the SolaDeck box to get the wires into the attic. In the atic (directly on the other side of the roof) is a midnight solar combiner box (there is a photo of it in the attic). The wires terminate in it (4 strings of 3 ) with 4 breakers, then conduit down to the D disconnect.

[Logan005]

Thanks ButchDeal I had not seen those pic's. very nice, of the flexPower one, layed out. do you have to use a sub panel? or did you chose? I have been told it uses smart breakers to shed loads, and does not require sub panel? still waiting to see. I also notice you are using 12v batteries, how long can you last on grid fail?

[Riley5781]

Thanks for info guys. I've decided to put my batteries and electronics in an outbuilding (next to gen-set).
But even then, I will need to vent the batteries but it will be much easier..

[ButchDeal]

Be sure to use a vent fan that is designed for venting batteries, like the Zephyr Power Vent. They are specially made to not spark. Whether you get a 12V fan to run off Aux or a 48V fan to run off the batteries depends on which electronics you buy to control turning the fan on and off.

or much better, install a vent that does not require a fan. Hydrogen is lighter than air so it is simple to do with hydrogen vent at top and return air vent at bottom of battery box. No need for fan, no worry about spark, no power draw, no noise, best of all worlds.
there are photos of mine at the bottom of this album: https://goo.gl/photos/dNEPaKmdfLYw6W726

NOTE internal pipe is copper to transfer temperature from incoming and outgoing air preventing a thermal cycle of air. you only want hydrogen to leave, not heat.

[Amy@altE]

I found an off the shelf storage case built by Radiant and made from HDPE material. I tried to create a link but it didn't work
I see that it has a vent so assuming I can vent that outside somehow and then the batteries are properly fused, would this offer suitable protection to keep the batteries in my storage area in the basement ?

Be sure to use a vent fan that is designed for venting batteries, like the Zephyr Power Vent. They are specially made to not spark. Whether you get a 12V fan to run off Aux or a 48V fan to run off the batteries depends on which electronics you buy to control turning the fan on and off.

[SunEagle]

Crap and I usually catch dates.

I have done it myself so don't beat yourself up.

[Sunking]

Uh. DizzyD last posted was almost 7 years ago. Maybe he had a much smaller golf cart back then.

Crap and I usually catch dates.

[SunEagle]

No such animal exist. Golf Cart batteries are either 6-volt 225 AH, 8-volt 190 AH, or 12-Volt 160 AH.

There is no way you could possible use a 35 AH battery in any voltage to run a golf cart. They simply cannot provide the 300 to 600 amps of current required.

Uh. DizzyD last posted was almost 7 years ago. Maybe he had a much smaller golf cart back then.

[Sunking]

I plan on wiring together eight 12V 35Ah Sealed Lead Acid golf cart batteries .

No such animal exist. Golf Cart batteries are either 6-volt 225 AH, 8-volt 190 AH, or 12-Volt 160 AH.

There is no way you could possible use a 35 AH battery in any voltage to run a golf cart. They simply cannot provide the 300 to 600 amps of current required.

[Riley5781]

Actually i decided to read the spec sheet on a typical Trojan battery.
I think I am good if I keep it charged:

-4°F to 113°F (-20°C to +45°C). At temperatures below 32°F (0°C) maintain a state of charge greater than 60%.

it won't get that cold...

[Riley5781]

thanks for the advice Mike. I think I can plan to build an outbuilding for this, then I would rest easy.
I will try to research the answer to my next question but.... do i need to worry about the FLA batteries in temps slightly below freezing assuming that they are charged?