[RE-wrenches] Listed/Approved Battery Box Vent Fan

[Carl Adams]

Ben,

I would prefer to rely on gravity rather than forced circulation.  The
former has not failed to date.  Check out Allen's recent article in
Home Power magazine.  He offers some good suggestions on battery box
design and ventilation ( all passive or gravity activated) solutions.

Cheers
Carl Adams
SunRock Solar
Cinci, OH


On Fri, Feb 25, 2011 at 7:49 PM, Allan Sindelar
<allan at positiveenergysolar.com> wrote:
> benn,
> I'm not aware of any listed battery vents. Given the cost of listing, and
> the size of the market, it's unlikely there ever will be. Wanna pay $300 for
> a listed vent? I have never had an issue with an inspector about them.
>
> You might consider a standard AC squirrel cage fan from Grainger or some
> such, controlled by a 12V-coil relay on an FM60 or similar controller's
> auxiliary vent fan circuit. It would then only run when the batteries are
> nearly full.
>
> Other ideas? Try the approach that if there is no listed product, the
> inspector is allowed to allow a reasonable alternative. Most likely the
> batteries are also unlisted - compared to that, the vent fan is minor.
>
> I use intake vents; otherwise how can the exhaust fan work if the box is
> well sealed? The objective is to draw the hydrogen gas up and out, not just
> suck on it while it accumulates inside the box.
>
> Allan Sindelar
> Allan at positiveenergysolar.com
> NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installer
> EE98J Journeyman Electrician
> Positive Energy, Inc.
> 3201 Calle Marie
> Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507
> 505 424-1112
> www.positiveenergysolar.com
>
> On 2/25/2011 4:55 PM, benn kilburn wrote:
>
> Good Afternoon Wrenches,
> In recommending for a client, the materials and plans for constructing a
> battery box for a 48V, 2400Ah battery, it came to my attention that the only
> battery box vent fan that i am aware of on the market (the Zeypher) is not
> UL listed, let alone approved for use in Canada.  So now i am in search of
> such a product.
>  My plans thus far are to have a well sealed box (? at least the upper
> portion of the box ?) with vent holes in the upper-most part of the box
> piped together and connecting to one outside exhaust vent.  I was planning
> on using (at least) two of the power vent fans at the top holes of the
> battery box, but after mentioning using this product to the inspector, he
> said that the vent fan would be required to bear the proper approval
> markings.
> I am still trying to determine if there should be lower 'intake' vents as
> well.
> If this power vent is not even listed, what are your feelings on using them
> in a permitted and inspected system?
> Is anyone aware of an (approved) product or method for 'power' venting a
> battery box?
> I have read some of the extensive threads here on battery boxes and have not
> found a definitive practice for venting a battery box.  I'd be happy for
> someone to point me in the right direction if i have missed something.
>  There seems to be quite a range of opinions on the need for providing a
> (lower) intake and (higher) exhaust vent.
> Thanks,
> benn
>
> DayStar Renewable Energy Inc.
> benn at daystarsolar.ca
> 780-906-7807
> HAVE A SUNNY DAY
>
>
>
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