[RE-wrenches] Acid containment

[Dave]

Bill,

I have lined our plywood battery boxes for many years with 6 mil
polyethylene sheeting. I do two layers, neatly fold the corners so it form
fits then run it up the side walls about 10 inches only and staple the poly
to the plywood. To protect the poly liner from the weight of the batteries I
use 1" x 3" softwood strapping that I sand down so no rough edges will
damage the poly. I first spread out a small amount of baking soda on the
bottom of the battery box (on the plywood) before installing the poly liner,
then on the poly before placing the batteries on top of the strapping. Two
runs of strapping for one row of batteries and four rows of strapping for
two rows of batteries. This is simple and cost effective method that has had
excellent results over the years. Recently removed the second battery bank
from a twenty year old battery box set up in this method. We removed the
poly liner for the first time and we found the 3/4" plywood to be in good
enough shape to use for the third set of batteries.
  -  Dave

David Palumbo 
Independent Power LLC
462 Solar Way Drive
Hyde Park, VT 05655
802-888-7194



-----Original Message-----
From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On
Behalf Of frenergy
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2015 12:04 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Acid containment

Fellow Wrenches,

        I just called Tap Plastics hoping they would solve my problem of
battery acid containment within a plywood battery box.  I was surprised by
their response that the acrylic was not impervious to acid and polyethylene
would not work because sealants nor caulking adhere to it properly.  They
did not have anything that would work.

        I've used those individual battery boxes from an auto parts store
(~$12/each) but they take up more space than just the batteries.  Has anyone
ever used ice dam underpayment, like Grace? Better idea?

Thanks for any advice,

Bill
Feather River Solar Electric 


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