[RE-wrenches] Midnite Powerflo16 Enclosure Rust Issues

Thu Aug 28 19:49:42 PDT 2025

IP ratings are cumulative so each rating level includes all previous level of performance. IP62 is good enough for “rain”. IP65 turns that into howling raging jets of water.

If the manufactures says the product is IP65 rated and gives no other specific installation instruction in the product manual, then there should be no need for additional “protection” from water. I saw this product advertised as “outdoor, wall mounted” on one web site, which is consistent with an IP65 rating.

So where does that leave you with this manufacture?

Well you don’t have a leg to stand on if you are in the warranty period and no water enters the enclosure after being subjected to jets of water.

The thing may look like a rusted piece of trash but that is not what an IP65 rating promises.

BTW

Bentek includes a clause that any enclosure must receive touch up paint to prevent rust in order for them to honor the warrenty.

From: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org> On Behalf Of Chris Sparadeo via RE-wrenches
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2025 6:40 PM
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Cc: Chris Sparadeo <sparadeo.chris at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Midnite Powerflo16 Enclosure Rust Issues

I’ve been reflecting recently about IP ratings and my new opinion is that IP55 and IP65 ingress ratings mean “somewhat outside”. Many manufacturers with these mentioned ratings (which are identical for moisture ingress and vary only slightly for dust ingress) will explicitly say that their product cannot be exposed to direct rainfall or moisture…which doesn’t sound very outdoor rated to me. Take this IP65 rated battery manufacturer’s installation recommendations for example:
“The Battery Pack must be kept away from direct sunlight and rain or other sources of moisture.
This applies to both indoor and outdoor installations. Even if installed indoors such as basement or garage, direct sunlight and rain or other sources of moisture may still penetrate, so it is essential to protect the Battery Pack from direct sunlight and rain or other sources of moisture”.

I get the sunlight part, but protecting an ESS from moisture when installed outdoors seems like a tall order.

[cid:image001.jpg at 01DC1854.59D6A170]

On Thu, Aug 28, 2025 at 9:16 PM Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>> wrote:
I don't know what you mean by unprotected. That is exactly what an IP65 rating suggests - outdoors, subject to the elements. Nowhere does it say in the product literature thay it must be "protected," whatever that means. Protected against the environment that it is rated to be in? Seriously?

If it can get wet, it shouldn't rust around the undisturbed factory installed screws in a couple of weeks. If this is how the product is going to be, it is totally unsuited for OUTDOOR installations, which is exactly where it says it can be installed on the spec sheet.

Jason Szumlanski
Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group
NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP)
Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956
Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208

On Thu, Aug 28, 2025, 8:50 PM William Bryce <wlbryce at pineridgeproducts.com<mailto:wlbryce at pineridgeproducts.com>> wrote:
Hi Jason

Rust will have no effect on the IP65 rating of the battery.
 The batteries are intended for  outdoor protected install only. Because the batteries are heavy, installers can easily nick or damage the powdercoat on the battery leading to rust. Because the battery is white it shows the rust way easier than other outdoor rated batteries.

The case of the battery must be made from steel because the UL rating  certifies if the battery was to have a meltdown, no flame can escape from the battery

The manual needs to better specify the protected install.

Are the batteries installed outside unprotected?

On Thu, Aug 28, 2025 at 7:54 PM Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>> wrote:
We have five PF16 installed outdoors at a home. It has been only 2 weeks and I'm seeing rust forming around some cover screws (both the top cover and front cover). The brackets are also showing some rust spots, and under the rims of the top cover I'm seeing rust spots that look like they are from small metal shavings. We also found minor rust around a prepunched knockout immediately after removing the protective plastic cap.

This all happened after they had been mounted outdoors for two weeks, but no conduit had been installed yet and the top covers hadn't even been opened once.

Is anyone else seeing these issues? I'm pretty concerned that my customer won't accept this early defect, and I have lots of outdoor installations planned for other customers.

P.S. This is not a coastal location (although all of Florida is kind of coastal). Regardless, it's IP65 and should withstand a typical outdoor installation.

Jason Szumlanski
Florida Solar Design Group
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