[RE-wrenches] Midnite Powerflo16 Enclosure Rust Issues

Fri Aug 29 02:37:39 PDT 2025

I agree with the fact that an IP rating doesn't have anything to do with
cosmetic performance.

I also agree with the "trash" part.

Any reasonable person would expect a product advertised as "Environment:
Outdoor," with no other guidance, to not rust in a matter of weeks, absent
physical damage.

Even if I were to "protect" these batteries somehow, whatever that means,
even occasional mists of water are likely to continue to cause rust. I now
have serious concerns about this product.

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, 10:52 PM Mark Frye via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> 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.
>
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> BTW
>
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> Bentek includes a clause that any enclosure must receive touch up paint to
> prevent rust in order for them to honor the warrenty.
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> *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.
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> On Thu, Aug 28, 2025 at 9:16 PM Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches <
> 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>
> 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?
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> On Thu, Aug 28, 2025 at 7:54 PM Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches <
> 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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