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Each of us has developed our own solutions. I like to keep batteries in
a tempered space, to maintain reasonable winter temperatures. Tempered
doesn't mean thermostatic heat, but an insulated space with a trombe
wall that holds 50F or more in winter is sweet. I often put batteries
indoors in the living space and have never had a problem with either a
homeowner or an inspector.<br>
<br>
We have cultivated a woodworker to build boxes for us. He knows what we
want. I like plywood, because it's familiar, attractive, versatile,
dimensionally stable, and strong. At my suggestion, our woodworker uses
1/2" "Baltic Birch" plywood from a woodworker's supply or better
lumberyard. It has 9 thin plies, so is very stable, and it comes in 60"
X 60" sheets, so it fits many battery sets without the waste created by
4' X 8' sheets. It's commonly used to make cabinet drawer carcases.<br>
<br>
The primary problem is that plywood rots in contact with acid, so the
boxes are primered on all the inside surfaces to form an acid barrier,
and a liner of 40 mil EPDM rubber, pond liner, or shower pan liner is
placed in the bottom and about 7" up the sides with folded corners.
Above this level we put inlet ventilation holes, typically 3 1-1/4"
holes across the front. The exterior is painted or given a clear
finish, or left for the homeowner.<br>
<br>
The box is caulked and carefully weatherstripped, using RCI neoprene.
The lid is sloped, partly to draw vapors up toward the vent but mostly
to discourage the owners from storing things on the box and forgetting
maintenance. We build the carcase on a 3-1/2" high toe kick, like a
kitchen base cabinet, so it's easy to lean over to add water. We use a
piano hinge for the hinged top, with a level top rear portion as a
surface to drill for the vent stack. If there are kids or grandkids, a
lockable hasp is easy to add.<br>
<br>
With this approach we always include a 12V Power Vent inline in a 2"
white PVC vent pipe to the outside. A shower drain hair screen gets
trimmed down and used as an insect screen. The Power Vent runs off of a
charge controller's auxiliary circuit.<br>
<br>
I use two concentric hole saws from opposite sides to create a 1/4"
thick flange to fit a lock ring around a 1-1/2" or 2" battery conduit,
with duct seal around the cables to keep gases out of the electrical
equipment.<br>
<br>
I teach people (and post an instruction sheet inside the box lid)
battery care, including where to fill cells to to avoid spillage or
splattering.<br>
<br>
To each his own; this has worked well for us and our customers.<br>
Allan<br>
.<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span class="il"><b style="">Allan</b></span><b
style=""> Sindelar</b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br>
<a href="mailto:Allan@positiveenergysolar.com" target="_blank"><span
class="il">Allan</span>@positiveenergysolar.com</a><br>
NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installer<br>
EE98J Journeyman Electrician<br>
<b style="">Positive Energy, Inc.</b><br>
3201 Calle Marie<br>
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507<br>
<b style="">505 424-1112</b><br>
<a href="http://www.positiveenergysolar.com/" target="_blank">www.positiveenergysolar.com</a></span></p>
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<br>
<br>
Mick Abraham wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:j2p3dff9f8c1004300821s904055afx686496900fce125@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">Hi, Mechanix~<br>
<br>
My "customer du monde" has a dirt floor in the battery space but he's
willing to build something on which we could place his "wet" type
batteries. <br>
<br>
Concrete is strong but it also tends to begin dissolving when battery
acid gets on it. Been there, seen that, didn't like it.<br>
<br>
Wood could be strong but what about the dissolving problem? Would
pressure treated wood be better than white wood, redwood etc.?<br>
<br>
OR: what else would the group advise for a support structure?<br>
<br>
************************************************************<br>
<br>
The above questions assume that whatever we do will probably get wet,
but that may be too pessimistic. Could someone give me a mini-review of
plastic trays which would protect whatever goes beneath? <br>
<br>
I'm pretty sure polypropylene is the right type plastic but short of
custom welding by a plastic fabricator...where can I find trays which
fit OK with floor scrubber type battery case dimensions?<br>
<br>
Thanks all around,<br>
<br clear="all">
Mick Abraham, Proprietor<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.abrahamsolar.com">www.abrahamsolar.com</a><br>
<br>
Voice: 970-731-4675<br>
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