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Dan,<br>
<br>
While the battery box, or maybe the whole room they are in, do fit
the definition of a Class 1 Division 2 location, I don't think it is
consistent with the intent of that section. Wring methods for
hazardous locations are specifically designed to keep the wiring
isolated from the hazard. That notion doesn't work batteries - they
are the source of the hazard and the wires do run to, and into,
them. To be complaint with the requirements for hazardous locations
the batteries would have to have integrated gas tight junction boxes
enclosing the terminals. And interior of the battery would still
remain an explosive environment with energized conductors no matter
what is done to wiring on the exterior of the battery. Batteries are
a special hazard and wiring methods specified for Class 1 Division 2
locations won't mitigate that hazard.<br>
<br>
It takes a lot of ventilation to keep the H2 levels below the
explosive threshold.<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">Kent Osterberg
Blue Mountain Solar, Inc.
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.bluemountainsolar.com">www.bluemountainsolar.com</a>
t: 541-568-4882</pre>
<br>
On 12/14/2011 4:46 PM, <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:dan@foxfire-energy.com">dan@foxfire-energy.com</a> wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:20111214174641.720a661d8db719b1f2ad39509c9edaa3.d5b0a341c0.wbe@email14.secureserver.net"
type="cite"><span style="font-family:Verdana; color:#000000;
font-size:10pt;">
<div>I've mentioned it in the past, and got the impression it
went over like a fart in church, but it seems to me buttoning
up a battery box tighter than a bull's ass in fly season, and
(hoping) mechanical ventilation mitigates this creation of a
hazardous environment creates a Class I, Division 2 location.
(NEC 500.5 (B)(2)(2)). </div>
<div>Any takers?</div>
<div>db<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
Dan Brown<br>
Foxfire Energy Corp.<br>
Renewable Energy Systems<br>
(802)-483-2564<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.Foxfire-Energy.com">www.Foxfire-Energy.com</a><br>
NABCEP #092907-44</div>
<div><br>
<br>
</div>
<blockquote id="replyBlockquote" webmail="1" style="border-left:
2px solid blue; margin-left: 8px; padding-left: 8px;
font-size:10pt; color:black; font-family:verdana;">
<div id="wmQuoteWrapper">
-------- Original Message --------<br>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] NEC 480 - battery enclosure
question<br>
From: Ray Walters <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:ray@solarray.com">ray@solarray.com</a>><br>
Date: Wed, December 14, 2011 11:52 am<br>
To: RE-wrenches <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>><br>
<br>
110.11 Deteriorating Agents. Unless identified for use in<br>
the operating environment,<font color="#6600cc"> no </font>conductors
or <font color="#6600cc">equipment<br>
shall be located in damp</font> or wet <font
color="#6600cc">locations; where exposed to</font><br>
gases, fumes,<font color="#6600cc"> vapors</font>, liquids,
or other agents <font color="#6600cc">that have a</font><br>
<font color="#6600cc">deteriorating effect</font> <font
color="#6600cc">on the conductors or equipment</font>; or<br>
where exposed to excessive temperatures.<br>
Informational Note No. 1: See 300.6 for protection against<br>
corrosion.<br>
<br>
110.18 Arcing Parts. Parts of electrical equipment that in<br>
ordinary operation produce arcs, sparks, flames, or molten<br>
metal shall be enclosed or separated and <font
color="#6600cc">isolated from all<br>
combustible material.</font><br>
<br>
300.6 Has a lot of good info on corrosion that we in the
solar biz should be all over, as well.<br>
<br>
So that's 3 pretty specific code references.<br>
<br>
Ray Walters<br>
<br>
On 12/13/2011 7:03 PM, <a moz-do-not-send="true"
target="_blank" class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:boB@midnitesolar.com">boB@midnitesolar.com</a>
wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:4EE8040C.7060303@midnitesolar.com"
type="cite">On 12/13/2011 5:47 PM, Dan Fink wrote: <br>
<blockquote type="cite" style="border-left: blue 2px
solid; margin-left: 8px; padding-left: 8px;">Esteemed
Wrenches; <br>
An email question from my recent Home Power article on
charge controllers that I'm unsure of. <br>
Does NEC specifically forbid mounting other gear, such
as charge controllers, inside a battery enclosure? How
about shunts? <br>
It's not in 480 that I can see, and 480 doesn't seem to
treat the interior of a battery enclosure as
particularly explosive, because as per 480 it has to be
adequately vented anyway. <br>
Of course there are a zillion common-sense reasons not
to actually DO that -- even an MX60 has a relay that can
spark-- and of course corrosion on the controller
terminals, circuit board, etc. Bad news all around and I
never do it. I learned this as an apprentice back in
the 1990s, and I just don't do it. But I do put shunts
in there sometimes...is this a no-no? The shunt
terminals are brass, I've never seen any really nasty
corrosion build up, but I'm quite curious. <br>
BUT I'm wondering if I'm missing something obvious in
some other NEC section etc. <br>
<br>
Thanks in advance! <br>
<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
<br>
Hi Dan. Nice article, BTW ! <br>
<br>
<br>
The NEC doesn't say that you CAN do this, but it does not
dis-allow it either. <br>
<br>
It will come down to what the battery manufacturer says,
is what we have found. <br>
<br>
Sealed batteries are the only ones that can be mounted in
a battery box with <br>
arc and spark equipment. <br>
<br>
Look at UPS's that you buy from COSTCO for instance. They
are UL listed, usually. <br>
<br>
boB <br>
<br>
<br>
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