DIY enclosure for home storage

[jpk]

Has anyone built their own enclosure for their batteries with the aim of keeping the batteries at a constant Goldilocks temperature, and if so could they post any pictures, tips and materials. I'm currently just thinking some 50mm thermal insulation board to cover the top, fronts and sides. I might consider going slightly more high tech with some kind of thermostatic controlled extraction. Also did anyone do something similar for the inverter?

 

[Gadget Geek]

I built an enclosure for my Powervault 16kWh battery from a metal shed I bought off Amazon, cutting it down to size. I have a wifi thermometer in there which is showing 24.9C at 55.4% humidity.

 

[johnb80]

Mine isnt such a posh housing as Gadget Geek's, it was a very tight space and this toolshed from Amazon worked well.

It is fastened back to the wall, two conduits, one on each side connect to the house. The one on the far side is the electricity supply, the one that can be seen here carries the data cables. The ventilation fan can be seen at the top.

In the lower half there are 16 x 280 Ah EVE LifeP04 cells, theyre stood on vivarium heater mats and their enclosure is insulated. The heater mats are used (rarely) in winter time to keep the temperature above 5 degC.

In the top half it has the inverter, BMS, Consumer unit etc (the photo here is during the construction so it's not all in there yet). The temperature controls can be seen near the DC isolator switch, theyre cheap (ebay £7) PID controllers, one used for cooling in the top half (runs the fan), the other controls the heating in the bottom half switching the mats on and off.

This is the BMS sat across the width at the bottom of the top half.

 

[jpk]

These all look great,if it's possible can you please post any links to what you bought ?

 

[Tig170]

would be nice to see your VRM link to learn from you
if your are interested mine is: VRM Portal - Victron Energy

 

[johnb80]

These all look great,if it's possible can you please post any links to what you bought ?

My toolshed battery store toolshed

 

[Gadget Geek]

These all look great,if it's possible can you please post any links to what you bought ?

I bought one of these which fitted the specs of the Powervault. I had to cut down the depth to fit in the gap, but if you have room, you can leave it full sized.

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https://www.amazon.co.uk/Outsunny-Garden-Outdoor-Storage-Lockable/dp/B0CP6MRKRK/ref=sxin_15_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.6906c541-6eee-4c10-bc19-17299b9d5015%3Aamzn1.sym.6906c541-6eee-4c10-bc19-17299b9d5015&crid=3376WRI1M61DZ&cv_ct_cx=5ft%2Bx%2B3ft%2BLean%2Bto%2BGarden%2BShed&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VOsxzxCsoTQy3TqmdCdrKPhqZxOsmGsVNBluEx9l_k7B-jKzXuJa4GWnGsU7mKoIL7HZwHFPcYxiN_uPE1qoyw.m6XFnA1_AlxErMIwmRJCneqDbVRarcOGCDt_W8YrtWA&dib_tag=se&keywords=5ft%2Bx%2B3ft%2BLean%2Bto%2BGarden%2BShed&pd_rd_i=B0CP6MRKRK&pd_rd_r=34f5ee7e-3b8f-43ab-a038-40212176f735&pd_rd_w=z3XKL&pd_rd_wg=VVPB0&pf_rd_p=6906c541-6eee-4c10-bc19-17299b9d5015&pf_rd_r=WTK537MZ44HWDYX5CZXN&qid=1724920488&s=outdoors&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=5ft%2Bx%2B3ft%2Blean%2Bto%2Bgarden%2Bshed%2Coutdoor%2C232&sr=1-1-ad3222ed-9545-4dc8-8dd8-6b2cb5278509-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.d7e5a2de-8759-4da3-993c-d11b6e3d217f&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1

 

[johnb80]

I bought one of these which fitted the specs of the Powervault. I had to cut down the depth to fit in the gap, but if you have room, you can leave it full sized.

​

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Outsunny-Garden-Outdoor-Storage-Lockable/dp/B0CP6MRKRK/ref=sxin_15_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.6906c541-6eee-4c10-bc19-17299b9d5015%3Aamzn1.sym.6906c541-6eee-4c10-bc19-17299b9d5015&crid=3376WRI1M61DZ&cv_ct_cx=5ft%2Bx%2B3ft%2BLean%2Bto%2BGarden%2BShed&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VOsxzxCsoTQy3TqmdCdrKPhqZxOsmGsVNBluEx9l_k7B-jKzXuJa4GWnGsU7mKoIL7HZwHFPcYxiN_uPE1qoyw.m6XFnA1_AlxErMIwmRJCneqDbVRarcOGCDt_W8YrtWA&dib_tag=se&keywords=5ft%2Bx%2B3ft%2BLean%2Bto%2BGarden%2BShed&pd_rd_i=B0CP6MRKRK&pd_rd_r=34f5ee7e-3b8f-43ab-a038-40212176f735&pd_rd_w=z3XKL&pd_rd_wg=VVPB0&pf_rd_p=6906c541-6eee-4c10-bc19-17299b9d5015&pf_rd_r=WTK537MZ44HWDYX5CZXN&qid=1724920488&s=outdoors&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=5ft%2Bx%2B3ft%2Blean%2Bto%2Bgarden%2Bshed%2Coutdoor%2C232&sr=1-1-ad3222ed-9545-4dc8-8dd8-6b2cb5278509-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.d7e5a2de-8759-4da3-993c-d11b6e3d217f&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1

I do like your choice and if I were to do it again I would use one of those for sure.

 

[tsedge]

This is awesome work folks and inspiring stuff, can't wait until we move next year and I can start planning my own installation.

 

[jpk]

would be nice to see your VRM link to learn from you
if your are interested mine is: VRM Portal - Victron Energy

I'm no tech novice but I've gotta admit I genuinely don't know/understand this request

 

[jpk]

I'm gonna have to build possibly 2 enclosures if there's a need and benefit for bothe the inverter and batteries to be insulated as my installation was offset due to not having enough clearances between to install it all vertically

 

[Everest]

Has anyone built their own enclosure for their batteries with the aim of keeping the batteries at a constant Goldilocks temperature, and if so could they post any pictures, tips and materials. I'm currently just thinking some 50mm thermal insulation board to cover the top, fronts and sides.

Bit late to this thread as I only just joined here. Yes, like @johnb80, I also have a 14.3kWh battery pack DIY built with 280Ah EVE LiFeP04 cells.

Mine are in an unheated outbuilding, surrounded by 50mm PIR/Celotex and 15W of heaters temperature controlled to keep them around 20 to 25 degrees C. Last Winter in the cold spells, the heaters only came on for about 30% of the time.

Also did anyone do something similar for the inverter?

No need for insulation around the inverters, they create too much heat of their own and need good air -flow to keep them cool. I added some external fans to my Solis inverters to keep them cool when they're charging or discharging the batteries above about 3kW.

 

[jpk]

Thanks. Your reply is well timed as it happens as I'm looking to build my enclosure this week now the mercury is forecast to tumble. What kind of heaters are they that you've used?

 

[Everest]

Thanks. Your reply is well timed as it happens as I'm looking to build my enclosure this week now the mercury is forecast to tumble. What kind of heaters are they that you've used?

My heaters are within my battery enclosure, that also contains the BMS. As LiFePO4 cells have a high specific heat capacity, I added three 6W LED bulbs to provide a gentle heat, rather than direct heat pads that others have used.

 

[johnb80]

My heaters are within my battery enclosure, that also contains the BMS. As LiFePO4 cells have a high specific heat capacity, I added three 6W LED bulbs to provide a gentle heat, rather than direct heat pads that others have used.

3 x 6w LED bulbs spread across 16 cells wont in my opinion spread gentle heat across all of the cells. The vivarium heat pads used by myself and others do provide very even and 'low temperature heat to the base of the cells where it will rise giving a very even spread of heat across the cells. Ive just checked mine because it was below freezing here last night and the 4 battery modules are showing 17.7, 17.9, 17.6 and 17.7 deg C which seems good to me. The heaters were running on a 10% duty cycle.

 

[jpk]

Is the heat output higher for vivarium heat pads compared to greenhouse seedling heat pads

 

[Gomev]

My heaters are within my battery enclosure, that also contains the BMS. As LiFePO4 cells have a high specific heat capacity, I added three 6W LED bulbs to provide a gentle heat, rather than direct heat pads that others have used.

...

I thought one of the many virtues of LED bulbs was that they produced little to no heat.

 

[Everest]

3 x 6w LED bulbs spread across 16 cells wont in my opinion spread gentle heat across all of the cells.

I guess it all depends on the design of the compartment...
I just checked on mine and they're within 0.9 degrees for 4 reading... that's 3 cell sensors (front, middle and rear) and air temp. But I have a fair size air gap around the cells and between two rows, so any warmth from the heaters and the BMS's heatsink seems to dissipate well - it's just going into its 3rd Winter now.

I thought one of the many virtues of LED bulbs was that they produced little to no heat.

Yes, exactly. For a given brightness, LED's are about 1/6th of the wattage (so 6W LED is equivalent to 40W old school incandescent - roughly - varies quite a bit between manufacturers I noticed.

 

[Everest]

Is the heat output higher for vivarium heat pads compared to greenhouse seedling heat pads

I'd just check the wattage - the specifications should give that info.

 

[johnb80]

Is the heat output higher for vivarium heat pads compared to greenhouse seedling heat pads

20W each pad in mine, 1 pad between 8 cells, theyre stood on it, heat rising of course. Its worked absolutely fine for 2 years now with no issues. The temperature controller keeps a very tight band and seems to keep everything in check using Proportional control, full PID not appropriate for this application.

The main thing is if your system works for you thats great.