Page 23 - PS Battery Guide May 18

Battery guide For PowerSpout

Lead acid battery housing
Flooded lead acid batteries are more demanding in terms of maintenance and
precautions than sealed types or other battery chemistries. But they remain the
most cost-effective and are therefore a likely choice.

There are several factors to consider when designing a place to put your lead
acid battery. The battery needs to be close to other equipment but often it
produces gasses that are both corrosive and explosive. A battery cannot be
"turned off" so it always has live terminals that can release high energy arcs or
melt wires in the event of inadvertent contact causing a short circuit.

Due to the small risk of explosion and fire, batteries should be installed in locked
and ventilated enclosures, not within dwellings. Batteries are heavy and need a
solid flat supporting surface. In some locations you must consider seismic
disturbances and protect the batteries from falling over. Contrary to popular
myth it is perfectly OK to stand batteries on a cement floor.

Read the manual
Always consult the data sheet for your chosen battery to check for
manufacturer's requirements. Take note of the recommended charging voltages
and operating conditions.

Keep your battery close to the Power Conversion Equipment (PCE)
The size of the cables from battery to inverter depends on their length. Cables
must be sized to safely carry the maximum current, but longer cables will need to
be larger to prevent excessive volt-drop. Differences in voltage between the
battery and other equipment waste power and cause other problems too.
Keeping battery cables short will save on cost and improve performance.

It's not usually advisable to put the battery directly under your electronics for
several reasons. The gasses produced by the battery can damage the electronic
circuits, and any sparks generated in the electronics may ignite the flammable
mixture of hydrogen and oxygen.

If batteries share a space with PCE then the
space must be large and the equipment
should not be directly above the battery.

Often it makes more sense to put the
batteries in their own box with a hinged lid
to allow for easy access. This box can be
inside or outside the building. Putting the
box on the other side of an external wall
from the PCE is a good arrangement that
keeps cables short while segregating them
from each other.

© 2018 EcoInnovation Ltd (NZ) Page 23
Last reviewed 19/6/18