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Outdoor enclosure for Inverter & DIY Battery

  • 07-11-2024 12:53PM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 182 ✭✭


    Hey as per title is it feasible to have a small enclosure outdoors for an inverter and diy battery. Could add fans & ventilation. Is it a terrible idea? Would be placed in a shaded area. Inverter would obviously be outdoor rated and wall mounted. More worried about the diy batteries, even if they are in a cabinet.

    Something like this maybe for the batteries. Can have the inverter feeding into it or even inside the enclosure with the battery (obviously would need a bigger one to house both)

    https://tricel.ie/industrial-enclosures/product/electrical-enclosure-ip43-rated-750x500x300/

    Has anyone tried anything like this or is it a totally stupid idea? This way I could place the inverter right outside the utility room with the consumer unit and the DC cables from the panels would come straight down the side of the roof.

    Other option is the shed has plenty of space with concrete base but it's about 10 metres away from the house. Is it even feasible to have the DC cables from the solar panels come down from the roof and buried in the back garden to reach the shed.



Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,315 ✭✭✭CelticRambler


    Yes, it's feasible; no, it's not a terrible idea; is it right for your situation … ? Maybe, maybe not. There's nothing inherently wrong with putting any of those components in a sheltered space outside, but you will need to pay particular attention to cable sizes vs. length of run, and you may find some "conflicts of interest" regarding the ideal environmental temperatures for different parts of the system.

    As a (starting?) point, let me direct you to this guy's off-grid installation in the Italian Alps (should be time-stamped to run from 41m46s where he explains what he's been doing and why; use the video's "chapters" to back up and see the build in progress if it piques your interest) :



  • Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 12,680 Mod ✭✭✭✭2011


    The enclosure you have selected is only IP43, see table below.

    Generally IP54 is the minimum Ingress Protection rating considered acceptable for outdoor use. Adding fans and ventilation would further impact the integrity of this already low IP rating.

    Screenshot 2024-11-07 at 13.36.48.png


  • Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 7,102 Mod ✭✭✭✭graememk


    Inverters are IP rated to be outside.

    Personally I'd like them to be at least sheltered.

    Enclosure could be big enough for the batteries though. Although still hardly big enough.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 182 ✭✭Abromavich


    Im liking this more and more. Definitely want to move the inverter to this location and its right outside the utility room with the consumer unit. Ive some shelter under the roof side overhang of 290/300mm (on RHS) so this should shelter most or all of the inverter (Sunsync models: 420W×670H×233D (Excluding connectors and brackets).

    image.png image.png

    I have a bit of space to work with for the battery enclosure 1400mm (W) x 900mm (D) x 1100mm (H - (window sill) . Prob best to go for one of the mason DIY battery cases that can be stacked on top of each other…

    image.png

    Something like 2 or even 3 of the Yixiang kits stacked on top of each could work inside a suitable enclosure:

    image.png

    Does this form factor seem like the best approach?



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