Battery outside front of house

[EmEvs]

Hi, I am hopefully having an Evo10 battery installed which will need to go outside the front of my house. I’ve been reading about weather protection - I can see that the battery is protected from -20 to 50c which should cover all extremes in the uk (hopefully) and is IP66 rated which I understand protects it from dust and water. Should I be worrying about it being stolen too?! There seems to be a lot to worry about… thanks

[Dave Foster]

The Evo has a heater (you must remember to enable it) so the cold temperatures should be less of a problem, on theft - that's a difficult one, they are specialist batteries and not much use other than in another Evo system but stranger things have been stolen.

If you are concerned about theft, best strategies are that it is securely mounted to the floor / wall, and use security (anti-tamper) screws, enclose it in a simple structure which obscures people seeing what it is, but allows air flow - if you don't already have it, consider installing an obvious cctv camera near it; in many respects it doesn't matter whether it works or not it will certainly act as a deterrent.

[EmEvs]

Thanks Dave,

I think I’ve just never seen one outside the front of the house but people have bike sheds etc! Good to hear about the heater and I can shade it with a box if I need to in the summer.
All v exciting
Emily

[MaterialBarracuda48]

The battery is also a hefty 113kg, so be interesting to see that getting removed.

Good luck with the new system.

[EmEvs]

That’s quite a weight! I think I’ll stop worrying!! Thanks for the reply

[MattyS]

That’s quite a weight! I think I’ll stop worrying!! Thanks for the reply

I'm in a similar situation, front of my house is the only place my battery would fit. I'm going to try without an enclosure first.

[evilbunny]

I'm in a similar situation, front of my house is the only place my battery would fit. I'm going to try without an enclosure first.

Which direction would that face?

There was a post the other day saying their battery was reporting temperatures of 90C, but most likely the temperature sensor was being hit with direct sun light.

[MattyS]

I'm in a similar situation, front of my house is the only place my battery would fit. I'm going to try without an enclosure first.

Which direction would that face?

There was a post the other day saying their battery was reporting temperatures of 90C, but most likely the temperature sensor was being hit with direct sun light.

It'll be on the WNW facing side of the house so will mostly get sunlight from say 3pm onwards

[CDubbs]

@MattyS

Which ever way you cut it, it will need a cover to work at optimum.
Heater or not it will struggle in the winter without an insulated box around it.
I thought a cover would be enough, but it wasn’t.
I live in the SE, so not exposed to silly low temps.
50mm insulated box has transformed the performance over the winter, to the point where the heater has not had to kick in since installing it, whereas it was on daily multiple times.
A lot of the time min/max cell temp is putting the battery in a good operating range, not seen min cell temp below 12C at anytime during the winter since the box went on.
Range today as example, outside temp 8C, min cell range 16-22 max cell range 21-26
Late October with warmer outside temps was seeing min at 9 max at 12.
Massive difference with a cover.

[MattyS]

@MattyS

Which ever way you cut it, it will need a cover to work at optimum.
Heater or not it will struggle in the winter without an insulated box around it.
I thought a cover would be enough, but it wasn’t.
I live in the SE, so not exposed to silly low temps.
50mm insulated box has transformed the performance over the winter, to the point where the heater has not had to kick in since installing it, whereas it was on daily multiple times.
A lot of the time min/max cell temp is putting the battery in a good operating range, not seen min cell temp below 12C at anytime during the winter since the box went on.
Range today as example, outside temp 8C, min cell range 16-22 max cell range 21-26
Late October with warmer outside temps was seeing min at 9 max at 12.
Massive difference with a cover.

Thank you, yes that was my thought prior to now. I was planning on getting an insulated cover. However , I have it in writing from Fox directly, that a cover is not necessary for optimal performance at all due to the heater and IP67 rating of the EVO unit. Obviously I have my doubts and your input reinforces those.
What cover did you purchase?
I may get one later in the year ready for autumn/winter.

[evilbunny]

However , I have it in writing from Fox directly, that a cover is not necessary for optimal performance at all due to the heater and IP67 rating of the EVO unit.

Unlike a cover, the heater uses power.

While posted back a bit, says it comes from the grid.

viewtopic.php?p=12637#p12637

[EmEvs]

@MattyS

Which ever way you cut it, it will need a cover to work at optimum.
Heater or not it will struggle in the winter without an insulated box around it.
I thought a cover would be enough, but it wasn’t.
I live in the SE, so not exposed to silly low temps.
50mm insulated box has transformed the performance over the winter, to the point where the heater has not had to kick in since installing it, whereas it was on daily multiple times.
A lot of the time min/max cell temp is putting the battery in a good operating range, not seen min cell temp below 12C at anytime during the winter since the box went on.
Range today as example, outside temp 8C, min cell range 16-22 max cell range 21-26
Late October with warmer outside temps was seeing min at 9 max at 12.
Massive difference with a cover.

Did you make your cover? Still waiting for my battery but planning for the winter!

[MaterialBarracuda48]

However , I have it in writing from Fox directly, that a cover is not necessary for optimal performance at all due to the heater and IP67 rating of the EVO unit.

Unlike a cover, the heater uses power.

While posted back a bit, says it comes from the grid.

viewtopic.php?p=12637#p12637

It comes from either the GRID, PV or Self-usage above a certain SoC (the latter once they fix it)

[evilbunny]

It comes from either the GRID, PV or Self-usage above a certain SoC (the latter once they fix it)

That was mentioned but the grid was most likely.

[MaterialBarracuda48]

It comes from either the GRID, PV or Self-usage above a certain SoC (the latter once they fix it)

That was mentioned but the grid was most likely.

Mr. Always right

[evilbunny]

Mr. Always right

Just thought it might stop a nasty surprise because the post pointed out even if the self heating worked the SoC needed most likely wouldn't be met overnight in winter, and PV doesn't work at night, so that only leaves the grid.

[CDubbs]

One for the experts please.
Due to the increased temperatures of the last few days, we had 27C yesterday, what is the max cell temperatures the battery is comfortable with.
If I can trust the inverter graph, I saw a max of 26.8C, and overnight into this morning, after forced charge 28.6C.
I still have my insulated cover on, so surprised the temperatures were not higher, but as the battery was fully charged all day and was just exporting, it was not actually doing much.
Just trying to work out when the cover comes off.
Thanks

[Dave Foster]

One for the experts please.
Due to the increased temperatures of the last few days, we had 27C yesterday, what is the max cell temperatures the battery is comfortable with.
If I can trust the inverter graph, I saw a max of 26.8C, and overnight into this morning, after forced charge 28.6C.
I still have my insulated cover on, so surprised the temperatures were not higher, but as the battery was fully charged all day and was just exporting, it was not actually doing much.
Just trying to work out when the cover comes off.
Thanks
IMG_2456.jpeg

An insulated cover does a good job of keeping the heat in, and out - your temperatures are fine at the moment, the batteries are capacity rated at 25C and + 10C/-4C is in their sweet spot but they are easily capable of sustained operation at 40C (and are tested to that standard).

I made the mistake a couple of years ago of removing the insulation and unsurprisingly straight after we had a 3 day cold snap and the battery temps dropped below 15C. So now I typically start by opening the lid of my cover in early May, and then remove it all together towards the end of the month.

[MaterialBarracuda48]

I removed my cover yesterday (the blanket!) and as mine sits in a garage, it does not fluctuate too much these days.
You can see the big spike last night for a charge (with cover off) and a smaller spike in the morning for a 1hr discharge.

If it drops below 15°C then I will consider chucking on the blanket in a single layer

[CDubbs]

Dave, Barracuda

Many thanks for the replies.

I’m getting the feeling the cover will be on for 8 months or so of the year

I’ll just keep an eye on the temps.