Hi, has anyone found a good solution for boxing in the inverter and battery once installed outside? Mine are on an external wall as I couldn’t fit inside, but I’m sure the life of the system would be higher if under a cover of some sort. I was going to get some 2x2! for framing and some feather edging. Anyone found a better way?
If mine was outside, I'd build a wooden frame and then use celotex/kingspan over the frame to insulate the battery. This frame can be removed during summer too.
I believe that GE say external installations must have at least a small canopy over it, to protect it from the worst of the rain and snow. If you do decide to go further than this (which I would, in your situation), please remember the following:
1) The installation should not be in direct sunlight, as this can cause overheating in the Summer
2) The inverter must have good ventilation
3) The battery does not need ventilation, but can benefit from insulation to prevent it from getting too cold (when it can stop charging and even discharging).
If you are on either of the GE Facebook groups, I believe some people have posted pictures of their enclosures.
Roberto the Cellotex is a good tip, thanks!!
Jumbo99 it is just the stupid cost of the stuff now!
I get that GE say their batteries can go outside as do Tesla with theirs. Does anyone know if Tesla have similar cold weather issues? I know of only one person locally who has a Powerwall for 2.5 winters now with zero cold weather issues.
Roberto All these type of batteries have the came challenges in cold environments. Tesla is no exception and their specifications are pretty much identical. The latest Powerwalls do have the ablity to pre-condition batteries during cold weather to improve their ability to take charge. Regardless, fircing a charge outside of the chemical limitations in cold environments will serverly impoact the longevity of the battery.
cluelesscris I guess GE and Tesla know that the correct thing to do is install these batteries in a nice dry 20 Celsius environment all year around. But, that would limit their market.
My 9.5 battery is in my integral battery, so perhaps as good as it gets. Cool in summer, cooling in winter.
Before Xmas the battery showed a minimum of 13 Celsius on a sub zero night.
The Tesla Powerball has a liquid thermal management system built-in whereas the GE system has no thermal controls at all (over and above controlling the charge going into the batteries). I'd expect them to act very differently.
The Powerwall is NMC not the NFeP of the GE.
The Powerwall has a liquid cooling circuit which includes a heating element and I believe it can charge down to -20 with limitations and -10 with minimal differences.
Essentially the chemistry for GE is better for long life and harder to get thermal runaway.
The Tesla needs a more advanced cooling solution, but it has advantages as it can distribute heat around the cells.
You win some, you lose some.
You could buy a full nema/IP rated enclosure with heating/cooling, but it would likely set you back the best part of a grand.
Jumbo99 I have one of these above mine - https://amzn.to/3CFEkCH
It’s meant to be a door canopy but does the same job of keeping the rain off it!
Ben_Collier been looking into these myself. I was then going to box the hardware below in by using some slatting with an access door, with added removable insulation for winter, and the slatting would allow ventilation in summer.