Suggestions on where to put batteries

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FFMG

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Hi,

I have 2x 12v 105ah batteries and an inverter to run my TV and a couple of things.

In my old house they used to be in a wooden box outside, but now this is not really an option, (there are no properly covered area outside the house).

There is space _under_ the house and it is fairly well ventilated while protected from the elements.

I was thinking of placing them in a plastic tray of some sort and putting it under the house.

I could put them in the roof as well ... but I am not entirely sure it is safer to place batteries in a roof, especially in summer.

Any suggestions as to where I could place the batteries? Is under the house ok? Anything I should be worried/careful about?

Thanks
 
They're normal VRLA batteries? The reason people sometimes put batteries outside is hydrogen build-up. If the batteries charge/discharge too fast and they become hot, they may start venting some hydrogen. In a small enclosed area this may be hazardous. In a large ventilated living room that shouldn't be a problem.

Another consideration is heat - heat is pretty bad for VRLA batteries. In float applications you can look at just about halving the batteries' expected life with every ten degC.
 
HunterNW said:
Why not in a box with wheels in your living room ?
Click to expand...

Not sure it is safe to have batteries in the lounge because of the, (potential), gases.

But also, I don't have that much space in the lounge and it would look rather ugly to have 2 batteries and an inverter in the corner.

The inverter can also be a bit noisy at times.
 
my 2 big boys just sits on a desk in my lounge right next to me.
Been like that for about 7 years or more now
 
FFMG said:
Not sure it is safe to have batteries in the lounge because of the, (potential), gases.

But also, I don't have that much space in the lounge and it would look rather ugly to have 2 batteries and an inverter in the corner.

The inverter can also be a bit noisy at times.
Click to expand...
Oh ok. I have that Mecer setup where the batteries are in a metal box with the inverter ontop. Stands in the corner of my living room. I guess your space under the house should be fine.
 
Tacet said:
They're normal VRLA batteries? The reason people sometimes put batteries outside is hydrogen build-up. If the batteries charge/discharge too fast and they become hot, they may start venting some hydrogen. In a small enclosed area this may be hazardous. In a large ventilated living room that shouldn't be a problem.

Another consideration is heat - heat is pretty bad for VRLA batteries. In float applications you can look at just about halving the batteries' expected life with every ten degC.
Click to expand...

They are fairly standard deep cycle batteries, and yes, the reason why I had them outside was because of the possible gases and also maybe heat

Hence the reason I was asking for suggestions
 
FFMG said:
Not sure it is safe to have batteries in the lounge because of the, (potential), gases.

But also, I don't have that much space in the lounge and it would look rather ugly to have 2 batteries and an inverter in the corner.

The inverter can also be a bit noisy at times.
Click to expand...

I would much rather know when the gas leaks (Smell) than find out when house is burnt down ;)

Anyway my solution was to make it part of the decor:
1615525036560.png

Custom box next to TV ;)
 
AlphaJohn said:
I would much rather know when the gas leaks (Smell) than find out when house is burnt down ;)

Anyway my solution was to make it part of the decor:
View attachment 1035000

Custom box next to TV ;)
Click to expand...
My batteries are a lot bigger ... https://www.dixonbatteries.co.za/105ah-dc-12v-105ah-dual-term-lwh-327x170x240, and I have 2 of them ... and a big(ish) inverter.

Definitely not quite as small as what you have ... but I agree with you, burning the house down might not be as much fun as a bit of smell.
 
AlphaJohn said:
I would much rather know when the gas leaks (Smell) than find out when house is burnt down ;)

Anyway my solution was to make it part of the decor:
View attachment 1035000

Custom box next to TV ;)
Click to expand...
Just about the same setup. Except for that bigass TV.

PS... Did you pay your TV licence ? It's the right thing to do. Ask @Pineapple Smurf
 
FFMG said:
My batteries are a lot bigger ... https://www.dixonbatteries.co.za/105ah-dc-12v-105ah-dual-term-lwh-327x170x240, and I have 2 of them ... and a big(ish) inverter.

Definitely not quite as small as what you have ... but I agree with you, burning the house down might not be as much fun as a bit of smell.
Click to expand...

Erm I have 2 of the same size batteries in that box :p

PS Lead Acid batteries normally have no smell. The moment they do you know something is wrong and needs to be sorted.

Edit: I did go more into detail over in the Mercer thread on the box with the SVG file. The wheels go into the box when I remove the lock so sits flat on ground
 
Last edited:
AlphaJohn said:
Erm I have 2 of the same size batteries in that box :p

PS Lead Acid batteries normally have no smell. The moment they do you know something is wrong and needs to be sorted.
Click to expand...
Ha ... sorry, it is a bit hard to tell, maybe my phone is playing tricks on me.

I'll look at the thread, thanks
 
FFMG said:
Hi,

I have 2x 12v 105ah batteries and an inverter to run my TV and a couple of things.

In my old house they used to be in a wooden box outside, but now this is not really an option, (there are no properly covered area outside the house).

There is space _under_ the house and it is fairly well ventilated while protected from the elements.

I was thinking of placing them in a plastic tray of some sort and putting it under the house.

I could put them in the roof as well ... but I am not entirely sure it is safer to place batteries in a roof, especially in summer.

Any suggestions as to where I could place the batteries? Is under the house ok? Anything I should be worried/careful about?

Thanks
Click to expand...
where are you putting the inverter?
 
My batteries are in a battery cabinet I bought from Geewiz and they are next to me in the study. When I lived in a complex they used to just be on the floor in the garage. But now where I live the garage is a bit far from the house, so that's where the generator lives.
 
isie said:
where are you putting the inverter?
Click to expand...

The inverter is next to the batteries and a cable runs to wherever I would need it.

I was thinking of putting the inverter+batteries under the house and running the cables up to the TV. There is a big opening directly under the lounge, so it kind of made sense to me, (but I am open to any suggestions).

A lot of cables are already running under the house, (electrical, antenna, alarm, etc...)

Currently it is lying in the garage, let me go a take a picture for size.
 
FFMG said:
Hi,

I have 2x 12v 105ah batteries and an inverter to run my TV and a couple of things.

In my old house they used to be in a wooden box outside, but now this is not really an option, (there are no properly covered area outside the house).

There is space _under_ the house and it is fairly well ventilated while protected from the elements.

I was thinking of placing them in a plastic tray of some sort and putting it under the house.

I could put them in the roof as well ... but I am not entirely sure it is safer to place batteries in a roof, especially in summer.

Any suggestions as to where I could place the batteries? Is under the house ok? Anything I should be worried/careful about?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Tell us more about this space under the house, pics if you don't mind, I am not too keen on spaces under the house because the first thing I think of is trapped flammable gases, but then you say it's well ventilated so I am not too sure...

The roof is a definite No.
 
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