Hi William;
Poor ventilation could be part of it, but I've also seen
corrosion problems from:
clients over filling the cells,
EQing to often,
absorption voltage set too high and for too long,
too high a charge rate, (too large an array)
too high a temperature, due to floor heating and/or insulated
battery box.
my best systems seem to be on the lower side of array size
relative to battery size, with batteries in a basement or garage
that stays above freezing, but below 60F most of the year.
Sorry I don't have a line on explosion proof fans, but I have a
client with a 120 vac radon blower for the battery exhaust that
seems to do much better than the traditional DC battery fans.
(Not my install.)
I've only seen batteries blow twice:
1) Idiot was arc welding next to a HUP battery and multiple large
sparks went right on to a cap; result: blew the top off the cell.
He had been told to construct a battery enclosure around the
batteries, but never did.
2) a loose connection at a battery terminal arced, melted the lead
until the molten lead melted through the top of the case and
ignited the hydrogen, result: burned a clear flame for a few
seconds and went out without any major damage.
So my take away is that unless the ignition source is in the cell
or within an inch of the cap, the hydrogen is too low a
concentration to ignite. Actually, are lead acid battery internal
plates and their external connections considered "explosion
proof"?
Ray Walters
Remote Solar
On 5/6/2025 12:20 PM, William Miller
via RE-wrenches wrote:
Friends:
I
have two flooded battery arrays that have steel cases that
are corroding. I am sure poor ventilation is the issue even
though we have passive vents high and low. I think I need
active ventilation.
Does
anyone have knowledge of a 120VAC explosion proof ceiling
mounted exhaust fan?
Thanks
in advance.
William
Miller
Solar
17395
Oak Road, Atascadero, CA 93422
805-438-5600
www.millersolar.com
CA
Lic. 773985
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