Lifepo4 safe temp ranges?

What's the temp ranges for lifepo4 that's considered safe and that members have found works for them? I'm extremely reluctant to put batteries in the house due to fire hazard concerns. I'm thinking of putting the inverter and batteries out in the shop ..but it's a metal shop and in the summer it does get hot and humid in there out here in Texas / Oklahoma. I'd prefer to build a solar shed but right now funds are tight..seeing how the world is on fire I wanted to get a little solar to keep the deep freezers running and well pump going just in case.

I was looking into a AIO and a few batteries. Anybody have their install in a outside shed that's not environmentally controlled with success?

realpinochet said:

What's the temp ranges for lifepo4 that's considered safe and that members have found works for them? I'm extremely reluctant to put batteries in the house due to fire hazard concerns. I'm thinking of putting the inverter and batteries out in the shop ..but it's a metal shop and in the summer it does get hot and humid in there out here in Texas / Oklahoma. I'd prefer to build a solar shed but right now funds are tight..seeing how the world is on fire I wanted to get a little solar to keep the deep freezers running and well pump going just in case.

I was looking into a AIO and a few batteries. Anybody have their install in a outside shed that's not environmentally controlled with success?

Click to expand...

I have my Victron gear and DIY NMC battery in an uninsulated shipping container. Batteries regularly see high peak temps, 109°F a few days ago:



Victron hardware is in there too. Battery is topped off before 11am/90°F. When we're there, we open the container doors, and it rarely gets above 90°F as it normalizes to ambient quickly.

"well pump" may require special consideration. Many lightweight inexpensive AiO lack the surge capacity to start electric motors.

From the spec sheet for the EG4 LIfepower4 batteries:

wildbillpdx said:

From the spec sheet for the EG4 LIfepower4 batteries:

View attachment 231395

Click to expand...

In the winter it gets below 32F sometimes but I suppose I can build a insulated battery box for winter time. Summer gets to about 110F in the shop during July & August. It's just a metal shop building. I was going to look into seeing if it's possible to vent those things, I'm not sure how to vent corrugated metal buildings like you do with a traditional roof on a house with those turbines. From what those specs say ..it should work.

sunshine_eggo said:

I have my Victron gear and DIY NMC battery in an uninsulated shipping container. Batteries regularly see high peak temps, 109°F a few days ago:

View attachment 231383

Victron hardware is in there too. Battery is topped off before 11am/90°F. When we're there, we open the container doors, and it rarely gets above 90°F as it normalizes to ambient quickly.

"well pump" may require special consideration. Many lightweight inexpensive AiO lack the surge capacity to start electric motors.

Click to expand...

I was looking at the 6000xp since it seemed to get decent surge performance when Will tested it and he said it was made by LUX for starting well pumps in SA. Otherwise the 12k would be the next up but if I'm going to go that high I might just look at the new midnite AIO.

I'm on the fence as I was wanting to delay a larger system install and wait for HV units to become available..but at the same time the world isn't looking to stable.

Right now I have 4 deep freezers, two fridges and a well pump that would be critical. It would be nice to brew a pot of coffee, charge some phones and fire up the ham radio to check news etc if something were to happen.

I appreciate your feedback.

realpinochet said:

In the winter it gets below 32F sometimes but I suppose I can build a insulated battery box for winter time. Summer gets to about 110F in the shop during July & August. It's just a metal shop building. I was going to look into seeing if it's possible to vent those things, I'm not sure how to vent corrugated metal buildings like you do with a traditional roof on a house with those turbines. From what those specs say ..it should work.

Click to expand...

I have my inverter and batteries in my garage. I recently installed a gable vent fan through the wall at a high point on the gable end. You could do the same with your shop.

I'm considering repurposing a refrigerator.
Set (or replace) thermostat to keep it under 70F.
Add a thermostat to the defrost element to keep it over 40F.
Maybe power those only when the sun is out, let it coast through the night.
Pack some desiccant in it.

Note that seals on a fridge tend to let the rain in. You need a roof over it.

wildbillpdx said:

From the spec sheet for the EG4 LIfepower4 batteries:

View attachment 231395

Click to expand...

wildbillpdx said:

I have my inverter and batteries in my garage. I recently installed a gable vent fan through the wall at a high point on the gable end. You could do the same with your shop.

Click to expand...

I think the gable are open a little. I can see a little light where the roof fastens down to the building in the channels that make up the corrugated parts. I did want to vent it better though. I guess I need to put some sort of water proof intake vents down lower on the walls so it can draw the air in and up. I'm thinking of putting a few ceiling fans in there on the steel beams especially since I have a few deep freezers going in there as well. It's a new property to me..so I'm trying to figure this out.

Another thing I've got to figure out is whatever I get I have to keep the dirt daubers out, not sure if a lot of you guys have them but they are everywhere out here in the country. They will build a nest in your dam ear if you fall asleep on the porch. lol Hate them so much!

Safe temperature range is pretty wide, from 0° to 40+°C for.both batteries & inverters.

However :
- best longevity / cycles count in a controlled environment: 25°C / 50% humidity. All cell manufacturers use that standard for cycled count.
- as for any equipment including electronic components, heat & humidity to avoid.

The closer you stay to those reasonable 25°C / 50% humidity, the better ...

Hedges said:

I'm considering repurposing a refrigerator.
Set (or replace) thermostat to keep it under 70F.
Add a thermostat to the defrost element to keep it over 40F.
Maybe power those only when the sun is out, let it coast through the night.
Pack some desiccant in it.

Note that seals on a fridge tend to let the rain in. You need a roof over it.

Click to expand...

You may have a huge problem of condensation when using a fridge for that purpose ...

These guys seem to think 110 deg C is acceptable.