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Safe distance between electrical components

CTack

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Joined
Oct 28, 2020
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We are considering a purchase of the Renogy DCC50s in our Camper Van. Our concern is that we cannot get a straight answer as to where the DCC50s should be located in relation to the batteries? We have a "garage" space underneath our bed platform in the very back of our van which is approx. 18" tall and approx. 24" wide by 24" deep where we will house two Lithium Ion Phosphate batteries (170ah each) and also our 2200 watt Inverter. The concern is in putting anything in this same compartment and risk overheating? So we are trying to ascertain the MINIMUM safe distance we need to have between each component, the Batteries, the Inverter and the DCC50s. Any would be very helpful.
 
Air circulation is the key here.

Everything can be very close and work great, as long as you have a way to flow fresh air in and flow heated air out, for the components that generate heat.

There is no EMI to be concerned with.

If you have the ability and option to isolate the battery bank from the van, then you can go to 24V or even 48V and drastically reduce the heat and amps to and from the battery.
 
Each operation/installation manual will outline, most times with pictures, the required ventilation requirements of each device. Then there are 12 volt muffin fans to had from old computers or new from Amazon. Ventilate the compartment. There are times you may have to warm the LiFePO battery.
 
Each operation/installation manual will outline, most times with pictures, the required ventilation requirements of each device. Then there are 12 volt muffin fans to had from old computers or new from Amazon. Ventilate the compartment. There are times you may have to warm the LiFePO battery.
Cheap fans hooked up to a cheap temperature controller could vent the waste heat when its warm out and be switched off to conserve/use the generated waste heat when its cold.
 
Can you recommend where to purchase these fans with temperature control?
 
Can you recommend where to purchase these fans with temperature control?
Not exactly, its not something I have looked into in any detail.
If it were me I would look into PC fans, Noctua makes quality and quiet fans. I think there are plenty of generic 12v and 24v fans as well, not sure where to look for those. I believe @HaldorEE may have posted a link to one he liked a while back, or maybe I am misremembering.
 
My DCC50S doesn't get very hot, even after a couple hours at maximum charge rate. I would make sure you have it oriented so that the heat sink fins are vertical to allow passive air flow from heating. Someday I will be mounting mine in a permanent position in a box with the batteries and I am not too worried about heat management. If I did consider a fan I would make sure it had a temperature switch, there seems to be no need for a full time fan.
 
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I tried one of these cheapies to experiment with for a greenhouse seed incubator.
It worked flawlessly, i was expecting a POS and to eventually buy a more expensive unit.

This and a 12v pc fan would be easy to ventilate a compartment based to temperature.

Planning on using it again this spring:

US $4.09 18% Off | LED Digital Display Thermostat Temperature Controller Regulator Switch Control Relay Sensor Module DC 12V регулятор температуры
 
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Not exactly, its not something I have looked into in any detail.
If it were me I would look into PC fans, Noctua makes quality and quiet fans. I think there are plenty of generic 12v and 24v fans as well, not sure where to look for those. I believe @HaldorEE may have posted a link to one he liked a while back, or maybe I am misremembering.
I found an industrial 24V fan at an electronics surplus outlet almost free ($10). It works and moves a ton of air, but is noisy. I tried using one of the cheap amazon PWM fan speed controllers with it and burned out the fan when I turned it too low (it is a brushless DC motor). If I hadn't done that the fan would probably outlive me. It is a high quality fan.


 
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