Vivarium heating pads for storage batteries?

[MisterB1959]

good morning (uk time) - i am a complete novice in all this and am slowly learning by reading as much as i can and watching as many on line videos as i can find, so please bear with me on this topic.

i have read quite a few posts on using heating pads of one sort or another where temps go low enough (0 degrees C or -32 degrees F) to be an issue in charging a home built battery. so much so that it could damage the battery and i (think) i understand that you can set the BMS to turn off at above the min temp for added protection.

in the UK (where i live) it doesnt really drop that low that often, however its more likely to be a the low level overnight, when i want to make use of off peak electricity to charge the battery.

so to have a belt and braces approach as i still at the build stage, i have been considering using heating pads that are used in vivariums such as these

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lucky-Farm-Vivarium-Adjustable-Amphibian/dp/B0817VP88T/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2IE6BMLESV418&keywords=water+tank+heating+pad&qid=1669023454&sprefix=water+tank+heating+pad%2Caps%2C194&sr=8-5

is there any reason why they would not be suitable please?

 

[SeaGal]

Looks good. That wattage or the one above sounds ideal if you have / will enclose your batteries in a well-insulated enclosure. The only concern is how you place it - not sure 85Kg of batteries directly on it would be ideal? Or maybe big tortoises can be that heavy, so they thought of that. ?

 

[MisterB1959]

thanks, it seems to make sense to ask them about what weight they could 'carry' - good point, well made !!

 

[Jumpy07]

How did you get one with these ?... just ordered a 20w pad, my batt is wall mounted so easy affix to outside and then insulate.. just going to use the temp controller that comes with it..

 

[OffGridInTheCity]

I'm with you - I used RV heating pads like this - https://www.amazon.com/Heater-Holding-Gallons-Optional-Toggle/dp/B07ZJNTZP2/ref=sr_1_2_sspa Same idea.

I recently go on to this type of unit... - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HVNQCVZ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details - that has a fan and claims to keep temperature OK up to 0.5cubic meters.

One thing about pads etc - I've not actually seen any youtube demonstrating temps/how well they work or what the main issues might be - e.g. pad vs air circulation unit above. I'm fuzzy on whats needed in scientific terms of watts, cubic meters, temp levels, box insulation to keep batteries above minimum temps.

 

[carl2591]

I'm with you - I used RV heating pads like this - https://www.amazon.com/Heater-Holding-Gallons-Optional-Toggle/dp/B07ZJNTZP2/ref=sr_1_2_sspa Same idea.

I recently go on to this type of unit... - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HVNQCVZ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details - that has a fan and claims to keep temperature OK up to 0.5cubic meters.

One thing about pads etc - I've not actually seen any youtube demonstrating temps/how well they work or what the main issues might be - e.g. pad vs air circulation unit above. I'm fuzzy on whats needed in scientific terms of watts, cubic meters, temp levels, box insulation to keep batteries above minimum temps.

did you read reviews on amazon.. seem it melts down from low air flow.. hope your works better.. let uf know it look like a interesting thing.

 

[OffGridInTheCity]

did you read reviews on amazon.. seem it melts down from low air flow.. hope your works better.. let uf know it look like a interesting thing.

This is the 2nd winter.... leave them powered Nov thru March. You're right in that the ones on the belly of the 30g water and 30g black tanks are exposed to the air under the trailer.

The ones under the batteries (inside the trailer) are on but more as backup since I use the mini-split freeze point feature to keep the trailer above 45F... so they probably haven't actually been 'hot' that much but they do show some power draw.

No problems so far....