How to keep batteries cool in Florida?

[ksch994462]

I've recently installed a 24v solar power system at my house. I have three 240w panels, four deep cycle agm 100ah batteries, and a 5,000w inverter. I want to keep my batteries within the optimum temperature range (60-70f) for their longevity, but it's a real challenge here in Florida. My garage gets like an oven in the summer and temps normally range between 90 and 100f. I'm wondering about using a chest freezer on its warmest setting, but I checked at Home Depot and the GE specs for their chest freezers say they are designed to operate at -5 to +5 Fahrenheit. This obviously won't do it.

I would like to solicit ideas that work from other solar guys out there. Have any of you tried the freezer approach, and what results did you get? I'm interested in all viable solutions to this problem. Right now, the only approach I'm able to come up with, which probably won't be the best, is to create a shaded area near my house and construct a battery box equipped with a couple of fans.

Any ideas??

Thanks....

[Naptown]

A shaded area with good natural ventilation is your best bet. Running fans is a loser.
Running a freezer to keep cool is a huge loser.

[SunEagle]

A shaded naturally vented area may be the cheapest solution. Adding any type of power cooling system (fans, freezer, etc) would cost more than what the batteries can generate.

One solution is to use a solar attic fan. It runs directly from a pv panel and can produce a lot of CFM if properly ducted. That could get you some air movement without using power. They worked pretty good in my attic.

You could also put the batteries in a creek to keep them cold. Oh wait that is what we use to do with our beer.

[SolarFox]

I know someone who had this issue. He keeps the floor damp and installed two fans that push hot air out. It still gets hot but not like it did before.

[PNjunction]

One way to do it is to bury them. Seriously, a battery box is dug deep enough to put into the shallow ground.

It has to be done properly of course to be waterproof and all safety precautions taken about access.

[lkruper]

I've recently installed a 24v solar power system at my house. I have three 240w panels, four deep cycle agm 100ah batteries, and a 5,000w inverter. I want to keep my batteries within the optimum temperature range (60-70f) for their longevity, but it's a real challenge here in Florida. My garage gets like an oven in the summer and temps normally range between 90 and 100f. I'm wondering about using a chest freezer on its warmest setting, but I checked at Home Depot and the GE specs for their chest freezers say they are designed to operate at -5 to +5 Fahrenheit. This obviously won't do it.

I would like to solicit ideas that work from other solar guys out there. Have any of you tried the freezer approach, and what results did you get? I'm interested in all viable solutions to this problem. Right now, the only approach I'm able to come up with, which probably won't be the best, is to create a shaded area near my house and construct a battery box equipped with a couple of fans.

Any ideas??

Thanks....

Batteries like the same temperatures you do. These are AGM and not FLA so can you find somewhere to store them inside?

[Bala]

I have similar temps, I wouldnt stress over it.

Put them outside, in a well vented box with shade over it.