Hi There, Jason from Pretoria here.

I live on one of those grids that doesn't get load shedding because it's overloaded and something blows up spectacularly or catches fire every time load shedding ends and the power is switched back on, and then we have no power for anything from 2 or 3 days ~ to a few weeks, while the damaged infrastructure is being rebuilt, or new underground cables are being pulled through, or etc.

Apparently the new R200 million substation is almost done, and then Tshwane Metro will be flipping our switches again a few times a day.  Thus I've been reluctant to buy stuff only to have it's warranty ticking away while I didn't actually need it.

I had a question regarding installation locations for inverters:

I'm probably going to go with a Sunsynk/ DEYE 5kw specifically because they are IP67 units, meaning servicing is external, and blowing out dust from the heatsinks isn't gonna make the unit go bang.

The other reason I'm going with Sunsynk is also IP67 related - I'd like to mount it outside the house.  Pretoria can normally get upto 47C for a few days around Christmas, and while I haven't done a temperature survey inside the garage, it often gets to what feels like 5C~10C hotter in the garage.

Plan A ) I can make a vent hole through the double wall behind the inverter and stick a whirlygig through the roof above the inverter, which should help with the localised temperature around the inverter since the other side of the garage wall is permanently shaded by an awning.  Regulations wise, the garage has 2-brick / fireproof walls all around, so no problems there, other than the ambient temperature going above the operational range of the inverter.

Plan B ) And the point of my question:  I am also considering mounting the inverter outside on the south side of the house against a 2-brick wall,  This area is permanently shaded and relatively cool, to the extent that there's green moss growing on the facebrick, because there's never any direct sunlight.  This will also move the inverter to within 10 metres (cable run) of the DB.  But more importantly, this location is about 3.3 metres line of sight from the 19kg LPGas cylinder for the stove and oven.

I don't know what the rules are in South Africa, regarding installation of inverters and I'm assuming more importantly batteries, and their proximity to flammables like LPGas cylinders.  The only rule I'm aware of is that the inverter has to be separated from living spaces by a Fireproof wall.

I've attached a mock-up picture below... anyone know if this would be okay?

Thanks in advance for any info,

J

13 minutes ago, RSA_Jay said:

Hi There, Jason from Pretoria here.

I live on one of those grids that doesn't get load shedding because it's overloaded and something blows up spectacularly or catches fire every time load shedding ends and the power is switched back on, and then we have no power for anything from 2 or 3 days ~ to a few weeks, while the damaged infrastructure is being rebuilt, or new underground cables are being pulled through, or etc.

Apparently the new R200 million substation is almost done, and then Tshwane Metro will be flipping our switches again a few times a day.  Thus I've been reluctant to buy stuff only to have it's warranty ticking away while I didn't actually need it.

I had a question regarding installation locations for inverters:

I'm probably going to go with a Sunsynk/ DEYE 5kw specifically because they are IP67 units, meaning servicing is external, and blowing out dust from the heatsinks isn't gonna make the unit go bang.

The other reason I'm going with Sunsynk is also IP67 related - I'd like to mount it outside the house.  Pretoria can normally get upto 47C for a few days around Christmas, and while I haven't done a temperature survey inside the garage, it often gets to what feels like 5C~10C hotter in the garage.

Plan A ) I can make a vent hole through the double wall behind the inverter and stick a whirlygig through the roof above the inverter, which should help with the localised temperature around the inverter since the other side of the garage wall is permanently shaded by an awning.  Regulations wise, the garage has 2-brick / fireproof walls all around, so no problems there, other than the ambient temperature going above the operational range of the inverter.

Plan B ) And the point of my question:  I am also considering mounting the inverter outside on the south side of the house against a 2-brick wall,  This area is permanently shaded and relatively cool, to the extent that there's green moss growing on the facebrick, because there's never any direct sunlight.  This will also move the inverter to within 10 metres (cable run) of the DB.  But more importantly, this location is about 3.3 metres line of sight from the 19kg LPGas cylinder for the stove and oven.

I don't know what the rules are in South Africa, regarding installation of inverters and I'm assuming more importantly batteries, and their proximity to flammables like LPGas cylinders.  The only rule I'm aware of is that the inverter has to be separated from living spaces by a Fireproof wall.

I've attached a mock-up picture below... anyone know if this would be okay?

Thanks in advance for any info,

J

47 degrees C in Pta and estimated 57 in the garage. Where in Pta is that?

I thought the inverters are not for outside use where rain can get to them. 

1 minute ago, Scorp007 said:

47 degrees C in Pta and estimated 57 in the garage. Where in Pta is that?

I thought the inverters are not for outside use where rain can get to them. 

Pretoria East, we have a few days a year where temperatures can get upto 47 in the sun, which is the highest I've ever seen it.  49C In stop-go traffic during a power outage.  At the intersection of Lynnwood & Solomon Mahlangu 24 December 2017 - I was on my way to a breakdown at a Vet, but that's road temperature and doesn't apply.

Even the traffic light beggars disappeared during 2017 & 2018.  2019 I was living in New Zealand so I don't know.  2020 we had few low 40s days around Christmas, during the lock down (I work in Clinical & Bio-Medical Engineering - essential services), 2021 IIRC it threatened to rain, and 2022 had a few instances when my car said low 40s in the parking lot at Wilgers hospital, and even 41C one afternoon at Fourways Hospital in Jo'burg.

However any time the ambient temperature gets into the upper 30s, the interior of the garage is probably going to approach temperatures at which the inverter's performance will start to degrade which is >45C

I'm also pretty sure the inverter will log anything resembling an overtemp event, and in the case of a warranty claim, this will probably be the first bit of "evidence" used to repudiate a warranty claim.

I see that I entered a typo - Sunsynk's inverters are IP65 not IP67 - but still, IP65 represents total Ingress Protection from dust, and protection from water jets from any direction, IOW a garden hose.  IP64 offers Ingress Protection from water spray from any direction IOW rain.

In any case the inverter will have a fiberglass pod cover over it similar to a pool pump cover, therefore no direct rain interaction, and also for camouflage against wandering eyes.

The Batteries would live in separate IP67 enclosures.

 

The highest temperature recorded in Johannesburg is 35.6°C; Pretoria’s is 7°C higher at 42.7°C. Both of these temperatures were recorded on 7 January 2016.

1 hour ago, Leetpro said:

The highest temperature recorded in Johannesburg is 35.6°C; Pretoria’s is 7°C higher at 42.7°C. Both of these temperatures were recorded on 7 January 2016.

Well googled.  Your bad for believing everything you read online.

I'll rather believe what my cars tell me.

Thanks for nitpicking and calling me a liar. 

And thanks for doing a great job at answering my question 🙄

1 hour ago, Leetpro said:

The highest temperature recorded in Johannesburg is 35.6°C; Pretoria’s is 7°C higher at 42.7°C. Both of these temperatures were recorded on 7 January 2016.

With Pretoria, it depends on location. North of the Soutpansberg is so hot that one can grow Avos and pawpaws. And just south of that it's frosty in winter.  

 

@OP

Take a look here, it's a summary of the SANS standard for gas:

So 5m away.

Maybe consider putting insulation in the garage ceiling?

 

 

 

14 minutes ago, Moderator2 said:

Brilliant!!!! Haha

1 hour ago, RSA_Jay said:

Well googled.  Your bad for believing everything you read online.

I'll rather believe what my cars tell me.

Thanks for nitpicking and calling me a liar. 

And thanks for doing a great job at answering my question 🙄

It seems like the fact that a maximum 65 degrees C glass thermometer burst in my car I have to belief that on that day the recorded temperature in Pretoria was over 65 degrees C. This means only I know about this record. On a regular basis I have found glue I used from a glue gun melted in my car so again the recorded temp was above the melting point. 

In this case I will rather belief this than your 57 degrees in your garage

The highest temperature recorded in Johannesburg is 35.6°C; Pretoria’s is 7°C higher at 42.7°C. Both of these temperatures were recorded on 7 January 2016.

If you are going to enclose the Inverter with a fibreglass or other cover, then at least ensure some fans to circulate and extract the air inside that enclosure.

As for temperatures seen on car thermometers; these are mass produced sensors and their accuracy is not only way off, they are not calibrated and are even less trustworthy than the questionable Googled temperatures. 
The official highest temp ever recorded in SA:
That honour belongs to the Eastern Cape town of Dunbrody, in the Sundays River Valley. It’s been 96 years since the mercury tipped 50.0C, marking the first and only time the mercury rose to the half-century mark
The only official temps are those recorded by calibrated equipment at certified weather stations. Any other temps Googled or seen in cars are to be regarded as indicative.
Such official temperature data can be extracted from many aviation weather sites when looking for METARS. These airport weather stations are calibrated regularly else they loose their ICAO certification. So if ever you are looking for official temps around your area search for FAWB (Wonderboom airport), where it is 21C right now.
https://www.aviationweather.gov/taf/data?ids=FAWB&format=raw&metars=on&layout=on

 

I think its pretty reasonable to assume that the inside of a garage can get to 50C+ in SA. 

Heck my garage is at least 10C warmer than anywhere else in the house and I have the same concerns about mounting batteries and an inverter in there. 

Why not go for the 8kW unit with active cooling. Here is my inverter temperature for today. It was 34 degrees Celsius outside and 44 degrees Celsius in the garage (IBR galvanized roof sheet with no insulation or rhinoboard) where the inverter is installed 

The 5kw unit will run about 15 to 20 degrees Celsius higher than the 8kW unit thanks to it not having active cooling 

For those who are interested, the LFP batteries recorded an "environment" temperature of 36 degrees Celsius today (installed in the same location). They are cooled by 3 fans, one for each 5kWh battery. The prismatic cells reached 31 degrees Celsius today. This is one of the reasons why I decided on batteries made for the telecommunication industry, they tend to be more forgiving than those made for household use.

 

Edited February 6, 20233 yr by I84RiS

@RSA_Jay Trying to answer the inverter placement question, since you will be spending money on enclosures outside which has an increased risk of theft.

How about spending the enclosures money on installing a ceiling and insulation in the garage which might make it so comfortable it becomes the new hangout spot.

Edited February 7, 20233 yr by Buyeye