How do you deal with Inverter heat?

[clokwise]

I installed a Deye 3-phase inverter and a couple batteries three months ago. All the gear is installed in the wedge shaped closet under the stairs.

 

I knew at that time that we'd have to eventually deal with the excess heat, and with summer rapidly approaching I need to do this real soon, it's getting quite hot in there already.

 

I'm curious how others have tackled this problem.

 

I currently have an extractor fan in the ceiling, however the draw of that fan in minimal. I have put a Hatari standalone fan in there as a temporary solution, and that has worked well, at least in the winter.

 

Options I'm considering:

 

I could construct a cover and pipe over the Inverter to funnel the heat directly up into the extractor fan

 

I could install a small wall mounted A/C unit

 

I could install a MUCH stronger fan in the extractor

 

?????

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

Electronic components can handle high temperatures (i.e. like 50 degrees Celsius). What they should have is a constant air flow.

I think you should have a cabinet similar to this picture with fans and the top and bottom. Make sure they move a lot of air through the cabinet. 

And then obviously make sure the room itself is not too hot.

 

 

You can buy or maybe borrow IR heat cameras, some work with your phone. Then you can check how hot parts get in your box.

 

 

 

 

[UWEB]

1 hour ago, clokwise said:

I installed a Deye 3-phase inverter and a couple batteries three months ago. All the gear is installed in the wedge shaped closet under the stairs.

 

I knew at that time that we'd have to eventually deal with the excess heat, and with summer rapidly approaching I need to do this real soon, it's getting quite hot in there already.

 

I'm curious how others have tackled this problem.

 

I currently have an extractor fan in the ceiling, however the draw of that fan in minimal. I have put a Hatari standalone fan in there as a temporary solution, and that has worked well, at least in the winter.

 

Options I'm considering:

 

I could construct a cover and pipe over the Inverter to funnel the heat directly up into the extractor fan

 

I could install a small wall mounted A/C unit

 

I could install a MUCH stronger fan in the extractor

 

?????

 

 

I have two Deye 10kw Hybrids installed and 3 x 10 kw ESS, to keep them cool I have installed a 9000 BTU Aircon.

[Crossy]

Our 5kW Deye hybrids (3 of the beasts) are outdoors, under the shade of the car port.

 

Deye inverters are specced -40C to +60C ambient, but derate when >45C. Obviously, the cooler they run the better.

 

I have added some fans to help with the fanless cooling.

 

 

And a simple thermostat to control them. The sensor is bolted to the inverter heatsink.

 

 

 

[clokwise]

I keep a thermometer in the closet and it gets bloody hot in there, no need to thermal image anything 555

 

The exhaust fans along the top of the inverter are pushing out most of the heat right there, so I'll need to construct some sort of duct system to collect the heat and take it outside.

 

Has anyone used a portable A/C unit? They don't seem like a good option since they collect a lot of water which will need to be changed frequently, but are there any available (in Thailand) with a condenser to push steam outside? Or is that still not a good idea?

 

[carlyai]

@cokwise off topic, but, I'd like to pick your brain a bit about your 3 phase inverter installation.

I hope to install a 3 phase inverter ++ this year.

I will need some help and was hoping with help from this forum I could do it.

I don't see a place to PM you for some questions.

How can I contact you (that's if you don't mind).

 

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, clokwise said:

I keep a thermometer in the closet and it gets bloody hot in there, no need to thermal image anything 555

 

Obviously, you don't really need a thermal image.

But the health of that inverter depends on every single part. 

I.e. if one part get 80 degrees hot but it should be not more than 60 than that is a problem.

With an IR camera problems like that are easy to identify. I think I bought my one for about 5000B - I think it's a good investment. 

[Crossy]

3 hours ago, clokwise said:

I keep a thermometer in the closet and it gets bloody hot in there, no need to thermal image anything 555

 

The exhaust fans along the top of the inverter are pushing out most of the heat right there, so I'll need to construct some sort of duct system to collect the heat and take it outside.

 

Has anyone used a portable A/C unit? They don't seem like a good option since they collect a lot of water which will need to be changed frequently, but are there any available (in Thailand) with a condenser to push steam outside? Or is that still not a good idea?

 

 

The portables need looking after, water top-up etc. etc.

 

Small mini-split inverter A/C units (say 9,000BTU) are readily available and sip the energy when running relatively light. You don't need server-room cool, just keep things in the mid 20sC.

[clokwise]

16 hours ago, Crossy said:

 

The portables need looking after, water top-up etc. etc.

 

Small mini-split inverter A/C units (say 9,000BTU) are readily available and sip the energy when running relatively light. You don't need server-room cool, just keep things in the mid 20sC.

 

Yeah, that's probably what I'm gonna end up doing. I saw some portable units for sale on Amazon.com which send the steam outside to condense in the air, but haven't spotted any here, so a small wall-unit will definitely do the trick. I will try routing the heat via ducts first, as it is cheap and easy.

[clokwise]

19 hours ago, carlyai said:

@cokwise off topic, but, I'd like to pick your brain a bit about your 3 phase inverter installation.

I hope to install a 3 phase inverter ++ this year.

I will need some help and was hoping with help from this forum I could do it.

I don't see a place to PM you for some questions.

How can I contact you (that's if you don't mind).

 

 

 

 

Although I'm a nerd about many kinds of electrical things, I chose to hire an installer just to ensure it was done quickly and safely. I'd recommend going that route unless you have prior experience installing solar inverters. My installer also offered a pretty good price for all the hardware needed, vs. me buying it all myself, so that saved a bunch.

 

 

[Fruit Trader]

1 hour ago, clokwise said:

I saw some portable units for sale on Amazon.com which send the steam outside to condense in the air, but haven't spotted any here

 

Both TCL and Hisense brand portable AC's have external vents and provision for external condensate drain line.

 

Hisense model AP-08CR

TCL model CPA/SL2
 

[carlyai]

2 hours ago, clokwise said:

 

Although I'm a nerd about many kinds of electrical things, I chose to hire an installer just to ensure it was done quickly and safely. I'd recommend going that route unless you have prior experience installing solar inverters. My installer also offered a pretty good price for all the hardware needed, vs. me buying it all myself, so that saved a bunch.

 

 

Thanks for the reply. 

I just wondered why you chose that brand inverter and why you didn't install 3 single phase inverters.

I have seen some reports of trouble with a combined 3 phase inverter if the phases are not balanced.

 

 

[lom]

4 hours ago, carlyai said:

Thanks for the reply. 

I just wondered why you chose that brand inverter and why you didn't install 3 single phase inverters.

I have seen some reports of trouble with a combined 3 phase inverter if the phases are not balanced.

 

I have a 12KW 3-hase Deye and sometimes regret that I didn't have the space for 3x10KW single phase inverter.

3 single phase inverters do require 3 separate battery strings and 3 separate pv strings though and that is not possible for me to have.

[carlyai]

42 minutes ago, lom said:

I have a 12KW 3-hase Deye and sometimes regret that I didn't have the space for 3x10KW single phase inverter.

3 single phase inverters do require 3 separate battery strings and 3 separate pv strings though and that is not possible for me to have.

Thanks. Why do you sometimes regret not having 3 single phase inverters?

Is it to do with the 3 phase inverter tripping if the phases are not balanced?

Thanks.