Lithium battery installation discussion

[Isetech]

Lets look at some of the installations I am currently busy with and the challenges I am facing in an attempt to make the installation as safe as possible.

The one I am busy with is a good example of why it cannot go in the garage.

Firstly the vehicles in the garage at the moment are worth over 1 million each and they are custom built, so you cant just go replace them.

Next, the distance, from the point of supply to the new location in the garage would mean that total length of cable would be over 100m, then there is the route it would have to take, out the building, down the wall buried in the ground, then back up the wall and into the the garage and back again. It just doesn't make sense.

I could install the battery on an outside wall, back to back with the inverter, which personally I feel is the best place for lithium batteries, however living in SA, makes that a challenge, you would need to secure it and hide from direct sunlight. We only install IP 65 batteries, so the weather/moisture/ humidity etc, isn't an issue. Some might say they are only C0.5 rated, my response is, ok. I dont argue with people who know better .

Now that we cant fit it in the garage, it cant go on the outside wall and I want to keep the installation as close to the main DB as possible, the bedrooms are all "occupied" (people sleep in them), the lounge is too open, the study/games room, that could be an option, but also the distance a challenge, toilet no space, which leaves me with the kitchen scullery, there is no space in the kitchen and the pantry cupboard is not 120 min rated and the space would create a warranty challenge, I am not an approved installer (nor a 50p plus), so I have to make sure my installations are spaced correctly

Then the big question, can I install a lithium battery in the scullery... I dont see why not, we have established that a lithium battery is not going to explode and burn your house down under normal operation conditions.

We need to take a few things into consideration, just in case of an emergency:

1/ The size of the scullery, will it affect the spacing around the inverter and battery and void the warranty ? NO, cool so spacing is not an issue, there are windows in the scullery on the opposite wall. The inverter has 3 built in fans, so we will install 2 big extractors above the system, linked to a temp probe.

2/ The ceiling board is not 120 min fir resistant, so we are going to replace the ceiling with the correct fire rathe board.

3/ The scullery entrance door will be replaced with a fire rated door.

4/ 2 of the walls in the scullery are only single brick, which I thought is not 120 min rated, however I read somewhere that it is ( please feel free to correct me)

5/ We will fit a smoke detector, linked to the alarm system which will be an early warning, it will notify the customer and the armed response company.

6/ 2 x fire blankets at the entrance to the room.

7/ signage on the outside house, indicating that there is a solar system installed and the location of the lithium battery.

8/ There will be a document holder at the entrance to the scullery, with all the documentation with building layouts, disconnector locations, circuit identification etc etc etc. Making it easy for customer, fire department or anyone who needs to isolate the system to work on the property, especially if I am not available.


Something I am still trying to decide, if I should fit a 4 pole DC isolator or fireman's switch for each combination of strings (1+1) - (1+1) on the front of the building to switch off the solar power. Anyone who has worked on these dangerous home made DC control boxes being installed will understand why I say 4 pole.