Hot Bench?

[Jack!]

Planing electrical upgrade on a new 5.0. Curious when adding components under the rear bench, is ventilation, cooling any issue? Will have 2-solar chargers, 2 Lynx distributors, plus the power center/charger, and the GP 1500 inverter, & a main fuse on the 4-BB Li battery bank. I can add a vent on the bench front to the interior trailer for added ventilation if necessary. I think there are some folks who have done this kind of upgrade and even more extensive upgrades under the benches.
Thanks!

[cpaharley2008]

If batteries are involved, I'd vent to the outside.....

[Jack!]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

If batteries are involved, I'd vent to the outside.....

Thanks for the mention and you are right in terms LA or AGM batteries.
We are removing the battery box for this upgrade to fit more batteries. The battery box is not necessary for LiFePO4 batteries. One of the great features on these batteries is that they do not off-gas anything & that frees up some room for more.

However the electrical components do get warm. Not sure how warm it gets in the rear bench with the added equipment we are planning to install. Seen posts that others have done similar upgrades. I haven't seen any real-world posts about overheating in the rear bench in the case of this added electrical equipment. It's worth an ask to see what others have experienced. It's easier to add an air vent on the bench face before installing the equipment. Wanted to double check if any added real -world info is available.
Thanks!

[kathytony1985]

Check out this You Tube video by KYD. They recently installed a lot of components in a small space and installed fans to keep the area cool. Hope this helps!
https://youtu.be/zH9wkzP_cBM

[Jack!]

Originally Posted by kathytony1985

Check out this You Tube video by KYD. They recently installed a lot of components in a small space and installed fans to keep the area cool. Hope this helps!
https://youtu.be/zH9wkzP_cBM

Thanks for the link!

[kathytony1985]

You're welcome!

[Doug2000]

Originally Posted by Jack!

Thanks for the mention and you are right in terms LA or AGM batteries.
We are removing the battery box for this upgrade to fit more batteries. The battery box is not necessary for LiFePO4 batteries. One of the great features on these batteries is that they do not off-gas anything & that frees up some room for more.

So what happens when they catch on fire? We build trucks at work and all lithium goes in a heavy steel box in case of fire or explosion. Maybe the engineers are just being over zealous.

[JeffreyG]

Originally Posted by Doug2000

So what happens when they catch on fire? We build trucks at work and all lithium goes in a heavy steel box in case of fire or explosion. Maybe the engineers are just being over zealous.

LiFePO4 is not likely to spontaneously generate a fire. It is a completely different chemistry and design from the types of "lithium" batteries you hear about in cars like the Chevy Bolt.


If one were to use a lithium battery of a type that could spontaneously start a fire, like a Chevy Bolt, there is no battery box made that would be able to save the trailer. Especially not a plastic box typical of RV installations. These BEV battery fires are really, really hot, and they cannot be put out.

[Brian B-P]

If a failure or fire causes a lithium-ion battery to vent, the vented vapours are toxic and flammable. No electric vehicle carries the battery in the interior without an exterior vent.

Originally Posted by JeffreyG

LiFePO4 is not likely to spontaneously generate a fire. It is a completely different chemistry and design from the types of "lithium" batteries you hear about in cars like the Chevy Bolt.

It's a little different, but the difference is important because LFP (LiFePO4) is indeed much less likely than NMC (LiNixMnyCozO2) or NCA (LiNiCoAlO2) to burn up due to an internal fault or physical damage. They're all lithium-ion cells (differing in the electrode composition), and there are a few other electrode variations as well; all common lithium-ion cells use flammable electrolyte and of course contain lithium, although the lithium itself is not a significant fire hazard compared to the electrolyte, so if they do burn they're all bad.

[JeffreyG]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

It's a little different, but the difference is important because LFP (LiFePO4) is indeed much less likely than NMC (LiNixMnyCozO2) or NCA (LiNiCoAlO2) to burn up due to an internal fault or physical damage. They're all lithium-ion cells (differing in the electrode composition), and there are a few other electrode variations as well; all common lithium-ion cells use flammable electrolyte and of course contain lithium, although the lithium itself is not a significant fire hazard compared to the electrolyte, so if they do burn they're all bad.

Yeah, I have a nice 3D plot of all the Li batteries for energy density, durability, and propensity to flamy-ness. Unfortunately it is confidential. Maybe I can find an open source version.

[Jack!]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

If a failure or fire causes a lithium-ion battery to vent, the vented vapours are toxic and flammable. No electric vehicle carries the battery in the interior without an exterior vent.

Another factor which makes Battleborn batteries unlikely to have a catastrophic failure of this nature is the BMS in each battery. If the BMS detects a short/failure condition it shuts down the battery in seconds. Perhaps no BMS or inadequate BMS necessitates the need for "a suit of armor" that these different type batteries wear.

The reason for my question is concern about heat buildup inside the bench with the power center, two solar controllers & 2 Lynx distributors. I'm more concerned about these components, but would like to keep the batteries under 100F. Again, the batteries' BMS shuts down the batteries at 135F, but consistently using them at over 100F can shorten the 10 yr life expectancy. Plus, the kicker is we are in FL.

Considering adding a significant vent to the bench face. May be a way to add a small exhaust fan to the now unused battery outside vent, as well. I believe the Thornwave shunt can run a temp sensor and a relay switch to run a small exhaust fan.

Curious if anyone has had heat issues with similar added
electric stuff in under the bench.

[MVA]

Jack,

We have a 100A-hr BB battery, Victron solar charge controller, a Victron DC-DC converter, Progressive EMS, and WFCO power center installed in the DS bench in our E19. We do have a 8" x 10" grille (residential return air grille) installed on the bench face (for ventilation and wiring access) and have not seen any indication of temperature increase.

2 cents

[Jack!]

Originally Posted by MVA

We do have a 8" x 10" grille (residential return air grille) installed on the bench face (for ventilation and wiring access) and have not seen any indication of temperature increase.

Thanks for the info and good news. Seems the added grille, alone, will do the trick. Wasn't looking forward to doing a exhaust fan, as well.

[MVA]

Jack,

FYI - attached are pics of our install with the noted grille installed and open to access controllers.

From the BB website (https://battlebornbatteries.com/faq/) under Batteries tab, they cover temperature operating (135F max) and storage (-10F to 140F) requirements. Also they state batteries can be stored inside RV to keep warm.

[Jack!]

That's perfect. Stealing that install idea.
I looked at the entire playlist on the BB website. The BMS high temp shutdown is 135F & its OK to use them over 100F occasionally. There is a video where they discuss "consistently" operating the batteries at over 100F & the negative impact on battery life span. In FL, our outside temps are often in the mid to upper 90's in the summertime. The electronics could cook things up higher without added air flow. That extra vent is a good added option. Thanks much for the pictures.