Batteries unable to charge when temperature below freezing ==> 14.29% complete
Problem
Batteries will not charge when temp is below 0C/32F. They do appear to discharge but not charge.
Solution
Per city ordinance and code, battery systems like this cannot be indoors, so the Homegrid Stack'd battery system is located outside. Therefore the only solution seems to be either some type of heat source for the batteries, or some type of insulating enclosure to go over the batteries, or both.
Since extended periods of sub-freezing temperatures are not that common, an enclosure would have to be deployed seasonally.
Steps to complete
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Contact Kosmos Solar (the installer that provided the batteries) and see if the enclosure option is worth pursuing and if there are any gotchas to worry about. -
Build custom enclosure made to fit. -
Ensure the LCD status panel is still accessible in the design. -
Set up remote temperature monitoring to ensure no overheating. -
Use existing materials (wood, insulation, etc) to build the enclosure, ensuring the "roof" of the enclosure is both protected from water and slanted for water runoff. -
Paint the enclosure to help protect it from the elements.
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Next freeze, deploy the custom enclosure and test it.
Edited by Simple Nomad