Tim, If your batteries are truly VRSLA/AGM (Valve-Regulated Sealed Lead-Acid, Absorptive Glass Mat) units, you have nothing to worry about- IF the solar charge controller is capable of controlling the charge energy going into the battery bank. VRSLA batteries are designed so that the gases that are produced during normal charging are recombined and not vented. In fact, the batteries in a properly-designed solar system will never vent. The solar charge controller should be placed in the same environment as the batteries, in order to properly sense their temperature.
My first solar-powered repeater has been in operation since January 2003, and everything except the antenna is in a large Hoffman cabinet- including the radio- with no signs of corrosion. The only solar systems that I know have problems, have a home-made (read: kluge) controller that is not up to the exacting task of controlling energy into and out of a battery bank, or are using automotive (wet-cell) batteries. 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of tahrens301 Sent: Saturday, August 07, 2010 2:05 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Repeater-Builder] AGM Batteries Hi Folks, I got a couple of the large AGM batteries for a solar installation, and was wondering if there is any condition that will lead them to vent inside the enclosure? They are sealed, but probably have one-way valves. Can I put the solar controller in the same enclosure? Figured some of you folks have done solar stuff before. Thanks, Tim
