reflectix insulation

[dewdev]

Where to buy a small quantity of reflectix insulation?

What type of adhesive should I use to keep it in place on the battery door and the cellar door? 

Edited March 25 by dewdev

[Snackchaser]

7 minutes ago, dewdev said:

Where to buy a small quantity of reflectix insulation?

Amazon carries it, but theirs is sometimes low quality and thin.  I got some from an HVAC contractor/supplier for free. It is used for duct insulation and was much better quality. 

[jd1923]

32 minutes ago, dewdev said:

What type of adhesive should I use...?

I used carpet tape and just some honeycomb insulation that came as packing in something we purchased.

Edited March 25 by jd1923

[topgun2]

Both Home Depot and Lowes carry Reflextic in fairly small rolls.

For the battery door - I used foam board that I had laying around the shop.

p.s.  Foil tape can be used to secure the Reflextic  to the door and/or to virtually anywhere inside between the hulls if you want to put your excess in there.

 

Edited March 25 by topgun2
added detail

[DanielBoondock]

Checking the BMS temps the problem with my Lithionics was more of too much heat, easily getting up to the high 90’s in early March. The batteries produce heat too from the BMS board and just from charge/discharge. The battery has a built in heater so if it gets cold no problem, that’ll take care of that. On my list is to add a automated fan to a top vent, I won’t otherwise insulate it. When we got to camp I’d open up the door to get it to cool down faster as the sun went down. 

[theOrca]

I chose the "peel and stick "Reflextic."  There is as much as six layers of it under the driver side bunk and under the bathroom sink. If there was room for a 4" x 4" piece, a chunk went there. 

[FloraFauna]

For those of you that have the upper refrigerator vent to the left of the door but a refrigerator that doesn't require it, you have a big thermal hole there even with the Oliver supplied insert.  The Oliver-supplied insert is simply a thin piece of plastic with no significant thermal barrier.  I plugged mine with a piece of foam caulked in, then put the Oliver insert over it and the Oliver vent cover over that.  Otherwise, cold air pours in between the hulls. I can try to find my pictures if anyone is interested but it is a simple fix to an easily overlooked thermal opening between the hulls.

[Hokieman]

11 hours ago, DanielBoondock said:

Checking the BMS temps the problem with my Lithionics was more of too much heat, easily getting up to the high 90’s in early March. The batteries produce heat too from the BMS board and just from charge/discharge. The battery has a built in heater so if it gets cold no problem, that’ll take care of that. On my list is to add an automated fan to a top vent, I won’t otherwise insulate it. When we got to camp I’d open up the door to get it to cool down faster as the sun went down. 

 I cut two 2” holes in the battery box for venting, no fan.   I also plugged the vents in the door and insulated with two layers of Reflectix.   Used 3M heavy duty spray adhesive, it’s been holding well for 5 years.   I did the same on the Basement door.   I measure battery compartment temps with my Victron BMV712 monitor, and also a remote temp sensor that I move around in the basement depending on ambient temps.   I have not needed to open the battery door,  the small vents keep the battery box relatively cool in Summer, warm in Winter.  I have camped in 100+ temps and below 10F for several consecutive nights with no problem.   

[jd1923]

18 hours ago, DanielBoondock said:

Checking the BMS temps the problem with my Lithionics was more of too much heat, easily getting up to the high 90’s in early March. The batteries produce heat too from the BMS board and just from charge/discharge. The battery has a built in heater so if it gets cold no problem, that’ll take care of that. On my list is to add an automated fan to a top vent, I won’t otherwise insulate it. When we got to camp I’d open up the door to get it to cool down faster as the sun went down. 

Not good! We camped Monday and ran the fridge and hot water heater together (-120A) for 30 min, until the water was hot. Then turned on the A/C on all afternoon, not plugged in, all on inverter.

Temp on the Victron inverter rose to 90F, in its closed space, well within the 104F warning . I installed a basement exhaust fan, yet rarely use it.

The Epoch app had been acting up, so I manually tested voltage with a multimeter. It read 12.9V, certainly a very good number considering the -120A load of the HWH.

Battery tops and 4/0 wiring were all cold to the touch. I sealed the vents in our battery bay to keep dirt out.

IMHO, call Lithionics, fix the issue vs. venting heat away that should not accumulating!

 

Edited 1 hour ago by jd1923