Cooling the EarthX 680 Necessary?

[rockitdoc]

I have seen references to cooling the EarthX batteries and see that a 'special' battery box with insulation and cooling tube option is offered by EarthX. I may go this route, but installing a new battery box would be problematic since my battery box which housed my PC680 Odyssey is already riveted to the firewall. If absolutely necessary, I'll deconstruct my old box and install the EarthX box, but, if not necessary, it would save a lot of extra work. Maybe just direct outside air to the battery somehow? Louvers on the lower cowl or a scoop? Anybody have experience with the EarthX?

 

[riseric]

I installed the insulated box that they sell and also have a blast tube from the rear baffle.
EarthX claims a reduction in battery temperature with their box, I can’t confirm as I never measured temps there and never had the battery without the box.
I block the blast tube in winter when the temps drop below freezing.
Have not seen any issues.

 

[Desert Rat]

EarthX says the max temp for the battery is 150 degrees. Mine is a 680C in the lightweight box, so there's a big cutout on the front of the box for weight savings and that exposes the plastic front of the battery.

I stuck a temperature strip on the front of the battery and based on which dots turned black it appears the max temp it sees sometime after shutdown is about 150 so I haven't done anything special to protect it.

 

[scrollF4]

Do the blast tube thing from the aft baffle. Easy insurance, piece of mind. I just don’t think you need to change out your battery box.
I LOVE EarthX batteries.

 

[BlackhawkSP]

I have seen references to cooling the EarthX batteries and see that a 'special' battery box with insulation and cooling tube option is offered by EarthX. I may go this route, but installing a new battery box would be problematic since my battery box which housed my PC680 Odyssey is already riveted to the firewall. If absolutely necessary, I'll deconstruct my old box and install the EarthX box, but, if not necessary, it would save a lot of extra work. Maybe just direct outside air to the battery somehow? Louvers on the lower cowl or a scoop? Anybody have experience with the EarthX?

I have an earth-X mounted on the firewall of my RV-10. I had the battery hi temp light warning a few times. I added a shroud around the sides and top hooked to a small blast tube from the back baffle. This keeps the battery bathed in cooling air now. No warnings since….If you pm me your email I can send pictures.

 

[dmattmul]

I ran into this today. EarthX has added more technical details. Battery temp will be fine as long as you mount them higher FWF. I made the mistake of mounting my second battery low. I have washer type thermocouples mounted halfway down the front and the lower battery consistently runs 30 deg hotter than the top battery on climb out. I have asked the engineers at EarthX the effect of routinely doing this and I was assured not a safety issue just hurts long term longevity. I test the residual ampacity annually and recently replaced my top battery once it dropped below 80%. It lasted over 4 years.

Note the comments recommending the use of hundred series batteries for starter batteries in aircraft.

BTW 85 C is 185 F.

 

[graywoodworking]

I put a thermocouple on my EarthX and monitored the temperature during flight. The temperature was close to the maximum temp recommended by EarthX. I added a plenum on the top and front of the battery and added a blast tube to keep cool air flowing through the plenum. The battery is running nice and cool now.

 

[Walt]

I put a thermocouple on my EarthX and monitored the temperature during flight. The temperature was close to the maximum temp recommended by EarthX. I added a plenum on the top and front of the battery and added a blast tube to keep cool air flowing through the plenum. The battery is running nice and cool now.

Even after shutdown?

 

[mountainride]

ETX900 mounted in standard -14 position on the firewall going strong 5 years, never had the fault light come on. It fits in the standard bracket fine. If I remember correctly I made a custom top bracket to secure the new battery and a spacer in the bottom out of high density foam.

 

[graywoodworking]

Even after shutdown?

The temperature increases after shutdown. I open the oil cooler door after shutdown to help with that. I am more concerned about the operating temperature. EarthX rates their batteries for 140F during flight and 185F after shut down.

 

[crabandy]

If you’ve been running a PC680 it’s max temp is 113*F…….

Heat kills batteries early.

My oil door cowl flap has helped, but I should also add a blast tube…..
Hottest temps are on the ground and after shutdown, I’ve had temps over 210 lower cowl temps after shutdown with ambient temps in the upper 90’s.
Take that heat soaked battery, pull amps for that hot start makes the battery warmer then hit it with amps from the alternator then high power low airspeed for takeoff and climb.
All my over temp alarms have been shortly after takeoff from the above scenario. A blast tube would help that.

 

[N787KV]

Deformation can happen, so I insulated the battery and put in a blast tube on my Sportsman and I haven't had any more problems.

 

[Hangar 1271]

Like many above, I just put a 1" blast tube from the aft baffle to my ETX900. I have the fault wire into my Dynon and never had a warning.

 

[rockitdoc]

I wonder if louvers in the cowl or a scoop to cool the area near the battery would help.