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Battery Temperature Sensors are not compatible with lithium batteries and will cause
damage to your system.
A BTS is often used by battery chargers in lead acid batteries because the “full” voltage changes with
temperature. This technology is not compatible with lithium batteries and must not be used. Using a
BTS is likely to cause the charge controller to over-charge the KiloVault® battery and damage it.
3.1.6.
Temperature and Battery Physical Spacing
Because the batteries warm up while in use, you will want to consider your local average and seasonal
temperature when positioning your battery bank. If they will be in a warmer environment you may
want to leave a minimum of one inch between each of the batteries. If they will possibly be subject to
cold temperatures you may want to place them as closely as possible to each other. Please note that
the batteries can discharge several degrees below freezing but they will not charge.
3.1.7.
Insulating Battery Enclosure in Cold Temperatures
Insulation around the batteries should also be considered for winter time if the batteries will be
exposed to temperatures that approach 32°F (0°C). Below freezing the BMS will not allow charging to
prevent damage to the cells.
Note:
The battery capacity reduces by 20% between room temperature and just above
freezing. Lead acid based batteries reduce capacity by 50% over the same temperature
range.
Using an insulated enclosure during these cold periods will maintain more of the heat generated
during normal charging and reduce the chances of the BMS shutting down the batteries in cold
temperatures. However, please make sure to remove the insulation in the hot months, as overheating
the batteries will shorten their life and the BMS will shut down the battery in temperatures above
149°F (65°C).
3.1.8.
Battery Interconnect Cabling
Refer to published electrical wiring specifications and ratings for all interconnecting cables. All wire
must be the appropriate gauge and construction to handle the loads that will be placed upon it.
Heavy gauge, fine stranded copper wire is the industry standard. A minimum of 2/0 or 4/0 AWG
copper cable is recommended for battery interconnect cables.
Cables connecting parallel rows of batteries together must be the same length. Cables of differing
lengths will cause voltage differences between the rows. Recall that the parallel rows must be kept
within 0.2V of each other to ensure they work correctly and large currents do not occur between
rows. If your battery bank suddenly shuts down as one or more rows approach fully charged or fully
discharged then it’s likely either the batteries are not all at the same state of charge or, if they are
measured to be all the same, the voltage drop across the cables connecting the rows is not equal.
Using a voltmeter or a multimeter, the measured difference between any parallel rows of batteries
