Compartment ventilation

[GPSGary]

I'm getting ready to install my second battery bank and inverter.

I need to ventilate the two compartment. I was thinking cutting holes in the compartment covers and installing louvers near the tops of the compartment doors.

Any suggestions for sources of louvers?
Any better ideas?

If it helps I'm putting the batteries in the passenger side forward compartment and the inverter in the old charger compartment.

Regards,

[NH Bill]

Hello Gary,

I recently installed a ProSine 2K inverter in the forward curb side compartment of our FC. This unit can get pretty warm.

Initially, I'm starting out small with the venting and can always go larger and add a small 12 v fan if necessary.

What I did was drill 2" circular holes for 2" soffit vents. These are aluminum with louvres and screens (Home Depot stuff). Two up high in the front on the inside and two opposite them up high in the back adjacent to the inverter fan. So far, so good. I used a bi-metal hole saw and this worked real well on the compartment walls.

If these are not big enough I can use the jig saw to expand the opening to accommodate a 8"X6" rectangular louvered vent. I also purchased a washable aluminum filter (for kitchen type fan) to go with it.

The photo does not show the vents but it does show the position of the inverter. The inverter fan is on the inside end and the vents on the rear wall are right next to it. Air flow from the front vents passes directly to the rear provided I keep the upper part open.

Bill

[iamflagman]

Just like Bill, I also added soffit vents to my battery charger / Inverter compartment door, but I chose the 3 inch size, I plan on adding the same size soffit vents to the battery compartment door.

http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/108945742

I also have two computer muffin fans inside of the compartment, one aimed down to help circulate the hot air that normally rises inside of the compartment and direct it toward the other muffin fan located on the lower back wall that vents the hot air out of the compartment, that hole was already drilled through the bottom of the back wall. I use a Hayden #3653 (Imperial #226203) Econo Adjustable Thermostat to control the fans, this works great.

http://www.haydenauto.com/catalogs/h...ctric-fans.pdf

http://www.haydenauto.com/catalogs/i...ctric-fans.pdf