Outbuilding and insulation

[Tetrarch]

I have an outbuilding that I'd like to insulate to make it useable as a workshop and to keep my solar batteries warm! I'd also like to reduce the rusting of tools etc stored there

 

The visible sides are all loglap but the rear is a combination of old brickwork and (currently) sterling board

 

I have some Versarend render board left over, enough to completely cover/replace the sterling board. Do I need a vapour layer and where?

 

Regards

Tet

 

 

[JohnMo]

Tools rusting is more related to lack of ventilation than insulation.

15 minutes ago, Tetrarch said:

vapour layer and where?

Ideally add one on the inside wall, behind the ply.

 

I would add a mineral wool insulation.

 

[G and J]

If you ventilate it well to keep it nice and dry then unless you heat it at times it will be flippin freezing.  
 

If your solar batteries are the main issue then is it worth just insulating them?  I presume they need a bit of ventilation to keep them from overheating in summer?  So maybe throw a blanket over them in winter?

[JohnMo]

2 hours ago, G and J said:

If you ventilate it well to keep it nice and dry then unless you heat it at times it will be flippin freezing

It's going to be pretty cold in there without heating insulation or not. If the only heat source is the battery.

 

2 hours ago, G and J said:

your solar batteries are the main issue then is it worth just insulating them?  I presume they need a bit of ventilation to keep them from overheating in summer?  So maybe throw a blanket over them in winter

Sounds like fire ready to happen.

[Nickfromwales]

3 hours ago, G and J said:

If your solar batteries are the main issue then is it worth just insulating them?  I presume they need a bit of ventilation to keep them from overheating in summer?  So maybe throw a blanket over them in winter?

Jesus.

 

On a 1-10 scale of dodgy advice, that’s an 11.

 

🫣😑🤦‍♂️

[G and J]

So one should not insulate a solar battery?

[Nickfromwales]

14 minutes ago, G and J said:

So one should not insulate a solar battery?

No. 
 

Insulate the room, and ventilate it, but “throw a blanket over the battery”?!?!?!?

 

NO!  

[G and J]

So, in my garage I have a dangerous incendiary device that requires an exclusion zone.   Hmmmm.  
 

Should it say so on the outside?  Some electrical devices do but not my Sunsynk battery.  

 

Should electric cars never be put under a cover?

[-rick-]

6 minutes ago, G and J said:

So, in my garage I have a dangerous incendiary device that requires an exclusion zone.   Hmmmm.

 

Not unlike a petrol car or lawnmower.

 

6 minutes ago, G and J said:

Should it say so on the outside?  Some electrical devices do but not my Sunsynk battery.

 

If your installer was happy to put it where it is then I wouldn't worry about it. Modern home batteries are very safe. Much safer than petrol and safer than the high density lithium ones used in long range cars. (Cheaper cars are increasingly using the safer batteries because they cost less but store less power for the weight).

 

6 minutes ago, G and J said:

Should electric cars never be put under a cover?

 

Modern EVs have an awful lot of safeties built in so its ok. You might find some people arguing that you shouldn't do high power charging of EVs inside but you won't have a fast charger at home. (Battery fires usually happen due to either damage, or overheating during charging (either due to pure temperature or because the charger is doing something wrong)

[G and J]

2 hours ago, -rick- said:

 

Not unlike a petrol car or lawnmower.

 

 

If your installer was happy to put it where it is then I wouldn't worry about it. Modern home batteries are very safe. Much safer than petrol and safer than the high density lithium ones used in long range cars. (Cheaper cars are increasingly using the safer batteries because they cost less but store less power for the weight).

 

 

Modern EVs have an awful lot of safeties built in so its ok. You might find some people arguing that you shouldn't do high power charging of EVs inside but you won't have a fast charger at home. (Battery fires usually happen due to either damage, or overheating during charging (either due to pure temperature or because the charger is doing something wrong)

That all sounds reasonable.  So only throw a blanket over more modern battery packs from reputable companies.   Or better still, leave ‘em to do their own thing.   I think the better ones come with little heaters to prevent battery temp going too low.   

[-rick-]

2 minutes ago, G and J said:

That all sounds reasonable.  So only throw a blanket over more modern battery packs from reputable companies.   Or better still, leave ‘em to do their own thing.   I think the better ones come with little heaters to prevent battery temp going too low.   

 

No! Do not throw a blanket over any of them! 🤦‍♂️

 

Battery should have free air circulation space around it. Much safer for the battery to be too cold than too hot.

[G and J]

Oh alrighty then, I won’t.  
 

[Nickfromwales]

12 hours ago, G and J said:

Oh alrighty then, I won’t.  
 

I never thought I'd have to petition for a bloody blanket amnesty.......

 

Has building the house finally sent you to the loony bin or what?

[-rick-]

I think our legs are being pulled

[Nickfromwales]

Just now, -rick- said:

I think our legs are being pulled

He pulled the wool over our eyes, and the battery system.

 

[sgt_woulds]

What if was one of those knitted bed-throw blankets with all the holes in like your granny used to make?  

 

Actually, if you invested in a small herd of sheep or angora goats they would keep the shed warm in winter and you could skin them for extra insulation each year.

[Nickfromwales]

I'll be flat out on Sigmund's bench at this rate................

[G and J]

3 hours ago, sgt_woulds said:

What if was one of those knitted bed-throw blankets with all the holes in like your granny used to make?  

 

Actually, if you invested in a small herd of sheep or angora goats they would keep the shed warm in winter and you could skin them for extra insulation each year.

Natural fibres like wool are very good for temperature regulation.  At least that’s what the smiling salesperson asserted when we signed up for a rather costly herdwick mattress.  At that price I’m assuming it was made from real shepherds.  
 

So can we forget warm batteries now?