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Battery Vapours when discharging? or charging?

Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 9:10 pm
by CRUSHU
I am going to fit a battery to the side of my Camper trailer, but the available space is down the side of the trailer, where the camper folds out. So there will be a little ventilation, but the wooden base for the camper will be over the top of the battery, and when unfolded, the canvas will be about 6" away.

Does the battery only give off vapours when charging? Or does it give them off when discharging as well?
Can you get a battery that doesnt? I Have a Exide Orbital, they say they are sealed, would that do?

Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 9:31 pm
by kanookie
i dont know much about batteries but if its sealed it shouldnt give off any vapours?? if not a dry cell wont give off any

Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 10:15 pm
by chimpboy
Some new batteries do not vent, I believe. All the old ones used to.

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 5:58 am
by macca81
optima dont vent, they can also be used on there side of upside-down :armsup: altho im not sure why this would matter, as upside-down they take up the exact same amount of space as right way up... so why would they advertise this fact?? hmmm.....

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 6:12 am
by r0ck_m0nkey
macca81 wrote:altho im not sure why this would matter, as upside-down they take up the exact same amount of space as right way up... so why would they advertise this fact?? hmmm.....
Mounting on a roof, so that the terminals are exposed.

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 10:40 am
by festy
Normal lead acid batteries give off vapours when charging, not discharging.
The vapour is hydrogen, and the liquid that gets carried with the hydrogen bubbles is sulfuric acid.

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 6:55 pm
by me3@neuralfibre.com
Wet cells bubble hydrogen when charging, and lots as they approach end of charge. Can be explosive and / or corrosive.

If it's in a nearly sealed area, buy an AGM, they recombine the hydrogen, so are effectively "sealed". Fullriver is a chinese one at a good price. They'll also handle the bouncing a trailer gets without splashing, and can be mounted any angle / way.

Paul

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 7:04 pm
by CRUSHU
me3@neuralfibre.com wrote:Wet cells bubble hydrogen when charging, and lots as they approach end of charge. Can be explosive and / or corrosive.

If it's in a nearly sealed area, buy an AGM, they recombine the hydrogen, so are effectively "sealed". Fullriver is a chinese one at a good price. They'll also handle the bouncing a trailer gets without splashing, and can be mounted any angle / way.

Paul
What about an Orbital type battery? Are they sealed? I can get them at a good price.

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 7:17 pm
by me3@neuralfibre.com
Exide orbital is a spiral AGM, so yes, sealed. Quite expensive however compared to Fullriver, unless you are getting a really really good deal.
Odyssey and Optima are the other 2 brand names. Plenty of generic brands. Pick AGM over Gel if possible.

Paul

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 7:35 pm
by its aford not a nissan
thought i would ask in here

is it legal to have a battery inside the cab , that is any of these sealed type batteries or is that still a no-no

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:33 pm
by macca81
i do belive it is legal yes... i know there are a few cars that have the battery in the boot with no firewall between them and the driver. and i know that some older 4wds (MQ canvas top etc) had them under the passenger seat. i dont see why it should be a prob if its not a direct risk.



i know ya can have them in the passenger compartment and still pass CAMS, coz out VW mudbash buggy has it there, and CAMS is fairly strict...

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 10:49 pm
by Cossie
Piece of shit land rover defenders have them under the passenger seat too.