Battery and gas

[Forrest747]

Ok Still trying to figure out where everything goes when going camping. Right now i have the white gas stored under the sink. The battery is in the cabinet space in the middle. I am thinking of moving the gas into the battery area. THe switch for the battery is also in this area. is it ok to store the gas up against teh divider or am I asking for problem. Its just a gallon of coleman white gas. THank you

[pchast]

A switch can yield an Arc.

A spark is pretty reliable
................ ignition...

I think.
I'd do something else
...........with the gas.

[working on it]

Is the area to be well-ventilated?, and what type battery are you using? Those are the two key questions, to my way of thinking. If it's a sealed AGM /gel/dry, then fumes from the battery will not be subject to ignition...if you're talking about gas or gasoline fumes and ignition, you'd have to get quite a concentration to readily ignite. I have dealt with switches, batteries, fuel, and sparks in close proximity to each other for years...in hot-rodding and racing. In dragracing, many people (including me) have their batteries straddling the fuel cell in the trunk of their doorcars, and in-between rounds re-charging/re-fueling are done simultaneously, within a foot of each other. I've never seen or heard of any incident when the trunk area has plenty of open air. I've had more problems jumpstarting a car battery; the hydrogen gas build-up in a wet-cell battery can and will easily ignite, with the slightest spark. It happened to me (twice). Once was my fault, the second was my "helper's" fault. I'm more cautious of a wet cell battery than fuel now. I have all my fuel and battery (AGM) stored in my "galley"(in name only), and though I have no switch located near the battery, the 5-gallon gas can is separated from the battery by only a 15" high plywood wall (removable). Just to make sure that the gas can has to be moved before the battery terminals can "spark" during connection/re-connection. The Coleman fuel/stove/lanterns are located up and away from the battery, as is the generator with its fuel supply. There is a 6" diameter vent for the whole compartment to alleviate any fumes of any type, when the hatch is closed. And of course, there's always a fire extinguisher in each of my vehicles, and inside the door of the little trailer as well.