Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I'm getting some battery dealers saying its not an issue for the gas, hydrogen I think one said, and others say the battery should have some sort of vent on when the trickle charger is on.
Any input for you all would be appreciated.
Thanks
Susan

what is a "deep cell" battery?

perhaps you mean "deep cycle" battery

the piece of information that's missing and affects the answer is whether it's a sealed AGM battery or a normal wet-cell battery.

if the former, you need venting only if the battery overheats catastrophically during charging
if the latter, you need venting

<Chas>

Susan the deep cycle batteries if stored inside a camper or any closed space should be vented.

A-Liner is one commercial built camper that has the battery inside the living area, it is in a sealed area vented outside.

Indeed batteries do produce dangerous gas when charging and therefore must be vented or charged in an open area.

Is it safe to have a battery in an enclosed area yes, again if vented, I was on a submarine which used a lot of batteries all within the confines of the sub.

"they" make a vented battery box that can be used to house your deep cycle battery

the reason to use a deep cycle battery rather than a car battery is the deep cycle battery can be discharged many times without

causing damage to the battery while a car type battery would overheat and be destroyed in a few charge-discharge cycles.

pete

Like Chas said, a "real" sealed battery can be used indoors, unvented, like an AGM.

You have to watch when buying, as some sales people will say they have a sealed battery and it will actually not be.

I still like to put any battery in a battery box for saftey, a box is only about $10.

Hope that helps.

If there is any chance the battery will expell gas, then the battery must be vented to the out side, better to be a sealed cabnet and vented, as the gas is caustic and not compatable to human life.

Johnnie

pappaw wrote:Like Chas said, a "real" sealed battery can be used indoors, unvented, like an AGM.

You have to watch when buying, as some sales people will say they have a sealed battery and it will actually not be.

I still like to put any battery in a battery box for saftey, a box is only about $10.

Hope that helps.

U might be able to get a battery case for $10 for a normal 12v car battery or maybe for a boat battery but im using golfcart 6v and those are alot more!

Charging batteries produces oxygen and hydrogen; combined is a very explosive if kept in a small enclosed space and ignited by a flame or spark; that combined with very corrosive battery acid and small amounts of battery acid gas; I would say its on the hazardous end of the scale; even if all gas is produced in small amounts; there's a reason that its recommended to vent battery compartment's; especially in small enclosed trailer spaces. I have a heated insulated CT and keep the battery outside under the trailer and move it inside when traveling; the best arrangement is a battery in locked in a vented box; mounted on the front a frame trailer tongue.

So to all those in the exterior battery club

I'm just wondering when it's-20 to -40 in in your winter , how well does your battery work -
Or asked another way how much power is lost at -40 as a percent of your battery ?
Does not a discharge battery freeze very easily ?

Batteries work and last best at about the same temperatures people like best. Batteries are rated at 25 C (77 F). As temperature increases battery life decreases while capacity increases. Conversely as temp drops battery life increases and capacity is reduced.

At freezing temp the capacity is reduced by 20%. At -22 F capacity is reduced by 50%. At 122 F battery capacity is increased by about 12%. At -22 F battery life is increased by 60%. For every 15 degrees F over 77 F life is decreased by 50%. However, if your batteries are in a variable temperature life will sort of average out.

That explains why I have 50% more battery capacity at out mtn cabin than we would need if we never used it in winter. The batteries are outside.


A fully charged battery will not freeze until it gets colder than -90 F. Yes, minus 90 F.

I have a nice chart that relates temperature and capacity someplace. I'll see if I can find it and will post it if I can.

Temperature compensated battery state of charge table, 12 volt systems with wet/flooded cell batteries. (not AGM)...





and the same for AGM / gel



I have tables for 24 and 48 volt systems as well, but it's not likely anyone here is running those. Email me if you want one.

pappaw wrote:Like Chas said, a "real" sealed battery can be used indoors, unvented, like an AGM.

Nope, they still need to be vented:
From the Deka AGM battery literature:

Can VRLA batteries be installed in sealed battery boxes?
NO! Never install any type of battery in a completely sealed
container. Although most of the normal gasses (oxygen and
hydro gen) produced in a VRLA battery will be recombined and
not escape, oxygen and hydrogen will escape from the
battery in an overcharge condition (as is typical of any
type battery).
These potentially explosive gasses must be allowed to vent
to the atmosphere and must never be trapped in a sealed
battery box or tightly enclosed space!

Deka Linky

Bruce