Community Forums

leesdx1 · 04-18-2016, 09:43 PM

Hello:

I need opinions if this is enough ventilation for my enclosed 4- 6 volt battery bank box. The vent hose will be attached to the top of the box and vent out though a 1-1/2" dia vent, see pix. The first pix is the vent and the 2nd pix is the open space with the bay door close, enough ventilation here? It will also have a drain at the bottom of the box that will also serve as air circulation and hopefully help push the fumes out the top vent.

Let me know what you all think.

Thanks

RV Wizard · 04-19-2016, 01:41 AM

I assume you are using wet cell lead acid batteries? I would like to see more ventilation. If you use down the bank's capacity and recharge at a high amperage, there will be a lot of hydrogen off gassing that might accumulate otherwise.
If you are using sealed batteries like AGM, that vent should be OK.

leesdx1 · 04-19-2016, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RV Wizard

I assume you are using wet cell lead acid batteries? I would like to see more ventilation. If you use down the bank's capacity and recharge at a high amperage, there will be a lot of hydrogen off gassing that might accumulate otherwise.
If you are using sealed batteries like AGM, that vent should be OK.

RV Wizard: Yes wet cell Batteries. Okay thanks

TQ60 · 04-19-2016, 07:48 AM

The gas is hydrogen so the vent must be at top and not go down.

Keep charge current under control to minimize gassing and you should be fine.

For a bonus get a computer fan to force fresh air in or draw air out depending on placement and have it powered by shore power so whenever converter is running and charging fan is running.

PbdBlue · 04-19-2016, 08:05 AM

Is anyone concerned about corrosion in the area behind the door where the vent outlet is? It's not just hydrogen that outgas's during charging. Some rather acidic byproducts get drug along as well. I'd be concerned that there may be damage long term in a very visable area that would be costly to repair.

leesdx1 · 04-19-2016, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TQ60

The gas is hydrogen so the vent must be at top and not go down.

Keep charge current under control to minimize gassing and you should be fine.

For a bonus get a computer fan to force fresh air in or draw air out depending on placement and have it powered by shore power so whenever converter is running and charging fan is running.

TQ60: The fan idea looks good. So, if I wire my computer fan to the inverter fan, the fan should kick on whenever my inverter fan kicks on, right? Hmm.

leesdx1 · 04-19-2016, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PbdBlue

Is anyone concerned about corrosion in the area behind the door where the vent outlet is? It's not just hydrogen that outgas's during charging. Some rather acidic byproducts get drug along as well. I'd be concerned that there may be damage long term in a very visable area that would be costly to repair.

PbdBlue: I really didn't think of that, but you have a good point. Maybe spray paint whatever is visible and do a regular wash down with bake soda and water.

**pasdad1** · 04-19-2016, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leesdx1

TQ60: The fan idea looks good. So, if I wire my computer fan to the inverter fan, the fan should kick on whenever my inverter fan kicks on, right? Hmm.

The inverter fan might be thermostatically controlled.....in which case it might not run much in cooler temps.....but the batteries could still be producing LOTS of hydrogen gas.

Might be better to consider AGM batteries, since they will only vent hydrogen gas in extreme cases of overcharging.....otherwise no gas is released.....they recombine the oxygen and hydrogen back into water.

leesdx1 · 04-19-2016, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pasdad1

The inverter fan might be thermostatically controlled.....in which case it might not run much in cooler temps.....but the batteries could still be producing LOTS of hydrogen gas.

Might be better to consider AGM batteries, since they will only vent hydrogen gas in extreme cases of overcharging.....otherwise no gas is released.....they recombine the oxygen and hydrogen back into water.

pasdad1: Another good point on thermostatically. Man this forum is awesome. When I got this RV 4 years ago, the 4- wet cell 12volt where in the seal box shown in the pix. The only vent was the drain at the bottom of the box. Everything seems to be okay with that set-up. I'm just trying to mod it for better ventilation at the top.

Call me cheap, but I can buy at Costco GC2 batteries @$83.99 vs. $260+/- for AGM batteries. Anything is better than the 12V group 31H I currently have. Thanks

TQ60 · 04-19-2016, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leesdx1

TQ60: The fan idea looks good. So, if I wire my computer fan to the inverter fan, the fan should kick on whenever my inverter fan kicks on, right? Hmm.

Yes but do not mess with the inverter.

Just get 2 things.

Any small dc powered computer type fan and a wall wart to power it.

Connect them together and plug it into an outlet powered by shore cord.

Whenever plugged in fan runs.

Fully automatic.

Mr_D · 04-19-2016, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RV Wizard

I assume you are using wet cell lead acid batteries? I would like to see more ventilation. If you use down the bank's capacity and recharge at a high amperage, there will be a lot of hydrogen off gassing that might accumulate otherwise.
If you are using sealed batteries like AGM, that vent should be OK.

I'd have to agree, that's not enough for wet cells. Both my battery compartments are totally open on the bottom with the batteries on slide out trays.

leesdx1 · 04-19-2016, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TQ60

Yes but do not mess with the inverter.

Just get 2 things.

Any small dc powered computer type fan and a wall wart to power it.

Connect them together and plug it into an outlet powered by shore cord.

Whenever plugged in fan runs.

Fully automatic.

TQ60: Thanks for explaining the process. Can't turn back now. I think I'm going to take this route.

powercat_ras · 04-19-2016, 09:18 PM

It looks like you are using the entire compartment with no battery boxes inside the compartment for batteries.

If it were me I would go passive, so you don't have to hear that fan running and to avoid the power it would consume. I would suggest at least two vents right below top wall of compartment and two vents at bottom wall of compartment, at least 2" diameter, for the four large batteries you have installed. I would also seal anywhere there is a path for compartment air to get into rest of basement or into the main area of the RV.

Etrailer.com has 3" UV resistant polypropolene wall vents for $ 8.18 in either black of white that would do the trick, I did not see anyone selling just the 2" wall vents but they are probally out there.

You can get the

leesdx1 · 04-19-2016, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powercat_ras

It looks like you are using the entire compartment with no battery boxes inside the compartment for batteries.

If it were me I would go passive, so you don't have to hear that fan running and to avoid the power it would consume. I would suggest at least two vents right below top wall of compartment and two vents at bottom wall of compartment, at least 2" diameter, for the four large batteries you have installed. I would also seal anywhere there is a path for compartment air to get into rest of basement or into the main area of the RV.

Etrailer.com has 3" UV resistant polypropolene wall vents for $ 8.18 in either black of white that would do the trick, I did not see anyone selling just the 2" wall vents but they are probally out there.

You can get the

powercat ras: There is a battery box. The first pix shows part of the black box. I cannot put a bigger vent on the compartment wall due to structure on the back side. The battery box already has 2- 2" holes at the bottom for drain and wire access. I'm just installing a top vent on the battery box for improve ventilation. But it seem from feedback that it isn't enough, but a step up from what is was for 4 years. Thanks