Storage in Battery Compartment??

[fansill]

Hi Everyone,

I have a 2005 Revolution and wanted to know if it is ok to storage anything in the battery compartment. I have a separate compartment thata holds my 4 house batteries in a boxy sub-compartment within its own storage bay. There is a small area above the batteries box that I would like to utilize for flat items such as a grill stand or folding tables. Is this advisable or should I just leave it alone???

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

Faith

[Mike Canter]

What you have to be careful of is anything metal that can jump around and hit the battery terminals and cause a fire. I do store my emegenct road relectors that are in a plastic case in there. As long as the item is not flammable and cannot short out the batteries then it should be OK.

[bdpreece]

Batteries give off gas which is corrosive. If it is open to the batteries I sure would not want to store anything good there.

[The Danes Are Coming]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdpreece Batteries give off gas which is corrosive. If it is open to the batteries I sure would not want to store anything good there.

Ditto.

[RickO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Danes Are Coming Ditto.

Ditto X2

[wa8yxm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdpreece Batteries give off gas which is corrosive. If it is open to the batteries I sure would not want to store anything good there.

Things which can be safely stored in the battery compartment include all sorts of PLASTIC containers. Distilled water is a no brainer, that's where you use it so why not store it there.. Auto wash and wax, Even motor oil and its relatives.

The fumes won't bother the plastic and .. Well, you need to store that kind of stuff.

Now, I will admit to haveing metal near some of my batteries but there is power ventelation in that box,, designed to suck battery fumes to an all plastic exit path. I know it works cause it was designed by... ME.

[Good man]

I agree that NOTHING should be stored in the battery compartment. The poster who mentioned corrosive gases from the battery is correct.
Also, the plastic box with the safety reflectors may come open, spilling those metal-framed reflectors on the batteries to cause a short. The gases will probably cause the reflective material to decompose as well as rusting the frames.
Batteries ONLY in that compartment is my vote.

[Gary RVRoamer]

I keep extension cords in mine, as well as odds as battery jumper cables (just in case) and afew odds and ends. The manufacturer also mounted my inverter in that bay, but I also use AGM (sealed) batteries.

[Cat320]

I store some hoses in my propane compartment, but nothing in with the batteries.

[AFChap]

I have always "stored" my engine in the battery compartment of my cars and have had no problems with corrosion beyond metal parts under or immedialety adjacent/in contact with the battery cases.

Yes, my MH does have larger batteries, and more batteries, and the house batteries do go throuhg more discharge and charging cycles than the normal car battery... The batttery compartment in my MH is well ventilated with very little additional storage room. I keep a small plastic funnel and a turkey baster beside the tray on one side. And I keep a couple of small spray cans (metal) of battery cleaner and terminal protector beside the tray on the other side. There is no way those cans could on top of the batteries. ALL these items have been there for at least 6-7 years and they show no deterioation or damage of any kind ...just as the metal walls and ceiling of the tight compartment show no damage fro off-gassing, etc. Common sense should of course be used in deciding to store anything in close proximity to the batteries, but common sense would say it can be done safely depending on what the item is, and what kind of space is available.

[JimM68]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickO Ditto X2

ditto X3.

The corrosive gas is hydrochloric acid, and it is he!! on metal of any kind.
That's why battery trays rust away.

[RJay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdpreece Batteries give off gas which is corrosive. If it is open to the batteries I sure would not want to store anything good there.

+1

[38 Special]

I store lumber for leveling in the battery compartment.

[isa]

Please note that some of us have completely sealed batteries and do not have any corrosion problems to worry about.

My AGM's are located on a slideout tray that is at the top of the compartment and I have lots of storage space on the bottom. The compartment does have a small mesh screen on the back wall for venting purposes though.