Closing up the house battery compartment from road spray

[Breezy2006]

We took a trip this past fall and had one day where it rained the entire time on the road. As a result, our house battery compartment as noted in the pictures picked up a significant amount of road spray dirt etc. It’s making the battery compartment a mess and accelerating corrosion. Is there any reason besides cost that Newmar would not have simply closed the open triangle that you see in the picture to keep the road spray from entering a sensitive electrical compartment?

We have a 2017 Dutch Star with AGM batteries so I don’t think gassing and ventilation is an issue.

Thanks in advance for the thoughts and experiences

[Logan Oregon]

AGM's are not the standard default battery installed, so by default, it's likely that gassing and ventilation are needed.

[TJ]

Originally Posted by JT Oregon

AGM's are not the standard default battery installed, so by default, it's likely that gassing and ventilation are needed.

Yep!

TJ

[Finance]

You need not worry too much about corrosion with AGM, but I agree it’s just dirty. I’d prefer to see the batteries enclosed in a water and spray resistant area but ventilated for heat. You could probably do a simple mod with a cut up mud flap to reduce the dirt.

[Dutch Star Don]

I would just extend the mud flap higher in the wheel well to keep the water down.

[Breezy2006]

Mud flap goes all the way up but there is a square gap over the front left jack.

[Rd1]

I covered the front opening with a 1/8" plastic cut to cover the opening. made a notable difference. there is still some rain/sand coming thru from the side. Plan on using a 'paper' air filter (like the ones used for the forced air heating units at home) to cover the side. There is still an opening above the chassis rail.

[chuckbear]

If there is room, put them in a battery box. Chuck

[ghaynes754]

How about mounting a piece of plywood that would cover the top of batteries? Supported on the side an back with 1 inch extruded aluminum L channel. If it still doesn't do it make a cover for the front between the floor and the new plywood cover.

[Breezy2006]

Here is what I did, aluminum sheeting, still plenty of ventilation room on the top and back. Should minimize the corrosion. Painted black.

[tcg]

If there's room why not put a couple battery boxes like they use in boats or the fronts of trailers?

[Breezy2006]

In my view there could still be some ventilation concerns and the rest of the bay with lots of steel and electrical connections would still be exposed to road spray and salt which down the road is a real problem. I called the battery company Discover and the AGMs we have are dry cell with virtually no venting after a short break in. There is still plenty of side and rear ventilation with my set up. This bay is segregated from the rest of the basement, is parallel to the fuel tank and air flows in and out.

[Breezy2006]

Did much the same for the chassis battery area, also subject to major road spray. We avoid salty roads but this would even be worse.

[DG86]

Originally Posted by Breezy2006

Here is what I did, aluminum sheeting, still plenty of ventilation room on the top and back. Should minimize the corrosion. Painted black.

Curious how you fastened the aluminum sheeting at the top?