Community Forums

scottandanna · 04-30-2016, 07:43 AM

Existing box has no vents, or drain holes.

New boxes have vents on the top, no drain holes. So if I keep the vents, I need to drill drain holes.

So, should I drill drain holes or block the vents?

Or does it make any difference either way?

dieselclacker · 04-30-2016, 08:16 AM

I would add drain holes just for the convenience when you clean and service the batteries. I drilled a couple of half inch holes in the battery box of our motorhome years ago. It sure makes it nice to be able to use the garden hose to do routine cleaning of the battery connections etc.

**pasdad1** · 04-30-2016, 08:41 AM

I admit batteries seldom leak.....however isn't that why battery boxes DON'T have drain holes ? To contain the battery acid should the case rupture or leak ?

doc · 04-30-2016, 08:50 AM

I wish the house and chassis batteries on our coach were plastic. no holes for me. Vents? open tops would be OK. too many cables and wires to make any difference anyway

scottandanna · 04-30-2016, 09:02 AM

I need to do one or the other. Drains or cover the vents. Otherwise, the vents will let in rainwater and eventually fill up the boxes.

The batteries are mounted out on the trailer's tongue, in the weather and elements.

The drain holes would drain directly to the ground, not to the trailer's frame.

YosemiteBobR · 04-30-2016, 09:03 AM

Mine actually have a large 3 inch hole in the center of the bottom and then with the cap is another hole of same size and a vent hose is connected to that to the side. This way ventilation goes in one end and out the other. that hole in the center is also open in base to the outside. But that said, on my present MH they are open to the outside as they are under the steps going up into the coach. You do want good ventilation. I keep forgetting your talking trailer, different story now.

dpinvidic · 04-30-2016, 09:10 AM

I don't have a trailer, but I don't think it is good to have vents that let in rain water.
If you expect to get water in the box, then any acid on the batteries will get spread around. I don't think you can expect the rain to flush out the acid.

Sealed batteries will provide less acid vapor so they may not be as bad.

A drain is good for cleaning.
Can you do the same thing as motorcycles. vent the top of the box through a hose that points down or comes out the bottom?

Regards,

Dan

YosemiteBobR · 04-30-2016, 09:42 AM

Water on the batteries will not hurt them in anyway, and if you have acid on the batteries, something is wrong, when you overcharge a battery it gasses, that is what you see, I'd check the battery charger in that case. Corrosion is another story, just add some baking soda and wash it off. I'm not saying cut a big hole, heck I'm not saying cut or drill any hole, but it should be vented and if you bought a box and top to go with it and the batteries are outside, no big deal, but the water if it gets in needs to go somewhere. The new boxes are considered vented already if they are outside. As I said earlier the water will not hurt it, but if it filled up it could make a good connection from positive to negative. I have never heard of that happening though. I had a trailer sometime back, and it had a 3/8 drain hole in the bottom in low places, that's it, and my first trailer, had no covers at all, they just sat in an angle iron tray on the tongue exposed to all the elements and that never hurt them either. The box was added for safety latter in years.