Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2006 11:46:24 -0800
Reply-To: Doug F <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Doug F <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET>
Subject: Re: 2nd battery; two questions
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Dennis,
I wonder the same thing when the issue came up in my westy conversion, if to do the venting or not.
I had thought the batt vented during discharge as well? and thought while sleeping / living in the van
one may be exposed more so?
I cooked a battery with my 15 amp charger in one of my vans during a hot summer week.
I had let the self adjusting charger stay connected with the cord going through the sliding window.
I forgot about it and left it charge for days and days. Till one day I could actually "smell" the fumes
from the battery outside the van. I rolled the slider open to see the charger pegged at 15 amps and
the fan fully engulfed in battery fumes. Took the battery out it, and it was so hot I could not even touch the
outside of the plastic case.
How close to creating a "vanagon explosion" did I come?
Doug
----- Original Message -----
From: Dennis Haynes
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 10:11 AM
Subject: Re: 2nd battery; two questions
Only the campers had the sealed and vented battery boxes. Why? I don't know. Beetles for years had the batteries under the back seat without venting. Later Audis used a battery with a small vent tube. Many group 41 (Vanagon) and group 42 (Beetle, Gas Rabbit, etc) are available with this feature.
Normally, the venting is not a problem and a battery will only off-gas while charging. The normal 13.8 charging voltage does not create much gas. In crease the voltage to 14.5 and gassing will occur. If a battery has a cell sort out, the remaining cells will gas vilently and electrlyte can spill over. This can make a real mess.
A typical group 41 battery is good for ~ 65 amp/hours.
Dennis
----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
Date: Friday, March 10, 2006 12:55 pm
Subject: Re: 2nd battery; two questions
> First, let me point out that my '84 7 passenger came from the factory
> without a sealed or vented battery box for the MAIN battery.
>
> My '85 Westy has the vented box for the main battery only.
>
> I installed an ordinary group 41 battery as my aux battery under the
> driver's seat in the Westy (box not sealed or vented) and I've had no
> problems with fumes. I have my aux battery feeding the interior
> lights,the sound equipment, the cigar lighter, etc.
>
> Mike
>
>
> Gerald Masar wrote:
> > For those who have installed a regular group 41 (or other size,
> same type) battery, do
> > you have any problems or concerns with fumes, given that the
> compartment under the
> > driver's seat is neither sealed nor vented.
> >
> > How does one figure out the amp/hour rating of a battery if it
> is not listed and the
> > sales person hasn't the foggiest idea what you are talking about?
> > Or, what are the approximate amp/hr ratings for run-of-the-mill
> group 41's and
> > Optimas?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Jerry
> >
>