Date:         Thu, 30 Sep 2010 19:16:28 -0700
Reply-To:     Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject:      Re: Battery placement alternatives
Comments: To: mcneely4@COX.NET
In-Reply-To:  <20100930204739.HRHWB.140946.imail@eastrmwml36>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

how much hydrogen is actually produced from battery during use?

would the hydrogen actually go down that vent?

and is the seal on the lid gas tight? never mind hydrogen gas tight.


Answer me those questions three ere the other side you see.

alistair



On 30-Sep-10, at 5:47 PM, Dave Mcneely wrote:

---- B Feddish <uprightbassghost@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
> How about moving it under the drivers seat?
>
> Seriously, what is wrong with the current battery location?   You
> could put it under the passenger seat but that is where most of us
> keep their aux batteries.


But, with regard to " .... what is wrong with the current battery
location?":  One thing is the outgassing of hydrogen from the
battery.  Hydrogen is explosive when mixed with oxygen.  VW addressed
the problem by small vents in the battery box, and a gasket on the
lid (to keep the gas out of the van).  But for most of the vans, the
lid no longer fits tightly, so the gasket is not functional.  The
other thing is, what happens when the van rolls, and the battery case
fails to contain the battery acid?  Such failure is not likely, but
it only takes one time to be a tragedy.

I, too, have thought about the battery location.  Some compound the
concern by adding an auxiliary battery under the driver's seat, or
under the rear passenger seat.

I think Scott Daniel has frequently commented on this, or at least
has commented on it, if not frequently.  His solution is to use space
in the engine compartment, in front of the right tail light, for the
battery.  I don't know if he has actually put one there.  It would
mean a much smaller run of cable to the alternator, for sure.

BTW, prior to the 1950s, it was common for American built sedans and
pickups to have a battery box under the floor of the passenger
compartment.  Only in the early fifties were batteries moved to the
engine compartment in nearly all cars.

David McNeely