Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 18:10:40 -0700
Reply-To: Annie <lsandrsn@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Annie <lsandrsn@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Battery placement alternatives
In-Reply-To: <20100930204739.HRHWB.140946.imail@eastrmwml36>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Yes, one of the issues for me is that the seat is a helluva bugger to move
sometimes. It doesn't slide nice and as you mention, the lid doesn't fit the
greatest anymore.
I thought about the rear passenger seat too but I have too many other things
under there - antifreeze, jumper cables, tool box, rags, paper towels,
gloves, oil, trans fluid and on and on - LOL. Not to mention that damn rear
heater (which is another thing I don't really like the location of.)
I was thinking of some kind of permanently placed box in the rear corner
above the engine compartment on the left side (at least for my van since
it's not a Westy and there's no cabinetry there) or something like that.
Easy to get to, mostly out of the way and close at hand when needed.
There has to be some way to make it more accessible without creating further
hazard. Kinda seems like placing it in the engine compartment would be less
than optimal, though. Almost as inconvenient as under the passenger seat.
Hmmm . . . any other thoughts, folks?
*Annie Anderson* Blogger, Designer, Thinker & Mom
web: annieandersonblog.com email: lsandrsn@gmail.com
twitter: silverlunace <http://twitter.com/silverlunace> facebook:
anniesanderson <http://facebook.com/anniesanderson>
*Blazin' a trail where there is no path.*
On Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 5:47 PM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@cox.net> 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
>
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