Date:         Thu, 4 Nov 1999 09:57:13 -0800
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <stuart@COBALTGROUP.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <stuart@COBALTGROUP.COM>
Organization: The Cobalt Group
Subject:      Re: aux. battery ventiliation
Comments: To: John Rossi <rossi@INTERNETCDS.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

John Rossi wrote:
>
> With all this relay talk, I've been contemplating finishing up the aux.
> battery install in my '81 Calif. Westy.  I'm using a relay from a newer
> vanagon and haven't quite decided on battery type and location yet.  So,
> here are my q's:
>
> (a) do all lead-acid batteries (i.e., sealed, deep cycle, etc.) require
> ventilation?  The '81 (and others, I'm sure) doesn't have ventilation holes
> under the drivers seat.

Yes!
>
> (b) do more recent Vanagons have ventilation here?

All Vanagons should have ventilation for both compartments, it is from
the storage box to the wheel well.
>
> (c) what are people doing to remedy the lack of ventilation in early vanagons?

If it truly is not there, you could drill a 1 1/2" hole from the wheel
well to box near the top and glue on a downward-directed right angle
piece of 1" PVC piping to provide ventilation into the wheel well.
>
> (d) has anyone installed their aux. battery under the rear bench seat?  How
> about ventilation options here?

Don't do it without ventilation, i.e. cutting a hole in the floor.
>
> (e) what are the consequences of not ventilating the battery?

Hydrogen build up and explosion, primarily from a defective battery or
overcharging.
>
> thanks for the help!
>
> -john

--
Stuart MacMillan
Manager, Case Program
800-909-8244 ext 208

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