Be careful where you install your battery!

[macca]

I came across a job today where I was investigating a reported gas leak (I'm A Gas Plumber). I could tell straight away it wasn't gas but I still had to find out what it was. Anyway, everytime I walked past the customers newish caravan it stunk of rotton eggs like a really bad sulphur smell. Opened the caravan and I could not believe the stench coming out of it, it seriously was sickening. And because now I know more about caravans I asked if it was the toilet casette, no all emptied, lpg disconnected, thought maybe fridge then I asked do you have batteries? Yes replied the owner. He went and lifted the bed when i was out at my car and came back and said, " it's the battery allright, crap ouzing out of it all over the floor under the bed". It was that bad I was thinking one spark and the walls are going to blow out of this van. You could actually smell it from the street 25m away!

I did not go in to look at it, it was just that sickening. He told me the battery was in a plastic box and it was not vented.

Conclusion. Make sure battery box is sealed and vented and not just in a $20 battery box. I know I would now never put one under my bed, thats for sure. By the way, it wasn't a Jayco, but it was an expensive well known brand.

Geoff

 

[Brad]

Wow!!
My batteries are under the seat.
What do you think is adequate venting?

 

[drewy]

Sound like they have a lead Acid non-sealed battery? Not good, lucky you pointed it out before got any worse.

 

[drewy]

Wow!!
My batteries are under the seat.
What do you think is adequate venting?

If you are using a sealed Gel/AGM type battery, the type Jayco supply they don't need venting.

 

[Burnsy]

Thanks for that Geoff, were they lead acid or agm batteries? Should we be sealing battery box and vent with an agm?

 

[macca]

It was a new van, 6 mths old. There was no was i was going in it as it was too strong, but surely a major manufacturer would not install the wrong battery.

 

[Burnsy]

Hmmm ok now I'm paranoid!

 

[cancan]

Mine is under the bed.......must make a note to either move it out not to have a curry the night before

 

[macca]

Cancan, Just make sure it is a sealed vented box (my opinion only). Prior to this, I used to read forum posts about batteries venting and thinking "yeah right, as if thats going to happen".

After the job I thought, "gee imagine if I went to bed and everything was ok then 5hrs later the battery vented like this one". It cant be good for you. I felt absolutely crap after the job for a few hours. I might call around in a few days and see how the guy went with his van and try to find out what battery it was. It was a van that had all the bells and whistles, one of those 22ft "outback"style van worth probably in the low $70k range.

Just be careful.

Geoff

 

[Moto Mech]

Ours used to be under the seat in the van but i removed it and now have twin batteries in the front boot. IMHO a much safer spot.

 

[Mike7]

FYI in the setek manual there is a warning not to install the setek unit in the same box/compartment as the batteries.
'
Ive gotten written confirmation from Jayco that this is not an issue with sealed batteries, this was if anything happens to the van due to battery fire etc I have something to show the insurance company and i have some sort of a leg to stand on.

Cheers
mike

 

[TRAKADU]

I came across a job today where I was investigating a reported gas leak (I'm A Gas Plumber). I could tell straight away it wasn't gas but I still had to find out what it was. Anyway, everytime I walked past the customers newish caravan it stunk of rotton eggs like a really bad sulphur smell. Opened the caravan and I could not believe the stench coming out of it, it seriously was sickening. And because now I know more about caravans I asked if it was the toilet casette, no all emptied, lpg disconnected, thought maybe fridge then I asked do you have batteries? Yes replied the owner. He went and lifted the bed when i was out at my car and came back and said, " it's the battery allright, crap ouzing out of it all over the floor under the bed". It was that bad I was thinking one spark and the walls are going to blow out of this van. You could actually smell it from the street 25m away!

I did not go in to look at it, it was just that sickening. He told me the battery was in a plastic box and it was not vented.

Conclusion. Make sure battery box is sealed and vented and not just in a $20 battery box. I know I would now never put one under my bed, thats for sure. By the way, it wasn't a Jayco, but it was an expensive well known brand.

Geoff

Hi Geoff,

I need to place the gas bottles into the toolbox soon as they are outside now from the factory. Any tips? (given you are a Gas Plumber)..

Cheers TRAKADU

 

[macca]

I would recommend you contact ESV (Energy Safe Victoria). As there have been recent regulation changes, I think one is to do with bottles on drawbars! Tell them what you intend to do (or your plumber intends to do) and ask what they would like done. You need to make sure the box can support the weight of the bottles, some have put thick marine ply inside the box under the bottles. It will need to be well vented, no electrical stuff in there. Keep the regulator as high as it can go and it must be accessible. There have been some good boxes done on this site. I like bottles out of the boxes to be honest, I have seen a few where owners have mounted bottle in front of the tool box, but you need extended drawbar and you ball weight needs to be thought about.

 

[brotys]

Has any one seen one blow up ? Not good they make a big mess and very scary to say that seen a few go off

 

[TRAKADU]

Thanks Geoff. I will contact ESV and get advice.

 

[achjimmy]

Fwiw Jayco screw there battery boxes down with counter sunks with washers on them. These will bite into the battery case. I always put a thin sheet of rubber under the batteries to prevent that.

 

[Drover]

Thats what mine was like @achjimmy , I have a rubber sheet in my box and since I have a lead acid battery I have boxed in the section under the seat and plastic lined it and I added a vent in the floor, nothing flash, similar to what they have in the floor of the boot for the gas bottles. I regularly look at my battery to make sure it isn't boiling and no dust in there to date.

 

[boots33]

To properly vent a battery enclosure you should have both the bottom and top of the battery box vented. the gas produced by the battery (Hydrogen) is lighter than air so will collect at the top of your battery box, so needs to have a way of getting out. It is generally best to stick with gel or AGM batteries if possible.