| Author |
Message |
Dale Fleener (66.52.86.20)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 23, 2002 - 3:08 pm: | |
Just got to thinking about venting a battery bank located in the baggage bay. What would be the pros and cons of using the already existing plumbing vent lines? I realize that the tie-in would have to be above sink flood height and might take a little more room. |
Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 23, 2002 - 3:46 pm: | |
Stick Hydrocaps on the batteries and very little venting will then be necesary, as the Hydrocaps convert all the O2 and H generated back into water and drop it back into the battery. They work well enough that wet batteries can be sealed in if you're crazy enough to do that! |
dalefleener (64.66.215.213)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 23, 2002 - 7:35 pm: | |
I plan on a largish battery bank and was planning to put them in the center of the bay if possible. I have heard that Hydrocaps don't work all that well altho that was my first inclination.
Boggiethecat, am I missing something or did you just insult me? |
Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (63.224.197.10)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 23, 2002 - 7:40 pm: | |
You might want to consider dedicating a special vent and muffin fan (push, not pull) to ensure that ALL the hydrogen gas is vented UP and OUT of the battery compartment.
Crazy things have known to happen with batteries when subjected to stuff experienced in a bouncy, hot and cold motorcoach including split cases, spilled guts, shorted cells, etc., etc..
Also remember WHEN it happens to you, the gases and acids and stuff are VERY corrosive and one might want to consider special coatings all around the batt compartment.
Plus the idea of having a quick method of flooding the compartment with flush water in case of a battery bo bo might also be a great idea. Sounds like overkill, but....
....this might be one area of a conversion where you really want to spend the extra time and $money$ and do it right. Otherwise....there is a great saying.....Ah S...T!!! He. He. He. Thanks. |
Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 23, 2002 - 8:09 pm: | |
No insults intended. Though some people "are" crazy enough to seal battery banks in, I wouldn't. But I would use Hydrocaps and have used them in the past. They work great and eliminate hydrogen/oxygen gassing. But venting anyway is a good idea, like Henry says, much can happen. Hydrocaps work well enough that I've used them with gassy batteries in sealed underwater dive-vehicles where small explosions could be more than inconvenient...they keep things very happy in that environment, and will do so in your bus too..
Cheers, and no insults
Gary |
dalefleener (64.66.215.36)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 23, 2002 - 9:07 pm: | |
Sorry, I'm just a little testy today. Will take a closer look at Hydrocaps.
Kind regards
Dale |
Bill K. (209.173.121.30)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 23, 2002 - 11:16 pm: | |
Where can you buy the Hydro Caps. |
Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 12:12 am: | |
Here ya go
http://www.solar-electric.com/hydrocaps.html |
Jojo Colina (Du1jec) (68.8.172.117)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 12:15 am: | |
You could also go with sealed agm batteries and not worry about venting. |
FAST FRED (63.208.87.206)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 5:51 am: | |
If the batts are placed so far into the coach , how will you be able to easily check the water level?
The harder a set works , the more water they use on recharge.
FAST FRED |
Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (63.224.197.10)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 3:40 pm: | |
Gary--you actually used a standard lead acid battery UNDERWATER in a submerged vehicle-- with LIVE PEOPLE, and depended upon HYDROCAPS to keep the hydrogen gas out? Wow!!!
Remind me NEVER to dive with YOU!!!! He, he, he. Kinda like goin aboard the Starship Enterprise---without a spacesuit. And....you all know I HATE transporters!!!!
Actually Hydrocaps are a good idea in ANY semi-enclosed space like a coach bin where there is even a CHANCE of some gas being discharged or trapped from normal opps. However...
The greater safety point here is that you will still have to check the batts for make up water even with the caps, like before/after equalizing charges, thus access is very important.
Plus the need to engineer the space for the potential of having a cell failure which can be pretty scary with all the spouting and spilling and neat noises and stuff. Zap, fizz, boom!
Really need to understand the potential here. Even a lowly T 105 golf cart battery can deliver over 5000 amps with a direct short. Multiply that times the total number of batts and you get the idea.
Anyway, with a little preplanning, trouble and $expense$ you can design your battery bank location to be nearly bulletproof, or as nearly much as possible, then get along with enjoying the coach. Thanks. Just kidding Gary. |
Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 8:28 pm: | |
Actually it was a bunch of gel cells but they vent too under heavy load...they aren't as "sealed" as they would have you believe. Hydrocaps were actually taken apart and the elements mounted near the batteries...they insured that any gasses generated would turn back to water instead of finding the drive motor's armature sparks and going boom. They worked perfectly! I was the "live people", it was something that looked more like an airplane for scuba divers, and it was a very fun vehicle to cruze around in/on/whatever. |
Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (63.224.197.10)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 8:47 pm: | |
I know you would not have used lead acid batteries in that situation--thus the kidding. You must be one of the most intelligent hard working people I have had the privilage to meet via this fine board. No disrespect was intended.
Speaking of which----when are you going to bottle up and sell some of your Crown Super Coach conversion energy sossss the rest of us clowns can get along with the conversion?? He, he, he and....CROWNS FOREVER!!! Henry of CJ 37173 |