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Old 08-19-2014, 03:41 PM   #1
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Batteries under bed

I was helping my neighbor fix his broken bed supports in his camper (not a Jayco) and saw he relocated his batteries under his bed I assume for security purposes. I didn't think you were supposed to do this but didn't say anything to him because I wasn't sure why and didn't want to argue my uneducated point.

Why is this bad and what could happen? I don't think it is vented at all. It's under the bed in tight quarters with his fresh water tank and pumps.

Don't want him to have something happen if I could have helped prevent.

Thanks.
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Old 08-19-2014, 03:48 PM   #2
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Ventilation is key to preventing hydrogen gas buildup from the charging process. Acid vapors can also corrode metals nearby.
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Old 08-19-2014, 03:54 PM   #3
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And they have been known to explode from the gas being trapped..
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Old 08-19-2014, 04:02 PM   #4
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And they have been known to explode from the gas being trapped..
Hence the importance of ventilation.
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Old 08-19-2014, 04:07 PM   #5
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Taken from a recent article on deep cycle batteries;
"A word of caution is needed here… a deep cycle battery is very dangerous. These things contain a sulfuric acid electrolyte (75% distilled water and 25% sulfuric acid), which is a corrosive liquid.

This acid can emit flammable hydrogen gas… think Hindenburg. Always be sure you and your deep cycle battery are in a well-ventilated space."
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Old 08-19-2014, 04:47 PM   #6
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Thanks! I'll at least let him know to ease my conscious.
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Old 08-19-2014, 04:52 PM   #7
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Unless they're gel or glass sealed batteries, then it's fine to have them there. In fact they're used quite often in marine applications for that very reason. But a standard lead acid battery is very dangerous in an unventilated location like that.
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Old 08-19-2014, 09:23 PM   #8
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Yep, hydrogen gas emitted from batteries can cause an explosive event. Being vented into the space under the bed would scare the heck out of me.

That would be the wrong way for a bed to be a'shakin'!
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Old 08-19-2014, 11:05 PM   #9
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We had an old motorhome and the batteries were under the rear sofa that we used for a bed. At times we could smell the batteries. We didn't keep it very long.
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Old 08-20-2014, 06:33 PM   #10
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Ventilation is key to preventing hydrogen gas buildup from the charging process. Acid vapors can also corrode metals nearby.
The gases from the charging batteries may also set off the co detector if it is the semi conductor type which detects by burn rate of the sample taken at measured intervals, as opposed to the absorption type of co detector. I guess the gas emited burns at the same rate as co and puts it in to alarm.
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Old 08-20-2014, 10:40 PM   #11
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VENTILATION, VENTILATION, VENTILATION. He is playing with fire literally. Batteries need to be either outside or in a compartment Vented directly outside with the vent above the battery as the hydrogen gas rises. You also have issues with corrosion and the gases that can produce along with the effects of acid hitting floors an other things. If you ever get chance look at a fire truck. Some of the compartments are vented to store batteries and/or gas cans etc. This is actually mandated by OSHA and NFPA.
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