The issue of gas venting is also common to scuba diving. Numerous underwater scooters, lights, etc. utilize rechargeable batteries. The key is to vent the gas, after use, before recharging. You do not want any gas buildup around that you can potentially spark with a battery charger. In other words you do not want a permanently sealed container, unless it has a release valve. If you open the "top" of your box and wait a little bit the gas is automatically vented. Then you can hook up the charger. Also, for safety, store the battery box with the vent, or top, open. .Hal -----Original Message----- From: Bob Volin [SMTP:bobvolin_at_bestweb.net] Sent: den 9 april 2000 07:20 To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Electric pumps I've got my battery in a Tupperware freezer container, with the leads emerging from two sealed holes drilled in the top. Since we've had the pumps, we have not found the container tops blown. It may be that a small amount of gas vented through the relatively low-pressure seal offered by this container, but there's no evidence of that. I gather that most (if not all) of the gas-venting will take place as the battery discharges. In that case, I think it's important to remember that the battery is not likely to be discharging for very long periods. After all, it empties a cockpit in about four minutes. But if venting does take place, then it makes sense to use either a low-pressure container like I use or a vent plug on a more sturdy container. Another preventive measure might be to pop the hatch and the battery case cover at the end of each day. I generally take the batteries -- case and all -- out of the boat on days when we're not paddling. As for electrolyte leaking through a vent hole, I'll take Jack's word for it. We've had the batteries installed during rolling practice and, again, I never noticed any evidence of a leak. From: JCMARTIN43_at_aol.com <JCMARTIN43_at_aol.com> Date: Friday, April 07, 2000 10:12 AM >...in discussions with the manufacturers of my lead acid battery, a point was made that these batteries will vent a toxic gas --- hydrogen sulphide, I believe --- when they discharge. The manufacturer strongly recommended not placing his batteries in a drybox; in another application, a rescue service placed a battery for a piece of emergency gear >--- probably "jaws of life" --- for use in a marine environment, and the box exploded, causing some minor damage. Now, that apparatus could well have drawn the battery down very quickly, causing more than average venting. But it could still happen. In fact, this manufacturer didn't even like the idea of carrying the battery in the sealed after compartment of a kayak. > >Take this for what it's worth. On a personal basis, my plan is to install the battery in an old Pelican box, but install a blow-out plug with some silicone adhesive to give the box a safety valve. What will happen inside those nice, tight Valley hatches is another matter. But it's worth thinking this through a little. > >Jack Martin > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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