Battery inside vehicle.

[Phill265]

Hi guys, I've just got a new secondary battery for my gq lwb. It's 1500 cca and 210 ah so you could imagine it's not that small. I'm looking at placing it in the back of the wagon, with that is this safe to do so? Will it let of gas while charging?

[Cuppa]

What sort of battery is it?

If it is an AGM or Gel battery it will be fine.

If it is a ‘wet’ battery (sealed type or not) it should not go inside the vehicle.
If a wet battery is being fully charged (by dc to dc charger or by solar) it will when getting close to full charge bubble & gas. Believe me it stinks! It is also potentially explosive in the confined space of a car interior. If it’s only being charged by the alternator (& thus is not being fully charged) it is less likely to bubble & gas, but if the car is driven regularly without the battery being used it still could.
Have you ever seen a wet battery explode? I have, & assure you I wouldn’t want one inside any vehicle I was travelling in.

[4bye4]

Ditto what Cuppa said. Even with a gel or glass mat battery, I would put it in a battery box. Available from battery supply shops or marine supply shops. We put a lot of batteries in the rear of vans and utes to start on board machinery and always mount the battery in a box in case of physical damage or leakage.

[Bloodyaussie]

Just be mindful that batteries can explode... on our recent trip too licola matty's battery exploded and battery acid covered the back of his car... it was like a large rifle going off.

[Bloodyaussie]

http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2015/08/329.jpg
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2015/08/330.jpg

[Phill265]

Thanks guys, well it's a wet maintance free battery so I'm thinking its not a good idea to be putting it inside. I still have good use for the battery though so it's no loss. Think I just need to invest in one that goes under the bonnet.

[threedogs]

1500cca would be awesome as a winch battery, 210AH bloody handy too
How big is it??
I'd fit it in a battery box ,even if you make one to suit, would
cater for any camp lighting issues you may have.
Maybe even combine it with a 100 watt solar panel lol

[Phill265]

The battery is 520Long x 275Wide x 248High here's a link to the type of battery it is https://parts.cat.com/en/catcorp/153-5720 I have been looking into ways to make more safe so I could place it in the back like a battery box with some good ventilation out of the cab. A manual isolating switch between the dual battery isolator and the battery. My plan is to have have my main orginal battery to a dual battery isolator to another battery under the bonnet that there just to run the winch and a light bar, another dual battery isolator to a manual isolator to the big battery in the back of the wagon. That battery will be used for work lights, fridge and maybe a travel buddy camp oven down the track.

[threedogs]

You could run some figure 8 to the rear via a thermo couple and terminate it with a 50 amp
Anderson plug, Always handy to have a "mobile" battery box at camp

[Phill265]

Well I have to be honest Threedogs I've never even heard of a thermo couple, can you tell me a bit about this please what role this plays. I'm pretty green at the whole electronics side.

[MudRunnerTD]

That thing is huge and heavy!! On top of or forward of the rear axle for the win. It weighs 60kgs so is a person and is as heavy as a full sub tank. Serious battery. Do you need that? Seems overkill to me mate? But some Solar for camping and an 800cca will be plenty.

Do you have kids in the back seat or can you remove the rear seat and mount in its place?

[Cuppa]

If you intend fully charging it you will regret putting it inside the car! It will gas & stink the car out (smells like rotten eggs), & is an explosion risk. Just needs one little spark in the right conditions. You will of course make your own decision, but for your sake & for others reading this thread I strongly advise against putting it inside the car!
A battery box is unlikely to contain an explosion, & in fact is possibly more likely to result in one (concentrates the gas in a small area). To safely ventilate the battery you need to have it sealed from the interior with an external vent which allows a good air flow. Are you planning a vented door cut in the side of the vehicle with the battery inside a gas tight cabinet accessible from outside on very heavy duty slide outs? If not - for your own safety & comfort - please don’t do it!

IMO the only safe way to carry that battery inside the car without the sealed/vented cabinet is if it is A) very securely fastened down, so you know it won’t go anywhere in the event of an accident/roll over situation and B) that it is NOT ever charged inside the vehicle.

From http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg139.pdf

12 Hydrogen and oxygen are usually produced inside a battery when it is beingcharged. A source of ignition – for example, a flame, a spark, a cigarette or any hotobject, electrical equipment, a mobile phone – will often cause mixtures of thesegases to ignite and explode. The explosion is often so violent that it shatters thebattery and produces a highly dangerous shower of fragments and corrosivechemicals.

13 Hydrogen and oxygen are produced more quickly as the battery gets close to being fully charged. If you continue charging after the battery is fully charged, a lotof gas will be produced, greatly increasing the risk from explosion.


14 During charging, gas bubbles often become trapped inside the battery. Themixture of two parts hydrogen to one part oxygen produced is perfect for anexplosion. When a vented battery is moved, the trapped gases are released intothe air around the battery. A tiny spark is all that is needed to ignite the gases. Ifthis happens in a confined space (eg inside the battery, or in an enclosure or apoorly ventilated battery room), a violent explosion is likely.


15 The gases that come out of a vented lead/acid battery during charging oftencontain a fine mist of sulphuric acid. Take care to avoid breathing these fumes, andwear suitable eye protection.


16 Valve-regulated (‘maintenance-free’) batteries are much less likely to releasehydrogen than vented batteries. However, it is still important to take care whencharging them. Gas pressure may build up inside the battery if it is charged tooquickly or for too long. If this happens, the pressure relief valves in the battery mayopen and let the gases escape. An explosion is likely if this happens close to anignition source.

[threedogs]

Well I have to be honest Threedogs I've never even heard of a thermo couple, can you tell me a bit about this please what role this plays. I'm pretty green at the whole electronics side.

Haven't got a pic but they cost about $10 each and act like a curcuit breaker,
Too much load and it will heat up and Trip off ,then it'll cool down and allow the device attached to work again.

http://www.jaycar.com.au/Passive-Components/Circuit-Protection/Circuit-Breakers/Chassis-Mount-Autoreset-Circuit-Breaker-20A-12VDC/p/SF4100

[InsaneVL]

As all of the other posts suggest - don't put a lead-acid battery in the car as this is asking for trouble.

Dry cell or, i've heard you can get LiIon batterys for cars now - quite compact and have a lot of punch. Not sure on the price of these though.

As with any battery re-locations - make sure you have good earth circuits, can't have too many/too much!

[Phill265]

Yeah I think you guys are right it's to unsafe and a little over kill. I have another use for it. I have permeant camping site for 6 months a year at Montagu on tassies north west coast. There is no power there so I'll set it up there with a solar panel, use it for a few lights and the fridge.


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[Phill265]

Thanks for all the input here guys


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