9 replies to this topic

[d tree's]

Needs to be replaced from under forward compartment it was a deep cycle marine lead acid , ive read is a no no hydrogen etc , so Gel or AGM ? what do you guys think ? thanks ,D

[Desert Rancher]

If it is in the wheel well, no need for AGM. Just get a lead acid. You won't blow up. Hydrogen dissipates faster than a fart.

~DR

[d tree's]

If it is in the wheel well, no need for AGM. Just get a lead acid. You won't blow up. Hydrogen dissipates faster than a fart.

~DR

DR its in the front compartment that you step up on to get to the top bunk .

[MarkBC]

WHAT I DO, NOT NECESSARILY A RECOMMENDATION FOR WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
I have my two big (Group 31) "wet-cell", aka "flooded" (i.e., potentially H₂-venting) batteries in the storage space under the passenger-side couch in my FWC Hawk, next to the front turnbuckle-access port. I keep that turnbuckle access port permanently open about an inch as a vent to the truck-bed/outside. I don't know if even that small amount of venting is necessary, but I see no downside to doing it, so I do.
My camper has never exploded or burned in over 5 years running that way....
...Because, as D.R. said, H₂ dissipates much faster than a fart.

BTW: AGM and Gel batteries are also lead-acid...if you want to talk about the other-than-AGM-or-Gel type, call it "flooded" or "wet".

[ntsqd]

Our Phoenix has two T-125's in roughly the same place. They are inside a polyethylene box that has a ~1-1/2" vent hose coming out of the top and over to a vent grill on the side of the camper. some marine store parts and one of these could build something like it. Note that most typical battery boxes have large openings for the cables so they're not worth trying to vent.

[d tree's]

Went with the' flood' type battery and im going take the advice with the vent , thanks guys ,D

[craig333]

Ever had a battery get seriously corroded and had to clean it off with baking soda? Under the hood you can just get out the hose and flush it off. Not so easy if the battery is in the camper. Maybe the hydrogen isn't an issue but I'd still rather have a agm in the camper just so I don't have to worry about doing any maintenance on it.

[MarkBC]

The (flooded/wet-cell) batteries under the couch in my camper have never shown any corrosion, even after years of use.
I don't know why that is -- the batteries in my vehicles over the years have had some corrosion on the terminals. I don't know why it's different for the batteries in my camper, but it's a fact -- no corrosion, none of that white stuff, at all.

OK, here's an idea: Could the difference be that the maximum current through the engine battery terminals is much greater than the current drawn from the camper battery?
The corrosion at the terminals is an electrochemical effect, so it makes sense that greater electrical current -- very-much greater when the engine is started, would drive more "chemistry" at the terminals.
That's what I think the difference is.

[ntsqd]

I can snap a pic or two if it helps any.

[craig333]

Sounds plausible Mark. Sure save some money going wet cell.