Trickle charging a battery in enclosed space

 

I have an onan DJE genset.

The 12V battery as well as the jerry cans with diesel fuel are stored
next to the genset, INSIDE a big plastic tote. The tote is closed with
a lockable lid. The electric wires, as well as fuel lines, go INSIDE
the tote.

You can see it at

    http://igor.chudov.com/tmp/onan/Diesel/z02_Installed/

Note that the picture is obsolete and the battery is presently not ON
the tote, but is inside it.

I would like to fit a trickle charger inside the tote and keep the
battery fully charged at all times with household 110V current going
to the trickle charger.

The concern that I have is about "hydrogen buildup" and such. How big
of a deal is it, PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, in this particular application.

The tote is not airtight due to having openings for fuel and
12V electrical lines.

i

 



Some vents at roof  should be enough to stop the Hydrogen from causing a
problem.

 


That would let air in. How about vents on the walls of the tote,
almost next to the roof. Also, how big should they be? I would prefer
many little ones, to keep critters away.

i

 



You want the vents to be at the High Point of the container as H2 is
very much lighter than air and will congegate at the High Point.
Use Screendoor Screen to keep the critters and bugs out. Put in
a PVC 2" pipe and cover the end of an 90 ell with screendoor screen
held on by a Stainless Steel Hose Clamp.  Not Rocket Science, and really
not that big of a deal......


Bruce in alaska      have you actually ever seen a battery explode...
                        you, yourself?......
--
add a <2> before @

 



Just a followup to the discussion abut Batteries Exploding due to
Hydrogen Gas buildup in Wet Cell Lead/Acid Systems.  In my informal
survey of local Mechanics, of both Auto, and Marine, there was actually
only ONE case where the mechanic actually witnessed a battery explode,
or saw the aftermath of an exploded battery.  The sample size of my
survey was 8 guys, all with 30+ years in the field.  They all had heard
the stories of such occurances, but like I stated above, only one had
ever witnessed personally the event or its direct aftermath.  This leads
me to postulate that, this happenes a lot less than commonly accepted,
and that when it does happen, the battery in question is being "Savagely
Abused" at the time of the occurance.


Bruce in alaska
--
add a <2> before @