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Old 05-08-2015, 02:56 AM   #1
ChrisM
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Battery Box / Safe to install in basement?

I posted over in Mods and Upgrades http://www.keystonerv.org/forums/showthread.php?t=22110 in more detail about my intentions with a few additional questions but mainly right now I'm struggling with the idea of just putting a battery box with flooded 6V batts in my basement. In my Fuzion 371 there just isn't anywhere else to put them without building a framed box underneath the coach.

If I seal the box the best I can and vent it to the outside will it be safe? Keeping in mind that I also want to mount an inverter on the bulkhead wall in the basement.
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Old 05-08-2015, 03:15 AM   #2
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Doesn't your Fuzion have a front compartment? That's where they should go as there's ventilation to let fresh air in. Your battery box won't vent hydrogen out unless there's a way fresh air can get in (make a hole about 1/4 up from the bottom if you've a multiple bat. box).

If you're talking about the basement that's NOT vented from the outside, I wouldn't do it. Hydrogen is very corrosive as well as explosive, and you've the chance for some of it causing damage to things even if it doesn't get to the concentration for combustion.
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Old 05-08-2015, 03:25 AM   #3
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Forgot to mention that even though I have a generator I want to be able to enjoy television or whatever for a few hours in the late evening and early morning outside of generator hours at most campgrounds. The Fuzion has the generator in the front compartment and LP tanks next to that. There are small vertical access doors on the sides at the front but those are mostly filled with hydraulics. I was planning to vent the box at the bottom either directly from the basement or maybe even from the outside by a hose through the bulkhead to the small compartment where hydraulic is on left side and vent the top by hose to the same compartment on the right side where the current single group 27 is now. Both of these small compartments are open to the ground and even have a vent hole through wall to the outside near the top. It would effectively be the same venting as what it came with from the factory. I even considered putting in a fan on a relay that was triggered during charging ( some how ) to help with off gassing but not sure that would be necessary.
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Old 05-08-2015, 03:50 AM   #4
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If you take the battery out of the box it's in you should find a hole in the bottom of the box. That hole should be vented to the outside air beneath the trailer. Then the lid should have a vent line attached to it and routed to the exterior. I have added many batteries to basements, drilling the vent hole in the floor and adding a T to the existing lid.
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Old 05-08-2015, 06:08 AM   #5
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You could go with Optuma batteries they are completely sealed and dont give off any gas to my knowledge. Not sure you can get them in 6 volts though. Check the website for that information.
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Old 05-08-2015, 10:34 AM   #6
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I looked at AGM batts thinking they don't have to be vented and they are almost twice as much as the flooded type. I even read that AGM should still be vented because they could off gas in extreme situations so I'm not sure they are worth it.
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Old 05-08-2015, 11:56 AM   #7
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With the Fuzion, is there room in the back end to install a sealed box that can be vented to the outside? If there is, just run a couple large cables to the front compartment to tie into the existing wiring. This setup could also make it much easier to maintain the batteries.
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Old 05-09-2015, 05:56 AM   #8
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Its a toy hauler so the garage is a no go and I can't mount anything on back where a bumper would normally be because of the ramp. Underneath where the fuel tanks are in the back there is some room between frame cross supports because underside is not enclosed back there but I think cables big enough for that run would cost so much that would almost cover the additional cost of AGM batts. I'm thinking more and more about the AGMs but need to find a cheaper brand than Lifeline.
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Old 05-09-2015, 06:12 PM   #9
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How many batteries do you want? I have 3 in my side battery compartment of my Fuzion 315, two large 6 volts, and a large 12 volt.
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Old 05-10-2015, 03:24 AM   #10
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I want 4 GC2 batteries and I'd like to leave the Group 27 dedicated to start the generator but its not a hard requirement for me. I've read that if you drain your house batts completely you're severely shortening their life span so if I need the Group 27 then I could be screwing the whole thing up anyway. I feel sure there isn't enough room for more than two batts in any configuration in my front side compartment ( without modifications to basement bulkhead wall ) because of the hydraulic leg assembly.
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Old 05-10-2015, 05:20 AM   #11
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Pics of the room I have to work with
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Old 05-10-2015, 06:16 AM   #12
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I saw your pics. I have three batteries in the same side compartment. They are all turned 90 degrees from the way you have your one battery. I have two 6 volts in series and one twelve volt. They are connected together with an isolater switch, with separates them when the dedicated 12 volt for the generater drops below 12.3 volts.
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Old 05-10-2015, 06:40 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Beerdude41867 View Post
I saw your pics. I have three batteries in the same side compartment. They are all turned 90 degrees from the way you have your one battery. I have two 6 volts in series and one twelve volt. They are connected together with an isolater switch, with separates them when the dedicated 12 volt for the generater drops below 12.3 volts.
So you've got all three on the one battery tray or did you add a tray below? If yes do you have any concerns about the weight on that one tray or weight distribution overall in the coach? When I measure the tray it seems I could just squeeze three T-105's in that tray but there would be little room for a custom battery box. If that could work I could get a tray welded in below next to the hydraulic assembly with room for one more. This storage area is open to the ground so I wouldn't be particularly concerned about the batts boiling over ( with no battery box ) except I might take some measure to shield the hydraulic line and ram assembly. This area is vented at the top through the outside wall but it seems like there is also some room for hydrogen gas to move into the generator area which I can imagine would be bad. Maybe I'm over thinking all of this but all the advice I read says to be very careful with hydrogen off gassing for safety and corrosion reasons.
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Old 05-10-2015, 12:10 PM   #14
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It's held the weight since I did it two years ago. I was going to add a small shelf down below also, so I could have four 6 volts, but I got lazy and this has been working great for me since I don't have an inverter.
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Old 05-10-2015, 01:16 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Beerdude41867 View Post
It's held the weight since I did it two years ago. I was going to add a small shelf down below also, so I could have four 6 volts, but I got lazy and this has been working great for me since I don't have an inverter.
Good to know. What type of battery box configuration, if any?
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Old 05-10-2015, 04:36 PM   #16
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I don't have the batteries in boxes, just in the vented compartment. And yes, all three batteries on the one and only tray.
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Old 05-10-2015, 04:47 PM   #17
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If you're going to put them in the basement, I would definitely go with AGM's. Yes they are expensive but they have much better lifespans than wet batteries and only produce trace amounts of gas.
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Old 05-11-2015, 03:09 PM   #18
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I don't have the batteries in boxes, just in the vented compartment. And yes, all three batteries on the one and only tray.
Are you using the factory charger/converter? How long does it take to charge them from say 50%?
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Old 05-11-2015, 06:21 PM   #19
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I have a PRogressive Industries 90 amp converter with charge wizard.
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Old 05-11-2015, 06:23 PM   #20
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It takes 3 hours or so, to fully charge.
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