On back of TW - What is this?

[campngirl]

Greetings All,
On the back of the Tradewind, directly above the access hatch, there is this. Have seen them before - just never knew what they were. What is this?

Karol

[Boondocker]

Its hard to tell, but I wonder if it is a light fixture.

[clancy_boy]

Originally Posted by campngirl

Greetings All,
On the back of the Tradewind, dirrectly above the access hatch, there is this. Have seen them before - just never knew what they were. What is this?

Karol

Is the 12V battery in there? Looks like a vent hole for the battery housing. On some models the battery is in a box and has a cover - it needs to off gas and those gases are explosive (hydrogen) - there should be tubing from that box to that hole in the skin to allow the gases to escape to the outside.

[GreatPumpkin]

Originally Posted by clancy_boy

Is the 12V battery in there? Looks like a vent hole for the battery housing. On some models the battery is in a box and has a cover - it needs to off gas and those gases are explosive (hydrogen) - there should be tubing from that box to that hole in the skin to allow the gases to escape to the outside.

Clancy_boy called it right!

I have the same thing on the back of my Overlander. I had the same question and Fred (47WeeWind) was able to identify it for me as the vent hole for the battery. Mine leaked, so a small bead of vulkem along the top of the lip solved that issue.

[Foiled Again]

I was going to ask if it was a rear bath unit and if another kind of "gas" might vent from there.

Or perhaps it was for a backup camera... what? they didn't have them back then?

Or "well dummy don't you HAVE a license plate on your trailer?"

It's THURSDAY and I like my Airstream because it's pretty and silver and I got my Zip Dee helper handles installed which makes setting up the canopy soooooooooooo easy.

Paula Ford, living in Air

[campngirl]

Greetings,
Thanks to all for the quick input.

The license plate light/ bracket is higher and centered under the rear window... so nope, not for the tag. This is right above the access hatch more toward the curb side .
The battery (old/dead) is back there, has a cover on the top, not in a box...... but I bet it was at one time. No hose to the now identified vent either. I couldn't tell what that thing was. A po has put a little brass plug in it.
Now, its new battery box and proper venting before a new battery.
(and removing the little brass stopper)

Again, many thanks.
Love this forum.

Karol

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by campngirl

Greetings All,
On the back of the Tradewind, directly above the access hatch, there is this. Have seen them before - just never knew what they were. What is this?

Karol

The original installation of the battery, used a plastic cap on top of the battery.

A clear plastic hose connected the cap to the vent hole on the exterior, as you show in your photo, to allow the gas from the battery to vent outside instead of within the trailer.

Andy

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

The original installation of the battery, used a plastic cap on top of the battery.

A clear plastic hose connected the cap to the vent hole on the exterior, as you show in your photo, to allow the gas from the battery to vent outside instead of within the trailer.

Andy

Yes, you learn/discover sumtin new every day. I have the same thing on my '66 but I never noticed the hole under the lip. We've had this TW for 16 months TOO!

Andy,
Our battery is anchored el natural to a tray. Should I consider re-venting the battery or are today's batteries safer?

Neil and Lynn

[clancy_boy]

Originally Posted by anholman

Yes, you learn/discover sumtin new every day. I have the same thing on my '66 but I never noticed the hole under the lip. We've had this TW for 16 months TOO!

Andy,
Our battery is anchored el natural to a tray. Should I consider re-venting the battery or are today's batteries safer?

Neil and Lynn

I'm not Andy but since I answered the same way above as he did later, I think I can answer this one too.

Yes, you should consider venting any lead acid automotive type battery to the outside. They all give of hydrogen gases during the charging cycle - even the maintenance free types and gel cells. If not for the explosive reasons of having a battery filled with a solution that will easily desolve aluminum if it burps up or boils off the liquid contents to the side skin of your trailer is reason enough to have it inside an enclosed and externally vented case.

One little ground short from a chaffed wire and a compartment full of charging units (old univolt) with hydrogen gas will be enough to do some damage. Back to the old days of checking water levels in the battery with a match.

[campngirl]

Thank-You all,
I will have to drill out the rivets and remove the brass plug a po had put in the vent, then get a box for the new battery.

Much appreciation.

Karol

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by clancy_boy

I'm not Andy but since I answered the same way above as he did later, I think I can answer this one too.

Yes, you should consider venting any lead acid automotive type battery to the outside. They all give of hydrogen gases during the charging cycle - even the maintenance free types and gel cells. If not for the explosive reasons of having a battery filled with a solution that will easily desolve aluminum if it burps up or boils off the liquid contents to the side skin of your trailer is reason enough to have it inside an enclosed and externally vented case.

One little ground short from a chaffed wire and a compartment full of charging units (old univolt) with hydrogen gas will be enough to do some damage. Back to the old days of checking water levels in the battery with a match.

Thank you. Are the vented battery boxes still available or will I have to improvise one? I have not noticed any such boxes when I was searching for a box awhile ago.
Neil and Lynn.