Battery vent - or AGM

[pauly g]

My 1960 safari has a group 27 size lead acid battery that the PO mounted under the goucho. I has no vent to the outside of the trailer, and there is no room on the tongue for a battery. How should I vent this? I don't really want to cut a hole in the skin to do it, and I am not sure that a vent cut throuth the floor would work since hydrogen is lighter than air. Should I just get a couple AGM batteries? I have harm that my intelli power with a charge wizard could hurt AGMs.

[markdoane]

I think you'll be OK with the Charge Wizard. Its the gel type batteries that need a "different" Charge Wizard.

[Kajtek1]

Lot of Mercedes cars have batteries installed under passenger seat. The batteries with vent tube build-in are widely available and at Costco one cost $70.
Those are automotive style batteries, not deep cycle, but with 100 months Costco warranty why would anyone care?
I just discover that my Airstream had original battery placement in rear compartment with no vents. Is that what you call goucho? There is a top cover with hole for tubing connected to about 1/4" vent below license plate. Don't think the cover is seal-able in its present condition, but just a tough.

[Stefrobrts]

Mine is in the same location. I use a sealed Odyssey RV battery. I've been very happy with the capacity.

[pauly g]

I thought about the sealed lead acid batteries too. Don't they gas if overcharged?

[pauly g]

kajtek, do you mean that the vent tube is only 1/4" diameter? That sounds way to small to me.

[Kajtek1]

Yeah. The 1/4" vent tube is standard for battery equipped with them.
See if you have small plate sticking out right above rear access door. Is there a hole below it?
Having several vehicles, I've been using automotive batteries in RV for years. The only precaution with them is that you can't discharge them too low (I believe 10.5V) what was never issue with me.
The marine batteries used to come with 2 years warranty and didn't last much longer. Even older automotive batteries gave us 7 years of service. Right now the battery in our SUV is 10 years old.

[pauly g]

No, there is no vent at all. The original battery was located in a small aluminm box on the outside front wall, behind the propane tanks. It fits some kind of wierd size battery. I want to use two batteries anyway, so I need vents or AGMs. I'm surprised that your automotive batteries lasted so long. I have never tried them for this purpose.

[Kajtek1]

I'll take a picture of outside vent tomorrow (if I get a break in the weather). My suspicious is, that you have a hole above your access panel.

[Ganglin]

IIRC - the weird size battery was actually a tractor battery. Long and narrow - like this one..

[markdoane]

The regulations for cars and RVs are different. If a battery is installed inside an RV the vents (on high and one low) need to be 3/4" diameter, and connect directly to the outside.

I don't make the rules, I just report 'em.

I took the long skinny battery box off my '59 and mounted it under the rear window to hold hoses and wheel chocks.

[OutsideSuppl]

I think the batteries can produce both hydrogen and Hydrogen Sulfide gas. I always recommend AGM for any indoor applications. Better safe than sorry, they are a bit pricey. I am not sure on that charger/converter, but many chargers have smart chargers with AGM settings.

[Kajtek1]

Here are pictures of battery vent and OEM cover.

[63air]

I went with an AGM battery (Optima brand) since I relocated my battery to under a gaucho. No worry about fumes or leaks with the Optima so it was worth the price to me

[pauly g]

Thanks for the pics, kajtek. No, my trailer does not have a vent like that. The only access to the battery is to lift the gaucho cushion. I am starting to think that the AGMs might be worth the cost. I'm stil uncertain about the compatibility with the charge wizard. I read somewhere that the charge voltage is too high for these in hot weather.

[Ganglin]

This is from the RV Net discussion site. Looks like they have one charge wizard for gel batteries and one for standard/AGM batteries.

Here is an email from Keith at Progressive Dynamics. As you can see, they don't have a special charge wizard for AGM batteries.

"Jim,
You do not need a special type of charge wizard. AGM batteries charge somewhat like Lead Acid and the Wizard is default lead acid and AGM.