is it ok to seal the battery box?

[flagg]

Ive got two sealed lead acid batteries in my underseat battery box, all the gromits have perished and several large holes have been made for other wires in and out, on both the road and cabin side.

This is a significant source of noise, and im tempted to seal the whole thing up.. But, will this cause gas build up problems?

[jx2mad]

Hi Flagg. If the batteries are sealed there is no gas build up as all the gasses are held inside the cases. Jim

[Tombie]

I wouldnt seal it completely...

[Tombie]

Lining it with acoustic material would do a lot to attenuate the noise

[JDNSW]

The battery compartment should not be sealed as there will be changes in pressure with temperature, and even if the battery is theoretically sealed, it may still gas in the event of overcharging or some other faults.

But it would be acceptable to seal it and provide a breather, preferably high level like the diff and gearbox ones.

John

[Tombie]

The battery compartment should not be sealed as there will be changes in pressure with temperature, and even if the battery is theoretically sealed, it may still gas in the event of overcharging or some other faults.

But it would be acceptable to seal it and provide a breather, preferably high level like the diff and gearbox ones.

John

That would be damn dangerous actually.

All the boxes are open at the bottom and gas out easily.

A breather would allow explosive gas to pool in the box and when disconnecting or connect the leads could spark with explosive results.

[clubagreenie]

The other option is, (when necessary) replace the batteries with sealed but vented types such as those fitted to Mercs and BMWs where the battery is under the back seat. They have an outlet at each end with a small tube that can be run to an external point but will not allow wet leaks on angles or overturning. One way to relocate a battery to the vehicles boot and not necessarily need engineering.

[rovercare]

That would be damn dangerous actually.

All the boxes are open at the bottom and gas out easily.

A breather would allow explosive gas to pool in the box and when disconnecting or connect the leads could spark with explosive results.

Hydrogen is lighter than air

Kinda related, my brother whilst checking connections at night with a lighter had a battery explode! Pretty amazing considering the ratio to oxygen it has to be

Also they smeared a fella inside a generator at hazelwood years ago, instead of removing the generator end bells they made man holes, till old mate dropped his big Jim torch in there, boom!

[camel_landy]

Leave it vented.

M

[Yorkshire_Jon]

So long as you only run sealed batteries you can seal the battery box.

Having said that, I'd make sure it's not 100% sealed because then internal temperature build up will become a problem for the batteries.

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[Blknight.aus]

needs to be vented and drained....

Im not so concerned about the hydrogen its the potential for battery goop leakages that is worrying....

[rovercare]

needs to be vented and drained....

Im not so concerned about the hydrogen its the potential for battery goop leakages that is worrying....

It's the hydrogen that explodes, the goop is of minimal concern

[Blknight.aus]

till it reacts with something....

[rovercare]

till it reacts with something....

I'd rather corrosion over explosion

[Blknight.aus]

given that if the corrosion happens in just the right way, with just the right materials available, that explosion's what you're going to get.....

[rovercare]

given that if the corrosion happens in just the right way, with just the right materials available, that explosion's what you're going to get.....

Ummm, pffft:)

[Nera Donna]

Completely sealing up a battery box is not a good idea. For all the aforementioned reasons. The batteries need some sort of ventilation.

[Offender90]

More to the point (of addressing the OP's noise concern):

You can seal the lid of the box (and internal sides if you have made any holes), and leave the holes in the bottom / external sides for ventilation.

[flagg]

Thanks everyone.

I've sealed _most_ of it.. the main holes and stuff, but I've left the drain in the bottom (which is covered underneath).

Also put dynamat on it and will replace the foam to seal under the hatch.

Should make a big difference :)