Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Gasses from batteries

[David Buchner <buchner@wcta.net>]

Title: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Gasses from batteries

At 20:56 -0400 05/23/01, Subscuba@aol.com wrote:

> David,
>
> For what it's worth:
>
> During overcharge the electrolyte composed of a dilute solution of
> sulfuric
> acid decomposes this electrolyte and gives off Oxygen at one plate
> and
> Hydrogen at the other plate. The escaping gases also carry off small
> traces
> of the sulfuric acid which is mostly what you smell.
>
> The bad thing for a sub is that these gases Hydrogen and Oxygen form
> an
> explosive mixture which when ignited go boom or in the case of the
> Shuttle
> give
> propulsion. ......

This would also be a bad thing in my house too, by the way. Which is why I've (finally) enclosed the batteries in a compartment in the corner under my workbench, and vented it to the outside with a 2" stack running up the outside of the house. For good measure, I added a small fan to the front which blows into the compartment, which I turn on when charging them at a high amperage with the generator, or on a very sunny day.