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Dear Pierre.
You said....."My design is mainly to be used in scuba deepth. I'm currently certified
to
dive at 60 feet max. And I doesn't plan to go deeper in the near futur with or without the sub. Battery pods: I think using PVC is a cheap and easy substrats to work with. I like that! But I prefer the liability of the openning end made from steel. I might do a hybrid of both pods... I'll let you know guys. I don't think i will pressure compensate the pod. There is some air inside the battery (lead-acid) and I'm affraid that if put under pressure they will crack. If I had AGM battery, I wouldn't even build a pod. I would place the battery inside and that's it. Like Alec do." Actually PVC 12 inch pipe and it's fitting are not that cheap Pierre, (I
paid $12.00 per foot for the
pvc pipe and
about $225.00 for the permanent end cap, female end and male
plug)
but it is
cheaper than having steel frabricated.
Why would you
want to mix pvc pipe with an expensive to frabricate
steel end cap?
Just use the already threaded pvc female fitting with it's already
threaded
end plug. Much
cheaper and easier than frabricating steel for the depths of 60 ft where you
don't
really need the
strength of steel. The 12 inch pvc pipes and its end cap, female fitting
and
end plug are
already made and all you have to do is have the pipe cut to the length you want
and glue it all
together. Why hassle with making a steel end cap or plug? Note, depending
on the
size of the batteries you are using, you might even be able to use 10 inch
pvc pipe. Depends
on the size of your batteries. I use the 12 inch myself.
What makes you
think that the small amount of air inside the batteries
would
make the
batteries crack if you air equalized the battery pod?
By you
air
equalizing the interior of the battery pod which would also seep
into the batteries
thru their
vents, I don't see the air pressing against the water/acid mixture
enough to crack
the batteries at your 60 feet max depth which is about 6
feet
under 2
atmospheres.
I don't know
what kind of motor you are going to use, but if it is a trolling
motor
I would
recommend pressure equalizing it if you go beyond 33 feet, and if you
pressure
equalize the motor, you might as well
also pressure
equalize the battery pod to preclude any leaks.We are not talking
about that much
pressure here at under 2 atmospheres.
Kindest
Regards,
Bill
Akins.
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