Batteries

["D. Buchner" <Buchner@mega-com.com>]

Gareth said:

>Also, that battery problem has got to be fixed...any idea on what kinds of
>batteries he was using (if not sealed, maybe H2 is let off not only during
>charging)?  It would alwyas  be possible to get an H2 sensor, and maybe
>design a simple H2 burner, I guess.  Or at least a warning light when H2
>hit a certain PP. I have plans for keeping the battery pods inside the
>cabin (albeit air/water tight)...but it would be pretty embarrassing to
>die from poor foresight!--which is probably how it'd happen anyway.

I've always expected I'd die from poor foresight. That may be the very
definition of death. If someone knows for sure about whether Pb-Acid
batteries gas other than when they're charging, please say, because I live
with a big ole' bank of them in my closet (they're feeding my PowerBook
right now).

Otherwise - ventilate, ventilate, ventilate. I actually have my batteries
completely sealed off from the rest of my Airstream, with an air inlet
underneath and an outlet vent above, which go directly outside. 4" PVC
sewer pipe. Hydrogen is the lightest element, right? I don't know about
you, but MY sub will be surfaced when charging (at a dock with a deadly
120VAC extension cord running over the water to a battery charger but
that's another issue) and I will definitely have some kind of positive
ventilation going on during that process.


 - David
<Buchner@mega-com.com>