Re: Batteries

["Alan D. Secor" <secor@btv.ibm.com>]

Kittredge's battery pods are external to the cabin, however he does have
vent caps which enter the cabin which I don't fully understand.  I guess
he plans on venting the H2 into the cabin during charging and get rid of
it via venting at the surface.  H2 production is mainly a byproduct of 
charging, but I have heard of instances of H2 release up to 10 - 20 min
after charging.  There are H2 chemical catalysts that can be obtained
but I'm not sure of where or how much.

This would be a moot point if gelled or AGM batteries were used, provided
they were not overcharged.  Also, the thought of having liquid battery 
acid in a sub seems to be to be an accident waiting to happen!
--
Al Secor
e-mail: secor@btv.ibm.com

> 
> I still haven't heard whether Kittredge's batteries were sealed marine, or
> other;  does anyone know if his experiences represent a real threat?  I
> know that large submarines have H2 burners (maybe a hot wire won't work,
> but an electric spark will?).  In any case, ventilation seems a must while
> charging;  I've decided to make my battry pods strong enough to take a
> meltdown or blast instead of trying to develop yet another complex
> subsystem of an already complex beast-- mixing with cabin air seems too
> dangerous-- ventilation while submerged looks to be a dead topic.
> Also, hello to Rick;  when do you expect to have your sub in working
> order?
> 
> Gareth
> 
>