Battery Curve Ball Question

[76SeaRay]

No, this is not about my car... Ok, so I just replaced the battery in my 2010 Camaro for the first time and got to learn all about vented batteries when in an enclosed space (ie, a vent tube running out of the bottom of the trunk)… New batteries typically now come with two vent holes (one on each end) to fit different applications. One gets vented outside and the other gets plugged. Sooooooo, does anybody know of any Coast Guard Regs on these new vented batteries and if a vent tube needs to run out the transom or other place??? Old batteries were vented but never had any vent tubes so guessing the engine blower will take care of it sufficiently.... Just thought I would check....

 

[alldodge]

My guess is probably wouldn't use one of those in a boat, but even if it was there should not be an issue. The engine room on a boat is not an enclosed space like in the trunk of a car. The engine room has vents on each side. When bats are under the food there is no need to be vented, in the trunk I can see it because its sealed and part of passenger compartment

 

[GA_Boater]

Lead acid batteries are always vented or the battery could blow up. That's it is or was a step when charging a battery to remove the caps. A lot of hydrogen gas is bubbling off the plates when charging.

 

[76SeaRay]

Thanks, just didn't know if things had changed.. They always seem to when you least expect it...

 

[achris]

Helpful hint. As GA said, hydrogen gas is given off. What is the lightest gas known? And as such, it rises. Putting a vent in the bottom would be to let water out, not hydrogen.

 

[GA_Boater]

Since the battery is in the trunk and usually not sealed from the passenger compartment, unlike under the hood , the vent tube is routed to a tube to exhaust the hydrogen outside the car. That way the flammable gas isn't getting inside or filling the trunk so you can flick your Bic without blowing your eyebrows off.

Probably done not to protect you, but to protect GM from lawsuits when you open the trunk with a lit cigar. They had enough damage from the pickup side saddle gas tanks outside the frame.