Battery Box

[bonnie w]

Just purchased a battery box from True Value Hardware. It says it's for boats but I don't see any venitlation openings. Did I buy the wrong one thinking this would do for TT too? Will hang on to the receipt until I get some advice. Thanks in advance folks. PS I plan on keeping it under the bench for the dinette.

[Chester Taje]

My battery boxes which i have are the marine type and both have ventilation holes.I don't remember what the other ones for trailer have.

[Darwin Maring]

Unless the battery box has an air tight seal on the cover, you have nothing to worry about. Any gas that is produced by the battery will escape out through the gaps and where the cables enter the box.

My box is located outside the camper on the front next to the propane bottles and I drilled a hole in the bottom of the box so any water that may get into the box will have a way to drain.

[Ed Harris]

There are two types of Battery boxes.
One is for just holding a battery in place but has no real provisions for dealing with battery gases/ This is the type I suspect you have.
It would be common to place this outside as any battery gasing will gas outside instead of inside under the bench if mischarging occurs.

The other type is a sealed and vented box that brings fresh air in and through the box and then exhausts it outside.
These would be more difficult to install as they require both intake annd exhaust venting but they are also safer for the same reason.

If you will be using standard wet cell or flooded batteries then the chance of gassing are greater and I would try to mount the battery outside.

If you are using Gel or AGM battery and have the correct charger to handle them then your gasing should be very minimal and you could mount it inside in the standard box you bought.

A lot of the potential for battery gassing depends upon the type and quality of the charger and the suitability of the battery to the charger.

If you have a good charger then overcharging should be minimal and that is where the gassing comes from.

I hope that helps.

[Joe Z]

Bonnie.....
I have a 94 casita sd with the battery inside under the dinette seat.... it is a standard box probably like you have but the lid that goes over it has a two inch spout on top where a flex hose is attached and goes to a two inch screened vent that is attached thru the fiberglass and vents outside.
Joe