Question About Horsebox Leisure Battery

[Escada2004]

This may be a bit of a daft question but the leisure battery in my horsebox has stopped holding its charge, not sure how old it is as was in the horsebox when i bought it 3.5 years ago. So i was googling to find rough prices and come across some info saying they must be vented via a tube as let of dangerous gasses! Now im pretty sure mine isnt vented, its in a cupboard in the living along with the invertor and fuse box. My lorry before had a brand new hookup system fitted by an electrician and he didnt vent the battery either. Im now worried that it should be and could be dangerous if not! Does anyone know anything about this that could put my mind at rest? Thanks

 

[frostyfingers]

Mine lives in the space under the seats in the horsebox - there are some holes in that but I've no idea whether that's to vent the battery or not. I've never seen anything saying they must be vented, but couldn't tell you if that's correct or not I'm afraid.

 

[popsdosh]

This may be a bit of a daft question but the leisure battery in my horsebox has stopped holding its charge, not sure how old it is as was in the horsebox when i bought it 3.5 years ago. So i was googling to find rough prices and come across some info saying they must be vented via a tube as let of dangerous gasses! Now im pretty sure mine isnt vented, its in a cupboard in the living along with the invertor and fuse box. My lorry before had a brand new hookup system fitted by an electrician and he didnt vent the battery either. Im now worried that it should be and could be dangerous if not! Does anyone know anything about this that could put my mind at rest? Thanks

Lets put it this way I have never heard of anybody gassed by one however there is a theoretical risk. I think all leisure batteries now come with a small tube at the top to which you can attach a small pipe and route it to the outside.

I can only guess it is a new safety ruling as recently I have noticed these tubes on several new batteries

 

[Escada2004]

Thanks both, i had never heard of it before, like i say it was only because i need a new one and googled to check prices that it flagged up! I will probably make a hole in the floor and put a tube through it just to be safe, although like you say poshdosh, ive never heard of anyone being gassed by one either ;-)

 

[Mike007]

They wont gas you but they do go with one hell of a bang if the gasses from overcharging get anywhere near a spark .The result also throws sulphuric acid over anyone and anything in the vicinity. They also give of acidic vapour which can ruin rugs tack etc.

 

[Saf]

They wont gas you but they do go with one hell of a bang if the gasses from overcharging get anywhere near a spark .The result also throws sulphuric acid over anyone and anything in the vicinity. They also give of acidic vapour which can ruin rugs tack etc.

So Mike is mine ok in that cupboard under the sink, thinking yes at least it cant splash me, hope you are good

 

[Escada2004]

thanks Mike007 mine is sealed away in a cupboard in the living, plus i have a cut off switch on it so only charges when i have the switch on so it stops over charging it, hopefully it will be ok then

 

[mcnaughty]

I was told that batteries can give off an explosive gas when charging so you should vent the area. As the gas is heavier than air, I was told that a couple of 10p sized holes drilled in the floor by the batteries out to the open air would be adequate. This is why you should not store your gas bottles in the same cupboard as your battery ....

Oh and yes it does sound like your leisure batteries are knackered. Batteries will die if they are not used regularly, especially if you let them go empty so keep them charged up!