Battery location

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I have a Chinese diesel heater located under the seat/ bed is it ok to site my leisure battery beside the heater or would the heat affect the battery
 
I've nothing to add but I'm going to follow this thread because I've been thinking exactly the same thing. I've got a nice big void next to my diesel heater (which I haven't had to use, so far) and I don't know if that's a wise thing to do.

I would think it will be ok, it doesn't actually get that hot when running (no hotter than the engine bay here the battery currently is). If the heater isn't setting your bed on fire I doubt it will bother a battery - but batteries are a big scary mystery to me so I'm far from sure.

(That's a long post to say - dunno).
 
ITMA said:
I've nothing to add but I'm going to follow this thread because I've been thinking exactly the same thing. I've got a nice big void next to my diesel heater (which I haven't had to use, so far) and I don't know if that's a wise thing to do.

I would think it will be ok, it doesn't actually get that hot when running (no hotter than the engine bay here the battery currently is). If the heater isn't setting your bed on fire I doubt it will bother a battery - but batteries are a big scary mystery to me so I'm far from sure.

(That's a long post to say - dunno).
Click to expand...
I might just put a barrier in between after all a car battery is pretty near the engine
 
Gas from a battery can and does fall down and out in a open engine bay,but to put one close to a heat or pos point of ignition ie spark or flame is madness never mind no gas dropout or a battery box with a cover.
 
If the heat off your diesel heater is such as to give you concerns, then I would be asking why. The Truma heater under my bed gives off little heat, so I would have no problems fitting a battery adjacent to. As suggested, a barrier would be desirable, possible a bit of aluminium, but ?? If supplied ensure the vent tube from the battery is fitted and vents to the open air
 
No forgot a battery just of charge sitting at edge of bench when i used a angle grinder,batt went up in my face cover me in acid,luck a cold tap was within reach and shoved my head under it.
 
shortcircuit said:
If the heat off your diesel heater is such as to give you concerns, then I would be asking why. The Truma heater under my bed gives off little heat, so I would have no problems fitting a battery adjacent to. As suggested, a barrier would be desirable, possible a bit of aluminium, but ?? If supplied ensure the vent tube from the battery is fitted and vents to the open air
Click to expand...

Yes, this is what I was basing my comments on - I haven't used my diesel heater "in anger" yet (new van) but when I've tested it there's little/no heat there. I'll dig out the installation manual (Webasto) and see what they say on installing safely. I'd assumed the burner section was a sealed unit so no chance of sparks (if there is, I'm uninstalling it from under the bed). I guess the concern is the gas could enter through the outlet pipe? (The fresh air inlet isn't exposed to the interior).

(Edit: I've read the manual and I don't think there's anything specific about not siting near batteries. I've sent a question to Webasto themselves but I'm leaning towards playing safe and not doing so. I'm unlikely to get around to resiting my battery this year anyway).
 
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trevskoda said:
Gas from a battery can and does fall down and out in a open engine bay,but to put one close to a heat or pos point of ignition ie spark or flame is madness never mind no gas dropout or a battery box with a cover.
Click to expand...

It's far worse than that, battery gas is a mixture of hydrogen H2 and oxygen O2 in the perfect explosive combination. The hydrogen (the explosive bit) is far lighter than air, actually the least dense gas there is, and rises. There's enough room inside the battery for the explosive mixture to blow it to bits, doesn't take much, acid all over the place if it is a wet cell, which can and does happen. Even if that doesn't happen, just an accumulation of hydrogen in say a locker could be a disaster, it unfortunately has an extreme range of explosive limits, meaning almost any concentration can be ignited by the tiniest spark.

People have blown them up simply by connecting jump leads in the incorrect sequence, causing a spark at a terminal, usually right next to a vent. Trying to crank with a low starter battery, or a full one but the engine won't start for another reason, or charge up a flat one, or hit it with a powerful jump starter, is a classic way to induce gassing, Never ever disconnect a charger before you have first un-plugged it.

chemistry.stackexchange.com

How explosive is hydrogen gas?

I want to electrolyze water to get oxygen and hydrogen. I want to mix them in a regular balloon and ignite it. How much hydrogen would you need in a 2:1 ratio with air for it to be dangerous? Is this
chemistry.stackexchange.com chemistry.stackexchange.com

It must be treated with extreme respect, preferably the batteries in a locker with vent tubes to the outside.

Even a supposedly non-gassing gel or AGM can gas if say the charger or alternator malfunctions. That's why they all have vent holes, even the "sealed or valve-regulated" types. Under the bonnet they are OK, that's basically into fresh air so pointless adding a tube, but as soon as you put them inside the van (in my case under the drivers seat) you have to think carefully about how to do it safely.

I would always try to arrange vent tubes to the outside. Sadly there's no provision for these on my current van, the manufacturer seemed oblivious to this genuine hazard, which I find shocking. I hope to correct that oversight sooner rather than later.

As for putting one in a locker alongside a Chinese diesel heater, that seems like madness to me.
 
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