Wet Cell Batteries Under The Settee?

[Joe Mullee]

I have three Deka gell house batteries (97AH X 3) wired in parralel in my cabin under the settee. In the same area is my water heater. There is also a small 500 watt inverter wired directly to the batteries but it is mounted on the exterior of the settee. The settee is vented on three sides and the batteries are in individual plastic battery boxes with a common lid. They are serviced by a three stage 10 amp TrueCharge charger. It's time to replace them. In comparing gells vs wet cells, three group 31 Deka gell cells are approximately $560 more expensive for the bank then three wet cell Trojan SCS 225's not to mention the Trojans have 84 more amp hours for the bank.

Does the venting that's in place as well as the boxing with the lid (which is all enclosed inside the settee) mitigate the hazard of the potential gassing in the wet cells? Besides the savings I'd sure like to get the extra amp hours.

What's the best thing to do? Thanks.

Joe Mullee

 

[Stu Jackson]

Joe, venting is not an issue, it's there and wil work for both.

Are you comparing apples & oranges? 225 ah wet cells sounds suspiciously like 6V batteries compared to your 12V wet cells. Help us out here.

 

[kloudie1]

Joe, I think the gells are sealed and do not vent. The flooded batts vent slightly in use but it sounds like you have sufficient vent area for the hydrogen to dissipate.. You may notice a slight odor at times when using them hard.. The only thing I think you might have is some accelerated corrosion of the hot water tank outer covering if it is steel, as the original is. With a 10 ampere charger, you should have no significant outgassing..

 

[Joe Mullee]

Trojan SC S225

The Trjoan I'm referring to is a 12 volt, 130AH battery. In one of Maine Sail's posts he menioned it as a good 12 volt battery to consider.

http://www.staabbattery.com/product/Trojan-Batteries/TR-SCS225.html

Any thoughts?

 

[Snotter]

Joe, it sounds like you got a good location for your batteries--away from a hot engine room. Cool batteries are more efficient.

 

[Maine Sail]

Joe,

Most of the boats out there have wet cells in the exact location you describe including our own boat. It is a non issue provided you do not have a charger that stays in "gassing" range for extended periods of time. I've seen zero issues on our boat even with a dumb regulated alternator and I work on many others that I have alos not seen any problems with. You do want some venting of the compartment but other than that most boats run this way..

The SCS-225 is an excellent 12V deep cycle battery as is the US Battery US31DCXC

 

[seadaddler]

Mine

My 4-T-105's are in plastic battery box's under my table seats away from any thing and the only time I smelled gasing was when my old 4D's went bad and so they were constantly charging and gasing but the new T105's never smell and we do work them and check the fluid every other month just to make sure they are good with fluiid level.
Nick

 

[Joe Mullee]

Thanks!!

After reading thru the archives I wasn't sure if wet cells would be a bad choice. Thanks to everyone for reassuring me it would be OK. I'm pretty diligent with things onboard. This will be one more thing to add to the list.

 

[Dan Johnson]

Joe...

As already noted, you should have no problem with placing wet cells where your gels are now. Pretty hard to make them outgas significantly with a 10 amp smart charger.

Sure beats slithering down into the "basement" where they were originally installed to service them when you need to with the wet cells!

 

[zeehag]

my ericson has em in settee, and my formosa has a 3 man and a boy (d8) undre dinette seat, aft...... most centerline available place in htis brick to fit em..... the 6v are under the steps of my formosa.....