Re: Battery Boxes...What One Company Designed

[Marc F Hult <MFHult@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sat, 17 Sep 2005 22:49:34 +0100, John Beardmore <wookie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote in message  <swJkGVFu9ILDFwI9@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:

>In message <1126991094.077828.159950@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
>Too_Many_Tools <too_many_tools@xxxxxxxxx> writes
>
>>I should mention that I was really surprised that the box relied on
>>only a passive system (a couple of small vents in the back) to vent
>>hydrogen.
>>
>>Is this common with commercial equipment?
>>
>>The box is stamped with UL and NEC approvals.
>
>How much hydrogen do you think will be evolved ?
>
>
>Cheers, J/.


Depends on how smart the charger is, condition of battery, how quickly you want
to recharge the battery after it has been drained, how deeply you drain cycle
it, how anxious you are to prevent stratification of the electrolyte and
sulfation --  among other things ;-)

If it is a standby systems that is seldom actually used (as opposed to a
diurnally cycled system with eg photovoltaics) the use of a smart charger like
in the url below should keep H2 concentration in even lightly convected air to
below the level of concern for explosion unless the space itself is too small.

http://www.progressivedyn.com/chargewizard_home.html

There are hydrogen sensors one could use for monitoring. My now-dated experience
with them was that they were more trouble than they were worth. Presumably they
have improved.

My qualitative experience on what is "too much hydrogen" is limited to having
one largish battery blow up in my face 20 years ago. It hurt (including pride)
but miraculously I suffered no permanent damage.

Marc
Marc_F_Hult
www.ECOntrol.org