Battery question

TonyJones · Oct 8, 2013

I am informed that lots of motor homes have leisure batteries sited under a seat. How does the battery vent?
I ask because I want to put a leisure battery in my caravan (it doesn't have one as standard) to drive a motor mover and that's all.
I am advised by "experts" that it unsafe to do this. However a local motor home dealer in motor homes has told me batteries are often mounted under a seat.
Can anyone advise please?

TonyJones · Oct 9, 2013

Hi "Morganic"
I wouldn't presume to comment on a caravan as I've never owned one, but my Transit camper has not only the leisure battery but also the vehicle's own battery under the driving seat.
So both Ford and the reputable firm who did my conversion were clearly happy with that location.
I would assume then, that as long as the compartment isn't airtight, any gases will find their way out safely. However, it MAY depend on the type of battery.

gjh · Oct 9, 2013

Our leisure battery is under the passenger seat - Banner 956 01. The user manual says nothing about any special precautions other than that replacement batteries must be of the same type (e.g. replace lead acid with lead acid).
Graham

Flicka · Oct 9, 2013

It does depend on the type of Battery being fitted. If it's a "sealed for life" battery, it should not need to be vented. If a standard type battery (i.e. with top-up plugs) it will need a vent, this is usually a hole through the floor (same method as venting a Gas Locker) Some Batteries have a vent tube, which will also need to vent to the exterior.

BernieC · Oct 11, 2013

My Fiat based motorhome also has both batteries accessible from inside the MH. The vehicle battery is housed in a box under the cab floor, between the passenger and driver seats, accessible through a lift up plate in the cabs rubber floor, The leisure battery is housed in a container below the floor under one of the seat lockers. The leisure battery has two venting point, one of which vents via a thin yube to the outside with the secon one being fitted with a sealing bung. I haven't checked the vehicle battery yet but believe that the same system is used here.

PaulandOla · Oct 11, 2013

Hi Bernie

Just read your comment on here regarding the location of your leisure battery in your Fiat based motorhome. Housed in a box in the cab between the drivers and passengers seat. I was wondering what the model and year was of your motorhome as I have a Fiat Ducato Euramobil Sport on a 1998 plate, and the vehicle battery is in the engine compartment and the leisure battery is in the living space in a box under the floor (where the table goes) but I have seen a rubber mat (panel) between the seats in the cab and just wondered if someone as changed it over the years as I know changes have been made over the years, I also have a mains charger and a shurflo water pump in the same area and some of the electrics don't work like they should lol.
Any feedback would be really appreciated

Regards
Paul

Morganic · Oct 12, 2013

Thanks to all who responded. I can vent my battery outside the van with tubing provided by the battery supplier.
Caravan "buffs" tell me this is unsafe??
I fail to see the difference between this and a motorhome battery mounted in living area and vented with a tube. The battery won't be charging when we are occupying the van and any gas produced will be sent outside.

Retread · Oct 13, 2013

If you vent the gases to outside the van either by using a ventilated battery space or by using a tube attached to the battery venting tube, which ever is applicable, then you should be safe, no gas in the van therefore no danger. QED.
Could be that your caravan buffs cant get their heads round not storing the battery in the front locker and if they're right there should be regular explosions all over Europe from the 500,000 motor homes acting as ticking bombs

BernieC · Oct 14, 2013

Paul and Ola said:
Hi Bernie

Just read your comment on here regarding the location of your leisure battery in your Fiat based motorhome. Housed in a box in the cab between the drivers and passengers seat. I was wondering what the model and year was of your motorhome as I have a Fiat Ducato Euramobil Sport on a 1998 plate, and the vehicle battery is in the engine compartment and the leisure battery is in the living space in a box under the floor (where the table goes) but I have seen a rubber mat (panel) between the seats in the cab and just wondered if someone as changed it over the years as I know changes have been made over the years, I also have a mains charger and a shurflo water pump in the same area and some of the electrics don't work like they should lol.
Any feedback would be really appreciated

Regards
Paul

Mine is on a 2012 plate but is the same for anything 2006 onwards.

RichardSmith · Oct 26, 2013

Morganic

I have a 2007 LMC TI 708 Liberty Start motorhome, the battery is a standard battery with the vent tube going through the floor to the underside of the vehicle, it is situated under the drivers seat and I have no gas leakage into the vehicle at all.

As a former caravan owner (22 years) I cannot agree with your Caravan "buffs", my first 'van had the leisure battery under the seat, which was standard at the time and we had no problems at all.

Richard

boleroboy · Dec 23, 2013

Hi, if the battery is only for the motor mover, how do you work your lights or water pump etc? Do you have a 2nd battery in the caravan? If so, why not use that one for moving the van? How will you charge it (them) will it be on Ehu?

516yuanyuan · May 16, 2016

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Battery question

TonyJones

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Flicka

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