Well guys; about this subject of keeping batteries cooler and vented from explosive gasses, we surely had lots of ideas and thoughts that some of us considered important.
We even learned what
commercial boats and submarines do, and that a
steel shed on
deck may block our visibility forward.
The volume calculator shows us that the smaller the enclosure is, the higher the concentration of Hydrogen and the 4% figure is reached faster, so we should have a way to evacuate it and simply by making a hole at the bottom, on one side of the enclosure and another one at the top, on the opposite side, venting away somewhere, would help somewhat with the fear of blowing things up.
But to keep the batteries cooler so they last longer and charge higher and faster, more venting is necessary. That is why the small computer fan was suggested, and if it would blow onto the hot
alternator, it would lower it's temperature while the concentration of Hydrogen would be not strong enough to ignite, which takes care of five problems at the same time: Reducing Hydrogen gas concentration to prevent an explosion,
cooling batteries and
cooling the
alternator so they can charge higher and faster, besides reducing the
corrosion on all those connections and components and blowing away those stinky battery acid smells.
So why not make the venting system with 3" or 4" flexible ducts as for the typical
bilge blower. It's not a complicated modification and has many advantages.
Yes, add a switch for the little brushless computer fan when
solar, shore or
wind charging. Thanks for sharing !. Slowpoker.