We would like to put two AGM batteries inside our truck camper under the dinette seat. My research is giving me mixed messages about venting so I wrote Lifeline and asked them. This is their reply: "They should be vented to the outside. They can safely sit under the dinette but they should be in a box and that box should be vented to the outside."I have read about many who have installed these batteries under the seats with no venting but maybe this is not safe to do?? What do you all think?

I have read yes and no so many times when I put my AGM inside my camper I used the vent system from the old wet cell. It was all ready there. Personally, I would vent them.

I smell acid every now and then from my AGMs, so I guess it's a good idea to vent them. I wouldn't hesistate to try what you want anyway...see if you get any odors.

chobe2 wrote:We would like to put two AGM batteries inside our truck camper under the dinette seat. My research is giving me mixed messages about venting so I wrote Lifeline and asked them. This is their reply: "They should be vented to the outside. They can safely sit under the dinette but they should be in a box and that box should be vented to the outside."I have read about many who have installed these batteries under the seats with no venting but maybe this is not safe to do?? What do you all think?I think you should follow what the experts (the manufacturers of the batteries) tell you to do rather than what any Joe Schmo posts on an internet forum.

I have a Four Wheel Camper and they install AGM batteries with no venting....they sell hundreds, if not thousands of campers. I have two AGM in mine and have no issues and have never heard of any complaints from owners or on the forums. Other manufacturers do the same, All Terrain Campers and Phoenix come to mind.

Hydrogen rises and acid mist sinks. A closed box with a vent will aid in releasing H gas.I have had AGMs on their sides and under the rear seat in the van for over a year. If they were emitting acid, don't you think there would be a blemish on the carpet? A van is not a sealed compartment, and is therefore its own vent. There are too many cubic feet for any dangerous accumulation.I also keep AGMs in the TT under the dinette seat. The space under the dinette seat is not a sealed compartment and your RV is too large for any dangerous accumulation.Thermal runaway is your real concern and a plastic box will be of little help. IMHO and YMMV.HTH;John

Venting AGM Batteries | Good Sam Community

HMS_Beagle
Explorer
May 01, 2016
Venting is a very good idea for flooded cells. If there are regulations, they exist for those, even if the camper is originally delivered with AGM batteries. You never know what will happen in a future replacement. Flooded cells off-gas hydrogen as part of the normal charging process, which is by itself explosive and condenses to acid. AGMs do not off-gas in normal operation, only in extraordinary circumstances, if they do it more than a couple of times they are dead and you are going to be replacing them.
time2roll
Nomad
Apr 30, 2016
I understand the venting is in NEC and RVIA requires following NEC.
No I do not have a book and am not an expert. Have stayed at a few Holiday Inn however.
full_mosey
Explorer
Apr 30, 2016
rottidawg wrote:
smkettner wrote:
Yes RVIA standards require venting.

If so then why do many camper companies not vent there AGM batteries? Like I said before, FWC and ATC sell a lot of campers and they do not use vents. They are also manufactured in Kalifornia which has a rule/law for everything.

I would also appreciate hearing the answer to this.

Cite the RVIA regulation. :)

I debate this not to be for or against venting batteries.

The word 'regulation' implies civil authority. Isn't it true that the RVIA is only a voluntary mfgrs association with standards for certification? Is there a civil penalty involved if an RV does not have the decal?

Further, this box must have two vents; one low in the box and vented outside and below the box and, the second vent high in the box and vented outside higher than the box. This allows the safe(?) exit of both H gas and acid mist.

HTH;
John
rottidawg
Explorer
Apr 30, 2016
smkettner wrote:
Yes RVIA standards require venting.

If so then why do many camper companies not vent there AGM batteries? Like I said before, FWC and ATC sell a lot of campers and they do not use vents. They are also manufactured in Kalifornia which has a rule/law for everything.
time2roll
Nomad
Apr 30, 2016
Yes RVIA standards require venting. With a quality battery and reliable charging system I would probably skip it but hard to recommend for others to do.

Optima D31T has a vent connection to attach a small tube. Not quite as space efficient but no box may help.

See Google Images "Optima D31T"
Reddog1
Explorer II
Apr 30, 2016
I will stand by what Lifeline says in their literature/manual. We can do lots of things differently, but it does not make them necessary.
cewillis
Explorer
Apr 30, 2016
jimh425 wrote:
For those of you with "sealed" boxes are they airtight?

No, I would not say 'airtight'. Was going to put that in my post, but got lazy. Mine do have rubber gaskets around the lids, but there is some slop where the cables enter the boxes.
chobe2
Explorer
Apr 30, 2016
Thank you all. You guys seem to be split down the middle. I guess we'll just have to decide which way to go...hate to make another hole in the camper. Maybe, better safe than sorry.
free_radical
Explorer
Apr 30, 2016
AGM s dont need to be vented as they are sealed..

If however one or two cells broke as happened to me it would release gas
when charged..I only noticed this when battery didnt hold charge,,didnt smell anything though..

Btw the battery was made in China..
HMS_Beagle
Explorer
Apr 30, 2016
AGMs are commonly installed in boats with no outside venting. Usually there is no way to do it. If your AGMs are venting gas, you are abusing them in some way and they won't be doing it for long!

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