Second Battery in the Boot

JonB · Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 8:55 am Post Subject: Second Battery in the Boot

This year I will be leaving the Caravan at home & Camping instead.
I want to put & charge my caravan battery in the car boot (the wiring is no problem) is this safe as I know in the caravan the battery is vented to the outside.
Thanks
JonB

Woodster66 · Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 12:32 pm Post Subject:

It should be ok provided the battery is clamped in place, which i am sure you will do, a battery will emit a small amount of gas when it is charging but it should vent ok in the boot area, however if you do get a smell when opening the boot see if there is a rubber grommet in the boot area, like in the spare wheel well that you can take out temporarily to help vent the boot space when the battery is in there!
Quite a few older cars have their battery in the boot and in some cases under the back seat so there should be no problem with what you are doing!

JonB · Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 4:23 pm Post Subject:

Thanks for that Woodster. Eases my mind abit.
JonB

pompeyal · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 3:27 pm Post Subject:

Just a quick word of warning, if you are unfortunate enough to roll your car, it has been known that battery acid has found its way into the roof lining, and when the car has been uprighted, the acid then pours down onto any occupants of the car, when I was rallying years ago someone from my club was badly burnt through this happening. yes our friend is right in saying that some older cars have the battery in the boot, a prime example is the mini, but in alot of those cars that had the battery in the boot had no access to the boot like in most modern saloons or hatch backs.

Stivino · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 5:32 pm Post Subject:

Some Jaguars have the battery in the boot and some BMW's have it under the back seat. Just make sure it's secure and use a decent brand sealed battery.

__________________
Lang may yer lum reek.

JonB · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 5:40 pm Post Subject:

Thanks Guys for all the replies.
I have a proper Plastic battery box with cover & securing strap.
JonB

libby lou lou · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 11:48 pm Post Subject:

pompeyal wrote:

Just a quick word of warning, if you are unfortunate enough to roll your car, it has been known that battery acid has found its way into the roof lining, and when the car has been uprighted, the acid then pours down onto any occupants of the car, when I was rallying years ago someone from my club was badly burnt through this happening. yes our friend is right in saying that some older cars have the battery in the boot, a prime example is the mini, but in alot of those cars that had the battery in the boot had no access to the boot like in most modern saloons or hatch backs.

hi pompeyeal, quick ? now this thread has run it's course, i think(apologies if not), do todays batteries (sealed?) still leak ?

JohnD · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:36 am Post Subject:

if you try to connect two batteries in parallel, they tend to discharge each other. Caravanners can get a switching thing that automatically disconnects the auxiliary one when the engine is not running.

timtheenchanter · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:48 am Post Subject:

yes batteries still leak, theres a vent to let out the gasses from charging this will also let out the acid.

are you using the 12S socket to do this, if so then the split charge relay is already there.

check out
www.ukcampsite.co.uk its a caming/caravanning foum, loads of people have done this (to include me shortly! my current setup has an inverter in the boot, with a battery charger.!)

JohnD · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:14 am Post Subject:

timtheenchanter wrote:

the 12S socket

wot that?

JonB · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 1:29 pm Post Subject:

Yes I am tapping into the cable between the relay & 12S socket.
JonB

Stivino · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:47 pm Post Subject:

He's talking about the grey socket that connects to your caravan The "S" stands for supplementary. The black socket is a 12N, the "N" stands for normal.

__________________
Lang may yer lum reek.

timtheenchanter · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:45 pm Post Subject:

Stivino wrote:

He's talking about the grey socket that connects to your caravan The "S" stands for supplementary. The black socket is a 12N, the "N" stands for normal.

what he said!
I knew what they were for, but didnt know thats what the letters meant!

just to add the 12N, the black one is the one for your lights. (well all except reversing lights!)
the 12S provides power for battery charging, fridge, reversing lights etc.

although theres the newish "euro" socket thats 13pin and does everything in one.