Danger from charging golf cart inside toy hauler??

[joebedford]

We left our toy hauler in Florida for the first time. DW's golf cart is in the garage. I didn't hook it up to any kind of tender so I have no idea if we'll have 6 flat batteries in November or not.

I was worried about hydrogen build up inside the RV.

Is that a realistic concern?

[Chum_lee]

Flooded lead acid batteries can and will explode. How do I know? Because I've done it. It takes some work (and a momentary lack of intelligence) to do it. Here's what I did.

On my first car, with small block Chevy V8 and and aging battery, I decided to perform a compression test. Since the battery was weak, I put the shop 50 amp boost charger on it as I performed the test so that the battery would not go dead. The battery began to gas. I cranked the starter several times as I checked the compression in the various cylinders. So, the battery was discharging from the compression testing, AND, at the same time, being charged (at 50 amp rate) from the charger. I accidentally clipped the charger cables with my elbow, (spark occurs) and BOOM! The caps blew off the battery, the lid on the battery split in several places, and battery acid went flying everywhere, including in my eyes and on my clothes. So, yes, IT CAN BE DONE!

You really have to work at it though. Even with trickle charging, IF THERE IS NO ADEQUATE VENTILATION AND SUFFICIENT TIME, it is possible to concentrate hydrogen/oxygen sufficiently so that if a spark presents itself, . . . . . BOOM! In a confined space, expect the worst. Unlike gasoline, hydrogen is explosive at very low concentrations. (lean mixtures)

Chum lee

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Failed Harbor Fright maintainers short out at 16.3 volts. I have seen enough of them.

The company has on retainer a product liability specialist based in Manhatten Beach, CA. Good luck with that.

Delco Remy started this Fuster**** in 1980 with the 15SI model with the 1117405 voltage regulator set at 15.0 volts, and a calcium/calcium battery. Low IQ meant GM went with copper-plated battery cables. Never under-estimate the idiocy of a bean counter (Robert ***STRANGE*** McNamara.)

Beware of untested under reviewed "new electrical miracles".

[joebedford]

I was happy when I put it in there/ Hopefully still happy when taking it out.

[dougrainer]

I had a Harbor Freight cheap Battery Tender years ago connected to my 1975 Corvette. I had a good Interstate sealed side post battery. Corvettes have the battery inside a fiberglass box behind the drivers seat with a latched sealed lid. I don't drive the Corvette that much. about 15 years ago, I decided to start it up after sitting for about 3 months. Battery tender still connected. The minute I turn the Ignition key to start, BAM, the lid of the battery blew off and luckily the battery compartment lid kept the remnants IN the battery box. The Battery tender had boiled the battery dry and the Instant draw from the starter combined with the Battery minder connected provided the spark to blow the gas. Lesson learned. I purchased a more expensive Battery Minder and now I monitor the Water Level in the battery before I run the car now. NEVER had a problem in the past 15 years using a GOOD Battery Minder. Doug

[dougrainer]

joebedford wrote:
Yes, there are 6 x 6V batteries.

No, I didn't leave a tender on them. I charged them up fully then drove the cart into the hauler. Didn't disconnect other than cart switch off.

There are no windows open but I did leave the main air conditioner on at 85F.

RV AC units are sealed systems. They only recirc the Inside air. NO outside air at all. Your AC unit when on would just help distribute any possible corrosive gassing thru out the box. Doug

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Standing 10' from the muzzle.

Anything from a .410 gauge to a 16 gauge shotgun discharge. Armando had a Mexican grade hangover (a near-death experience). He put two golf car batteries in series by dead shorting them. A 410-grade pop ensued. Hosed him down with cold water. His pants later turned into a Calvin Klein masterpiece. beware

Sorry, kiddo a no-pay day. Sent him home with Tylenol.

He never again griped about having to wear wraparound Lexan goggles.
beware of saint monday after the world cup.

[Sam_Spade]

dougrainer wrote:
A proper Battery Maintainer will not outgas.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT I SAID.

There is a reason that good Battery Minders cost a lot less than the Harbor Freight cheap ones. Doug

And for the second sentence......I think you meant MORE not less ??

Then....there is a difference between outgassing due to electrolysis, which is what produces H and O.....and WAY overcharging and getting the battery HOT so that the acid solution gives off FUMES.
The corrosion is caused by acid fumes, not the gasses produced.

[joebedford]

Yes, there are 6 x 6V batteries.

No, I didn't leave a tender on them. I charged them up fully then drove the cart into the hauler. Didn't disconnect other than cart switch off.

There are no windows open but I did leave the main air conditioner on at 85F.

[wa8yxm]

SidecarFlip wrote:
Not really so long as there is some air movement. I have to say that I've never seen a battery explode, heard of it happening but I've never had it happen personally

First too I'd roll out the Golf Car. (Sing to the obvious roll out tune) before I started to charge. Just to be safe.

Should not be that hard to do. If you can't roll it out open the tailgate and put in a fan.

Battery Explosion I have heard of it happening when two batteries were hooked up "Back to back" instead of side by side I mean

+-
-+

Dead 24 volt short blew one or both up But normally a battery "Explosion" is more of a "Pfft" than a "BANG" that is the case cracks and acid is sprayed all over the battery compartment..

IF this happens.. Hose it down FAST cause as others have said not good for the metal in your garage.. or anything else for that matter. But if it happens. I would EXPECT it to happen fairly soon. (Like 1st hour) and unless the batteires are totaly gone you should be able to move it out

NOTE: at least one make of Golf Car if the batteries are truly flat the charger won't.. Well there is a way to jumper two connections and it will but basically it won't.. And no I can not tell you which leads (Without the diagram in front of me) but this type has a 3 prong charger to Golf Car plug as I recall. The charge controller is split between the charger and the car... If the batteries are totaly dead (like 2 years no charge) they can not power the car half of the charger control circuit.

[DFord]

Here's a little background information for those that will accept proper practices for ventilating batteries when charging:

https://na.bhs1.com/battery-room-ventilation-code-requirements/

For the rest of you, good luck! You'll need it. It's the only thing keeping you in one piece so far. I've experienced gas explosions and I can tell you you'll never know what hit you because you get no warnings.

The golf carts I've seen have 6 - 6 volt batteries in series (36 volts). So we're not talking here about charging just one battery. We're talking about a group of batteries.

[dougrainer]

Sam Spade wrote:
I suspect not.
A "proper" battery tender will NOT charge at a fast enough rate to "gas" the batteries in any significant amount.
Then, it is doubtful that the RV is really sealed good enough to promote accumulation.
And what ignition source would there be ??

You doubt the RV is sealed good enough???? Maybe not to your standards, but corrosive Gas will just accumulate and corrode out everything inside that toyhauler garage. Lead Batteries OUTGAS. How much depends on the charger you are using. A proper Battery Maintainer will not outgas. There is a reason that good Battery Minders cost a lot MORE than the Harbor Freight cheap ones. Doug

PS. You ought to see the corrosion in some Motorhome Coach battery compartments that ARE vented thru the bottom and back wall of the compartment.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
"READING COMPREHENSION, ANYONE?"

"I DID NOT HOOK IT UP TO ANY SORT OF TENDER"

[MEXICOWANDERER]

"READING COMPREHENSION, ANYONE?"

[opnspaces]

Not on a charger, but I did have a battery explode in my Toyota Camry when I turned the key to start. I unfortunately don't remember what happened to the battery as far as if only the caps blew off. But I do remember the whole car shuddering when it went off. Fortunately this happened in my driveway so I was able to quickly douse the engine compartment with copious amounts of fresh water from the garden hose and prevent any acid damage.

As far as charging in your TH; An RV is far from airtight and I can't imagine any appreciable buildup of hydrogen. With an automatic maintainer I would probably let my batteries charge. But I would also shy away from the $4.99 Harbor Freight tenders as I've had a couple of those fail on me. One stopped charging and the other was overcharging at something like 16 volts.