battery swimming lessons

[studiocommer]

Had an interesting evening last night - went to move Bessie into a more sheltered position out of the increasing gales and torrential rain. Engine bay too damp to get her started, battery went flat in the attempt, opened the battery box to see it sitting in a couple of pints of water.

Have put a couple of drain holes in battery box, and thought it worth a mention because if battery hadn't gone flat - I would have had no idea that water was in there until it either rotted out and dumped the battery on the road or flooded battery:I

My battery box is under the passenger footwell floor - there had been no sign of any leaks getting in there so must have been water from leaky heater running under carpet. If you have one like this, may be worth a look and a little drain hole - or some goldfish

 

[commerchris]

ah bless,hope bessie has full recovery,I take it the weather is awfull Did yo have heavy fog while we were in tewks?

 

[dozer]

have noticed that some vans have two seats in the front unlike mine which is a bench seat that turns in two a bed ?? only reason i mention this is that there are two recess,s behind my seat back that a batt fitts in nicely ..was there when i got the van so i left it there as nothing kills a battery like cold weather .. and under a van is like being in its own little fridge ..

 

[commerchris]

quote:
Originally posted by dozer

have notice that some vans have two seats in the front unlike mine which is a bench seat that turns in two a bed ??

nice wish Ran had this arrangement!

 

[Debs]

Ive ordered a waterproof breathable cover for Skye on ebay.Should be here tomorrow. its a caravan cover but should be big enough for her. Keep her nice and dry over the winter months.[^]

 

[dozer]

theres a pic in my rides photos .. if you dont use the front beds then its a dam handy space .. iv got my ignition module up there in the dry as well ..

 

[studiocommer]

Bessie has a bench seat which has option to fold down to make double bed behind seats into a kingsize

Good logic on the cold battery, Bessie usually good at starting and has a heavy duty big B***ard (technical name for it) but as have pulled out all the soggy bits of timber, I might insulate battery box with some polystyrene sheets while it's empty.

No fog last weekend - mostly glorious sunshine/moonlight, although got more overcast on Sunday night so didn't see any meteors[V]

So glad it is dry and sunny today, battery on charge and engine bay drying out so hope to get Bessie shifted tomorrow - wind dropped now so not so worried about roof.

 

[studiocommer]

quote:
Originally posted by Debs

Ive ordered a waterproof breathable cover for Skye on ebay.Should be here tomorrow. its a caravan cover but should be big enough for her. Keep her nice and dry over the winter months.[^]



I had one of those for my Capri, but it gets so windy up here that it spent more time as a kite than a cover

 

[Debs]

all you need is a basket underneath and youve got wind assisted transport. UFO? no UFC unidentified flying capri

 

[studiocommer]

 

[studiocommer]

Bessie now safely gathered in from the field - have put battery back temporarily like picture below. Will this work or will battery overheat whilst charging? It is stood on two bits of wood with polystyrene between - have left one end open and space above for ventilation, but am wondering why I haven't seen this done elsewhere. Any thoughts?

 

[commerchris]

I think it might be a fire hazzard,I am in two minds...
1)they sell it saying it is fire retardant..
2)I put this all over a cold wall in the small room & papered over it ,made it nice & cosy,then my son kept melting it from the top bunk,fire brigade were called by ss & they said it had to be removed as it really was dangerous,not convinced,un-decided :I

 

[Panky]

Maybe lining the battery box with plywood is a better option. Not as good as an insulator as poly-s but less likely to catch fire and better than cold steel [:0]

 

[studiocommer]

same thoughts have been flitting through my cranial cavity - thanks for the second opinions

 

[Panky]

The other option would be to stick the poly-s on the outside. Probably wouldn't last long but maybe through the winter :I.

 

[commeracer]

i normaly use rubber, old car mats are ideal

"you were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off"

 

[studiocommer]

good thinking, have a few knocking around in the shed, including a couple of split ones from my old commer that I didn't have the heart to chuck out - fairly thin so will allow plenty of breathing space around battery - and nice to use some original materials