My question is pretty simple. Is a battery box like this considered "sealed?" Would it keep the gases out of the car if I were to vent it the box to the outside of the car? I'm asking because you can get these things for REALLY cheap, about $10. Is there a way I could seal it with a gasket to keep the gases from entering the car? I just can't justify spending all that money for a Moroso battery box that is probably made out of 50 cents worth of materials. I'd like to keep this project affordable, but I still wanto to do it right. Opinions PLEASE!!!

 

no thats just a marine battery box, keeps from getting wet but it's not honestly sealed. A true sealed box will have a drain on it.

 

Here's just one http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...=egnsearch.asp but they have more http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...=egnsearch.asp

 

I guess I'm just too big of a cheapo. I can't justify spending all that money for a plastic box with a hose coming out of it. Is there some way that I could seal up the $10 box and put a hose on it for venting? If anyone on here has the Moroso box, what does it consist of? Is there just a gasket around the lid? I don't really think it would be that hard to make my own, I just want to get an idea of how to go about sealing it up the $10 box, and if you guys think it would work.

 

I install those marine boxes in boats all the time. They have small little vents on top if you will notice as well as a very loose fitting top with big gaps. I would not use it.

 

oh let the man be cheap, go to any truck accesssorie shop, and ask if they have some scrap canopy tape simply fill the whole lid neatly with canopy (foam tape), and then add a hole for a hose you can vent to outside, the big thing with batteries is to make sure theyre bolted down really ( i mean really) well when theyre mounted in the cabin,

if your not confident with 1 layer of canopy tape use 2, the stuff is dirt cheap too so they might just hand you a roll, (trust me i worked at a truck shop and have given away rolls of it before) and there you go a "sealed" battery box

if your not confident using foam tape they probably have other rubber weatherstripping material with a 2sided tape backing,,

Paul

 

Why do you want it to be "sealed"? For Track Racing?

If not, just get a "sealed" battery. (Optima). You'll never have to
worry about fumes, and such.

 

buy a optima batt. they dont give alway gases they are gel filled

 

If you are trying to get by a racing sanctioning body, make sure they will accept a plastic box, some won't. From experience, I have found that it is best to do it right the first time, second time just gets more expensive.

As a side note, keep in mind that battery vapors are explosive, (hydrogen), smoking will be a nono if the box fails to seal.

 

agree with earlier comment.. why do you care if it's sealed. We have almost the exact thing in our EP SCCA car. It's legal, not sure about dragstrips though. anyway just roll with the windows down! =) i'm kidding but really for us it's there mostly to protec t us in case battery blows, not so much the fumes.

 

that is not a sealed box by any means
taylor makes a sealed box that is nhra legal too

 

how do the tracks react to optimas?
i have one and am thinking of relocating it.

 

old thread i know...
anyone?

optima in storage bin with no box sealed enough?

 

Yep.Nuff said..

 

notice the "if not" in his statement.
"if not" referring to track racing.
now notice my question, referring to track racing.
does it depend on the track? class? do they all require some sort of firewall between the driver and battery?

 

Each sanctioning body has slightly different rules. Decide which form of motorsport you want to participate in and get thier rule book.

 

guess it'd help if i could decide.
that's the problem with building a car solely for yourself, i'll have no idea what rules it meets/breaks till i'm done.
i just want to street drive it and screw around on the course/drag strip on the weekends.

 

Same thing goes if you get to the point you need a roll bar or a cage. Roadracing and NHRA/IHRA rules differ there too.

If you don't need to move the battery yet, then I would wait until the engine mods or corner weighting require it.

I'm up in St. Joe, give me a holler.