Do propane and batteries mix?

[Lin]

After I removed the original bus heater/AC coils and motor, I used the space to install permanent propane tanks and have two portable tanks in front of them in the old condensor compartment.  This space is separated from the front bay by the original access panel and some plywood.  There is a nice size storage space on top of the permanent propane tanks where I have plywood over it.  The only problem is that it is really more suited to deep storage since one must get to it behind the portable tanks, or through the bay access panel.

I was therefore thinking that it would be a good space to move the house batteries when I get to the point of redoing that system.  I have considered the possibility that the batteries and propane tanks should not be so close, but then thought if I used AGM batteries it may not be an issue.  What thoughts do you have here?

[JackConrad]

Whether you use lead-acid or AGM, the main concern is a spark that would ignite any LP.  That said, LP is heavier than air and would sink to the bottom of the compertment.  Your call.  Jack

[Lin]

Well one good thing is that I did put vents under the tanks for propane to drain if it did leak.  I even remembered to put screens on to serve as a rodent check valve.  I suppose I could do a better job of sealing between to two areas.

[Hartley]

For your safety,

Don't put batteries anywhere near LP tanks. Not even battery cables!

If anything were to go wrong or someone were to hit the side of the bus
where the batteries and LP are located You could have a very bad situation,
Lets say explosive.

Always locate the batteries in a place that you could get to in case of an electrical problem to get them unhooked or put out the fire. The same applies to where you locate the Inverter system. They can melt down unexpectedly.

I wouldn't want to worry about a battery melt down starting or ending with a large BOOM noise.

I have had AGM batteries go into thermal melt down from internal shorts. Not a pretty sight and smells really bad. The acid fumes are hard on steel and aluminum materials.

[JohnEd]

Lin,

My logic is that you want everything separated and with adequate clearance space...etc...etc.  That ain't happen'n.  Batteries make sparks, it is true, but that isn't the norm.  Propane in a tank is not a fire or explosive hazard.....and if you get a leak you certainly fix it NOW.  If you are in your propane storage area and you have a leak, you know it immediately.  Enuf to cause an explosion is lots more that the min to sniff.  The nice thing is that both systems need to be in an area that is vented so the space suitable for one is suitable for the other.  The ox component of the gases produced by a bat sink and the H goes up so I would opt for the bats being over the propane.  The other hazard is that bat boxes are usually vented at the bottom only.  That is OK while underway but I think you need a top opening to handle H gas accumulation while stopped/parked.

In my entire life( 66 yeras and I never worked in a bat store or Fire Station) I have only seen one battery EXPLODE.   16 years old and in Vocational class a bat went off in the rear of the room.  The top put a 1 foot deep dent in a 3X3 commercial grade duct that was affixed to a 30 foot high ceiling above the charging station.  Three different students pooped and one peed his pants.  Don't ask me how I know about the one.    It was a loud and violent happening.  That explosion was caused by a volume of H and O that filled the cavity in the top of a 6 volt battery.  The volume of gas that could be held by your standard gov't issue battery enclosure in a bus is a tad larger that the internal volume of a auto 6 volter.  Nuff said.  Put a good floor under the bats, lotsa vent and run no propane OVER the bats or next to them.

I think your choice to mount them in the same enclosure is a good utilization of space and it "could" be a safe install.

2.5 cents worth,

John

AND....I think Dr. Dave's advice is solid, also.  Any wreck that punctures a propane tank, however, will destroy the RV unless it is made out of "fire brick".  And I don't care who saw that NOT happen "once".

[kyle4501]

Propane tanks & batteries store energy. One would do well to give due consideration of what that energy is capable of if it gets released all at once. 

Place these systems where proper maintenance is easier to preform than ignore. Also, try to give the energy a place to go to minimize damage if the least desireable scenario happens.
IE: mount on side of coach so an explosion blows out the side vs mounted in the center where it may try to launch you into orbit. 

[Hi yo silver]

There will be some good guidelines in the appropriate NFPA codes.  I think they will recommend upper and lower vents in battery or propane compartments.

Dennis

[gus]

My gen plus exhaust system and propane tanks are essentially in the same compartment but it is wide open at the bottom and the gen door is expanded metal. I have no worries about this setup.