Thread: Optima batteries -> Venting?

Huh... I don't recall it saying on my Yellow Top that it needed to be vented... not sure if I actually ever read the whole battery label... I went by what it said on the site (and what I've read/heard/seen from numerous other sources).

But I can tell you that I've got two of them inside my van passenger cabin (under the rear seat), that I play games or watch movies off them for hours on end, and I smoke while doing it, and I haven't exploded yet.

yet.......

Originally Posted by Spaghetti

I think ALL car batteries need some venting, not just yellow tops, if my memory serves me correct. I don't think the problem is with explosive fumes though - otherwise putting batteries next to engines would be problematic...

P.S., I'm trying to stop smoking myself right now - very very difficult

Yeah me too, pain in the butt

Batteries can go in the engine compartment because that is adequate ventilation. The venting is to prevent a buildup of hydrogen to explosive levels. Like if you just had a little vent of gas going into the open, you could have a flame around and not have a problem, but if the gas is contained in an enclosed area, it will build up to an igniteable level. Optima claims that under "normal operating conditions" venting is not necessary.

Sealed gel cell.

And yeah... they don't need venting (under normal operating conditions, so they say). Maybe if you drained them at like 500 amps in like 10 minutes you'd need to vent it or something.

I don't know what those two porous circles on top of the Yellow Tops are, though... maybe emergency vents or something.

And correct me if I'm wrong, but these can be mounted in any position. Like horizontally, right? Because they are a sealed gel cell.

They say you can even mount 'em upside down.