Alley-Kat
Elder Statesman
The fluid is pretty toxic and damaging.Central Toast said:Whether the leakage is into a box or onto the linoleum floor, the hazard from any (albeit rare) AGM battery leakage is not from the small amount of fluid, but from any gases that might vent through the crack in the battery shell. A battery box doesn't reduce that hazard at all unless the box is vented to the outside of the camper. If the battery box isn't vented, it is just taking up extra room, IMO.
The Lifeline guy sent a mini-hazard clean up kit consisting of gloves, absorbent wipes, and a heavy bag for me to put the gloves and wipes in to return to him.
He was glad I had the battery box to contain the fluid and that my pets didn't get in contact with the fluid as pets have the same attraction to that fluid as they do to engine coolant (according the to Lifeline guy), which is deadly to pets if ingested.
I was glad that the other stuff I carry on the floor and near the battery box, such as, my clothes duffel bags and my expensive sleeping bags didn't come in contact with the fluid, as this fluid doesn't just wash out, those items become unusable. Nor did my flooring (outdoor carpet and the under vinyl) have any contact with the fluid, as I would have had to replace them according to the Lifeline guy.
As far as I know, a battery box is to contain any fluid leakage, not contain any gasses.
As far as I know AGM's seldom vent much gas, that's one of the reasons to purchase such a battery.
My battery box is approximately 1/2" wider on all four sides, so I don't see much space saving going on. Plus, I now put some hard cell foam around the battery, inside the box to make the battery a tight, non-moving fit inside the battery box. And, the battery box protects the top of the battery and the wire connections to the battery terminals as well. My battery box is not inside any cabinet, it's just as low as possible on the floor, so that additional top protection is desired, as well.
I'll go for the fluid protection versus the extra few inches of "wasted" space that the battery box uses up.