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Unread 28-03-2002, 18:46
Andy A. Andy A. is offline
Getting old
FRC #0095
Team Role: Coach
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Rookie Year: 2001
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 1,014
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Ok, here's my question:

I work on a electric vehicle class at our high school (build a ev from scrap in one year, a lot like FIRST Acutally). We use 8 deep cycle 12 volt batterys. One of my jobs is to keep them topped off with plenty of water, often after it comes off a charger. I've pretty much got vented batterys down pat.

Now, where I get confused is on sealed batterys. I understand that the chemistry is pretty much the same and for various reasons the electrolyte is in a gel, giving the name 'gel cell'. Now, since they are unvented and supposedly unspillable, how do we boil off the fluid? Is there really some venting going on that just isn't obvious?

-Andy A.