And some possibly useful information here:

http://www.sonnenschein.org/Gassing.htm

--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR

On 6/3/2008 3:04 PM Stuart MacMillan wrote:

> A charging battery produces hydrogen, which is lighter than air, so it
> dissipates quickly from a vented battery box.  Inside the battery it can
> explode, usually when you start the car, or when you jump the battery
> incorrectly.
>
> Stuart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> M'obeechi
> Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2008 2:44 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Optima Blue D31M
>
> Okay, but the metal of the unit will still get hot, and if a highly
> flammable gas were to encounter a heat source, isn't there the possibility
> of combustion, especially if the flammable gas becomes concentrated in a
> confined compartment?
>
>
> From: Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Optima Blue D31M
>
>>  RE: The out-gassing possibility of the standard automotive battery,
> coupled
>> with use a propane heater like the Propex is enough to give me pause. Is
>> this gas flammable?
>>
>> The Propex takes all combustion air from outside the vehicles and all
>> exhaust goes outside the vehicle.  No interior air gets near the ignition
>> source.  Interior air is only pulled through a heat exchager, total
>> seperation from the ignition source.
>>
>
> ----- End Original Message -----
>