Replacement Batteries - the benefit of venting???

[fantom]

Looking to replace my battery with a sealed Concorde, and an interesting question came up that Concorde's supposed technical support, Aircraft Spruce, and and two of those exceptional MSC A&Ps couldn't answer.

My original Gill 243 was had a vent tube. My last FAA approved Concorde battery didn't and I got it because a vented Concorde wasn't offered at the time.

Now Concorde offers both manifold vented and unvented options in many models. So what is the technical additional benefit of venting, specifically??? No one seems to know. I'm beginning to think the vented unit only to make some owners feel good about having something to plug their old vent hose into.

I'm looking at the RG24-15 and the RG24-15M, both of which are FAA approved for my make and model.

http://www.concordebattery.com/otherpdf/finalfaapma.pdf

Does anyone here know?

[alex]

I bought mine about 2 weeks ago (unvented) and I could have sworn that when I looked at the description on the concorde site the unvented had more cold cranking amps. I figured this was the reason for the difference in price which was about $50 more than the RG24-15M. I looked today and the description is practically the same. Oh well, I yanked the vent tube off and gained a knot of airspeed.

[fantom]

Quote: alex

I bought mine about 2 weeks ago (unvented) and I could have sworn that when I looked at the description on the concorde site the unvented had more cold cranking amps. I figured this was the reason for the difference in price which was about $50 more than the RG24-15M. I looked today and the description is practically the same. Oh well, I yanked the vent tube off and gained a knot of airspeed.

[alex]

I Don't think there is an advantage to it besides keeping your current configuration. If you don't mind plugging the vent hole the RG24-15 fits perfectly and honestly I would never waste money on the Gill brand.

[alex]

Are they the same price where you will be purchasing it? (15 and 15M)

[fantom]

Maybe a $10 difference. I have the Concorde RG24-15 arriving tomorrow from Spruce.

 

[Hank]

I don't remember the model number, but last fall I just put in a new sealed Concorde. Two models were available, and I took the one with the most CCAs. It is worth the extra $18 to me, since the winters here are cold [by my standards--I'm from Georgia].

[carusoam]

Sealed batteries were first introduced into aviation a few years ago.  It was thought that taking a sealed battery to altitude might crack/leak.  I used the Gill sealed battery as well as their standard battery up to altitudes including 12,500.  The sealed batteries didn't leak, they lasted as long as the standard battery.  The standard battery seamed to leak all over and require maintenance to keep from eating the battery box.

Some people love their Concordes,  other people are indifferent about their Gills.  I will be trying Concorde next time.

http://www.mooneyspace.com/index.cfm?mainaction=posts&forumid=1&threadid=905

I went to the concorde site to see the differences.  The performance is the same on either RG or RG-M.  RG means recombinant gas or "sealed" battery.  -M is for "manifold" vents.  The -M battery looks like old style lead/acid battery with "non-removable" vents.

Vents might be a good idea for the guys with turbos that prefer the higher flight levels?  It seams like a solution for those concerned about the internal air volume of the battery in relation to the change in atmoshperic pressure.

Best regards,

-a-

[fantom]

THE answer is in: venting a sealed battery yields you nothing! I just spoke to the Concorde Guru, Skip Koss, a very knowledgeable man.

The 24 volt RG24-15 and RG24-15M are exactly the same internally. The exterior of the M is higher to make room for the vent nipple, and to ease installation in some planes. Plus it makes some unknowing owners more comfortable to have a nipple to plumb their old vent hose into.

So zero technical disadvantage with unvented (non M) Concordes, a better, stronger, longer lasting, maintenance free, and slightly more expensive unit than a Gill in my experience.