if the battery has a hole at the connector, it is an auto battery. The hole is there so the battery can detect when you are drawing on your PV. That hole is how the auto batt knows to activate. Unfortunately that hole is also the problem when dripping. If you flood your atty, good chance the extra
juice will find that hole and kill your batt. Manual
batteries (button to activate, no draw hole) is a much much safer battery if dripping.
I'm not much of a mod builder, just a mod user. For more information on mods, there are several sub forums on ECF regarding mods. The folks in those sections will know a LOT more than me.