I thought I should post this warning.

[WayneH]

I've got a used boat. OK, OK, it's an OLD boat. Built in 1980. I decided to dump the two old 100ah FLA house batteries for a single lithium 125ah. The lithium battery does not have battery posts but instead you bolt the cables to the battery. PITA because now I have to remove the negative cable from the house and start batteries and the engine block. Need to change the clamp-on terminal for a lug. While removing the negative cable, I felt something strange on the insulation.

Oh, the insulation is completely gone and bare wires are visible. The insulation that is left is completely cooked and flaking off. I suspect that a previous owner had a hard time starting the engine and ran the starter way too long. And I went from modifying the negative cable to replacing all the battery cables. How I and the previous owners managed to not burn up the boat, I'll never know.

 

[dlochner]

Are you planning to use the LFP battery as a start battery? Most LFP batteries can not be used as a start battery because of the inrush current will blow out the BMS. Drop in LFPs are not really drop in other than physical size.

Drop-In LiFePo4- Be an Educated Consumer

Lead is Dead! (Except for Starting Batteries) Warning: This article is long and detailed—it may require two reads to fully grasp the nuances and important details. You might be wondering why I’m declaring that lead is dead. The answer is simple:

marinehowto.com

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

Glad you didn't have a fire.
That doesn't look like heat damage. Maybe just age, maybe the PO had an ozone generator, or maybe an extreme chemical reaction to NosGuard or other anti-mildew product using CLO2 as an active ingredient.
From a web search: "Does chlorine dioxide react with plastic?
Results show that ClO2 has a deep effect on all the materials tested (plastics and metals) and that severe damage occurs due to its strong oxidizing power in terms of surface chemical modification of metals and progressive cracking of plastics."
Another reference:
"The strong oxidants (i.e., chlorine and chloramine) found in municipal water damage the rubber seals, gaskets, and toilet flappers in your home, and can attack the rubber pieces on more expensive water appliances too."

 

[Tally Ho]

Definitely crusty and bad!

Good thing you noticed it.

Greg

 

[dkinzer]

[...] maybe the PO had an ozone generator

Some time ago in another thread about boat odor, someone mentioned using an ozone generator. I wondered at the time if the ozone would have deleterious effects on some of the materials onboard.

Is that an actual risk?

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

Some time ago in another thread about boat odor, someone mentioned using an ozone generator. I wondered at the time if the ozone would have deleterious effects on some of the materials onboard.

Is that an actual risk?

Yup. Google ozone rubber damage

 

[WayneH]

Are you planning to use the LFP battery as a start battery? Most LFP batteries can not be used as a start battery because of the inrush current will blow out the BMS. Drop in LFPs are not really drop in other than physical size.

Drop-In LiFePo4- Be an Educated Consumer

Lead is Dead! (Except for Starting Batteries) Warning: This article is long and detailed—it may require two reads to fully grasp the nuances and important details. You might be wondering why I’m declaring that lead is dead. The answer is simple:

marinehowto.com

Ummm, NO. I did my research and concluded that for the near future, the start battery needs to remain conventional lead acid battery. Finding a solar charger that supports FLA start and LIFEPO house was interesting. I ended up with a Xantrex battery and charger. But I liked my Morningstar Sunsaver duo charger more. Xantrex only sends 1 amp to the second battery while the Morningstar would feed 100% to the second battery after the first was charged. But MS did not support lithium charging so.....

 

[jssailem]

Wayne,
You sound like your on top of this LiFePo install. I look for ward to hearing about your success.

Care has been advised by they who have experienced the "drop-in" functions of these new batteries. When the BMS (battery management system) shuts down and you are running an alternator on your engine charging the batteries, the shut down can fry the diodes in the alternator.

This converts the alternator to a great lump of metal that can now be used as a dinghy anchor.

 

[Maine Sail]

I've got a used boat. OK, OK, it's an OLD boat. Built in 1980. I decided to dump the two old 100ah FLA house batteries for a single lithium 125ah. The lithium battery does not have battery posts but instead you bolt the cables to the battery. PITA because now I have to remove the negative cable from the house and start batteries and the engine block. Need to change the clamp-on terminal for a lug. While removing the negative cable, I felt something strange on the insulation. View attachment 213973

Oh, the insulation is completely gone and bare wires are visible. The insulation that is left is completely cooked and flaking off. I suspect that a previous owner had a hard time starting the engine and ran the starter way too long. And I went from modifying the negative cable to replacing all the battery cables. How I and the previous owners managed to not burn up the boat, I'll never know.

This photo is exactly why the ABYCstandards disallow welding cable or EPDM jacketed wire.... That's what it does...