Batteries inside main cabin

[Brian D]

Question about putting batteries inside the main cabin. They are currently in the aft part of the boat with access via either port or starboard lazerette hatches. In the same compartment is the battery charger and fuel tanks. The compartment is well ventilated and I have never smelt fuel fumes. However, my surveyor recommend moving the batteries and charger to the main cabin.

My user manual shows the batteries under the starboard settee. I would like to put them there with the charger under the galley sink. I see no indication they were ever there. Here are my concerns and some questions..

1. Weight of the battery might eventually punch through the outer hull. The hull is about .75" there and I don't think it will happen, but it is still a concern. Any suggestion on mounting the batteries in that location?

2. Fumes from the battery charging or get a trickle. Do you think there will be an issue with fumes? The main cabin is usually closed up during the week but it does get some ventilation. Not as much as the current location.

Any thoughts or comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[RAD]

My battery's

Are under the center cockpit and there are bulheads seperating the aft cabin and foward cabins from them and the battery charger is under my galley sink and once when I had a bad battery from over charging the smell got into all areas so I don't think it would matter
A friends Catalina 30 has his battery's under the starboard settee.

 

[Dan H]

What kind of fuel?

If it is gasoline, you should at least move the charger unless it is ignition protected. (SAE J1171 Rating)
As far as moving the batteries and the charger, here is a link to the US Coast Guard Boatbuilders handbook. It will answer most of your questions.

I always get flamed for posting the instructions so don't let anyone see you reading them and whatever you do, don't tell anybody you got them from me!

 

[Brian D]

Dan...

It is gas, and I am an advocate for R-T-F-M! Thanks fort he link.

 

[Dan H]

It is ignition protected

The Xantrec site says it'sgnition protected.
Dan

Protection Features

Over-temperature shutdown and overload protection
Ignition protected for installation in gas engine compartments (10TB, 20+ and 40+)
Transformer isolated for safety and to protect against electrolysis
Reverse polarity protection
Short-circuit and surge protection

 

[Rick D]

Too Much Info...

...my Dad's Lancer PS 29 had the same set up. I think your surveyor is a bit over the top. All the gas engine boast I had had the batteries in the same compartment! The charger ought to be rated, but weren't they all anyway? Sounds like someone who has spent more time in books than boats. Rick D.

 

[Stu Jackson]

All 4,000 C34s and C36s have the batteries

in the main saloon.

No blowups we've heard of.

Add 6,000 C30s and???

 

[GuyT]

Blow up - doubt it!

There have been cases of UPS rooms with banks of flooded batteries blowing up - I have seen such destruction. Hydrogen content of the air only needs to be 3% for a deadly incident to happen.
Having said that, 3 percent is probably not likely if you have only a couple batteries. You would have to severely overcharge them and your boat would have to be extreemly air tight.

 

[Roger (Ninette Manitoba)]

no issue

I moved my batt from the lazarette to a tight enclosed spot under the sink at midship in the cabin and have not had any problem. I have a solar charger on it all the time. It is only when you do a quick charge that you will develop hydrogen fumes, and even those will dissipate quickly if you have some ventilation.

 

[tommays]

Pop

In my battery POPs there has allmost allways some saftey rule that was not followed like removing the charger when it was still powered


In the other cases with floor scrubers that run a 4 X 6 volt bank the batterys really get abused and we have seen a few cells short out internaly and blow off a CAP



Tommays

 

[Brian D]

Thanks guys

I already have the cable and plan on wiring up the starboard settee and under the galley sink for the battery move. At least I easier access to the batteries for maintenance.

Thanks again for your comments.

 

[shorty]

Under quarter berth

w/o problem. No fumes. I would be cautious about under galley sink. Not a question of if, but when, plumbing will leak.

 

[Roger (Ninette Manitoba)]

out of line

Not you! The plumbing for the galley sink is off to one side of the cabinet, and the battery is on the other side. Any direct drips miss the battery altogether.

 

[Brian D]

The battery will be in the settee

The charger will hang on the bulk head between the settee and the sink cabinet. I don't think there will be any chance of drips getting on the charger.