ONe of the covers for my battery boxes is cracked right down the middle. I tightened the straps on the box right under the lid, so the battery is not going anywhere. But the cover is not very functional, and is now held down with a bit of duct tape. What is the purpose of the battery box cover? Sparks, gas, chemistry, isolation, water? Trying to figure out if I need to replace it. Thanks!
Battery box lid, what is the purpose?
- Thread starter TropicalSeattle
- Start date
Most larger boats don't use them at all. Maybe it's protection if you drop a wrench across the terminals or something, but that's about it. They are vented, so they certainly don't contain gasses. Those things are more prevalent on smaller boats where the batteries are exposed. Mine are open at the top. One big box.
Personally? I'd forget it..
Personally? I'd forget it..
Last time I checked, USCG regs require covering batteries by some effective method. Metal stuff and battery terminals don't make a good combination.
Regardless of the existence of such requirement, it's common sense.
Regardless of the existence of such requirement, it's common sense.
Yes it is to protect the terminals against accidental shorts. Oh, and perhaps them help hide those ugly batteries.
I figure there are multiple good reasons for having the batteries in a box including a lid.
They stay cleaner, are protected from shorts and splashes and if one or more cells ruptures the electrolyte is contained. I also believe in one box per bank.
They stay cleaner, are protected from shorts and splashes and if one or more cells ruptures the electrolyte is contained. I also believe in one box per bank.
They don't use them in cars? Shorting a battery is a very bad thing and apt to cause an explosion. There is a lot of energy in a battery, enough to weld with. Another option is to have boots over the terminals to prevent them from shorting out. The fluid in a battery is acid so keeping that contained is beneficial. Splashing acid all over your nice aluminum fuel tank right next to the batter is probably not wise.
I'm not altogether sure about it, but I seem to recollect about an ABYC, or USCG 'notation' about it being covered. As I said previously, shorting it out appears to be the biggest, if not only consideration for the cover. Boat manufacturers seem to pay most of these 'regulations' little attention, and then owners even less so. This strikes me as a common sense problem, with no disrespect aimed at anybody. Seriously, if the battery is exposed, by all means protect it, (and you), with aforementioned cover. The OP said it was cracked, not missing. So with these ten dollar flimsy pieces of crap boxes, what's a crack in the lid gonna hurt? It won't leak acid in a catastrophic breach. It has zero to do with gasses due to its construction. It HAS to breath.
I have seen two batteries explode in my years. It was not insignificant events. When they go, it's a BIG go. Would that little plastic cover contain that event? Very unlikely. It may contain it to some degree, but again; are the batteries laying exposed in the cockpit floor or the saloon? Nay, they are generally below. Where spontaneous battery explosions are almost unheard of. The two that I've seen turn loose in over forty years have been a mechanics mistake, (no, not mine).
One of my notable sea-trial boats is another one of these doomsday-prepper boats. You know the type, they're escaping from the zombies or something, bearing in mind the high seas would be a VERY poor place to be in a catastrophic world event, but anyway....HUGE banks of batteries. The owner has expendable income that is staggering. WAY up there seven figure boat. And no battery covers. Sure they are in boxes, as they should be. But an 8D box is more trouble than it's worth.
So don't dispose of the lid. Put some duct tape on it or something. Or spring fifteen bucks for a new one. But I can think of WAY worser troubles than a cracked battery box lid. And again, this is not to be construed as an insult to anyone. Just 'keepin it real'..
I have seen two batteries explode in my years. It was not insignificant events. When they go, it's a BIG go. Would that little plastic cover contain that event? Very unlikely. It may contain it to some degree, but again; are the batteries laying exposed in the cockpit floor or the saloon? Nay, they are generally below. Where spontaneous battery explosions are almost unheard of. The two that I've seen turn loose in over forty years have been a mechanics mistake, (no, not mine).
One of my notable sea-trial boats is another one of these doomsday-prepper boats. You know the type, they're escaping from the zombies or something, bearing in mind the high seas would be a VERY poor place to be in a catastrophic world event, but anyway....HUGE banks of batteries. The owner has expendable income that is staggering. WAY up there seven figure boat. And no battery covers. Sure they are in boxes, as they should be. But an 8D box is more trouble than it's worth.
So don't dispose of the lid. Put some duct tape on it or something. Or spring fifteen bucks for a new one. But I can think of WAY worser troubles than a cracked battery box lid. And again, this is not to be construed as an insult to anyone. Just 'keepin it real'..
Thanks for all the opinions. My concern was to understand what kind of risks the lid is protecting against. They sure look flimsy, but I was concerned they needed to be tightly set, and well matched to the box. Replacing the box and matching lid costs a lot more time and hassle than the $10 for the lid. So I'll keep the cracked one for now and replace the lid with a rough match next winter. Thanks again.
Well you know it is to help prevent shorts which cause sparks which can cause fire or explosion if gas or propane fumes are present. So don't use a box or terminal cover and see if you have a fire or explosion. Seriously cover the terminals it is safer.
Don't put duct tape anywhere near anything electrical. Electricity flows through it.
As it happens, I was subject to a safety inspection today. I got a citation for uncovered battery terminals (required by USCG to prevent accidental shorting). Either a battery box cover or plastic terminal covers are acceptable. I think some battery installations are riskier than others, but it's a one-size-fits-all rule. Either option is cheaper than the $85 fine.
?????
If your batteries are in a "compartment" designed only for the batteries this qualifies too. I have never seen nor heard of anyone being cited for uncovered battery terminals in a safety check? Unless your vessel is USCG inspected for passenger carrying I don't believe they had any legal ability to fine you for that, as a pleasure/recreational vessel??
The items checked during a VSC are:
• Navigation lights
• Sound producing devices/bell
• Voice communications
• Life jackets and throwable flotation devices
• Fire extinguishers
• Visual distress signals
• Backfire flame control
• Overall vessel condition, including electric-fuel systems,
galley-heating systems, deck free of hazards/clean bilge
• Ventilation
• Proper display of numbers
• Pollution placard (oily waste discharge)
• MARPOL trash placards (garbage dumping restriction)
• Marine sanitation device
• Registration/documentation
• Navigation Rules book
• State and/or local requirements
Beyond that the Code of Federal Regulations (FOR USCG Inspected vessels) states:
§183.420 Batteries.
(a) Each installed battery must not move more than one inch in any direction when a pulling force of 90 pounds or twice the battery weight, whichever is less, is applied through the center of gravity of the battery as follows:(1) Vertically for a duration of one minute.
(2) Horizontally and parallel to the boat's center line for a duration of one minute fore and one minute aft.
(3) Horizontally and perpendicular to the boat's center line for a duration of one minute to starboard and one minute to port.
(b) Each battery must be installed so that metallic objects cannot come in contact with the ungrounded battery terminals.
Please note that the CFR does not define how you protect the terminals just that "metal objects" cannot come in contact with the positive battery terminal. If your batteries are installed in such a manner that metal objects can't physically come into contact with the battery terminal, then you PASS... This can include but is not limited to:
*Terminal boots
*Battery box lids
*Battery compartments
Seeing as much of the electrical parts of the CFR were derived from ABYC standards:
ABYC E-10 Storage Batteries
10.7.7
To prevent accidental contact of the ungrounded battery connection to ground, each battery shall be protected so that metallic objects cannot come into contact with the ungrounded battery terminal and uninsulated cell straps. This may be accomplished by means such as:
10.7.7.1 covering the ungrounded battery terminal with a boot or non-conductive shield, or
10.7.7.2 installing the battery in a covered battery box, or
10.7.7.3 installing the battery in a compartment specially designed only for the battery(s).
If they can fine you for no battery covers then they can also fine you for no house bank fuse.....
BTW most of the plastic battery strap holders, that come with cheap plastic battery boxes, fail at well below the loads the ABYC and CFR suggest are necessary so I suppose if they wanted to get picky they could fine you for those too......Would love to see an uploaded image of the actual citation (your name blocked out of course) so we could see what code number they used or the reference was..?
The longer story is that I had an engine failure in Lake Michigan, and got towed in by the Milwaukee police boat. No charge for the tow, but the inspection is part of the routine. As I understand it, USCG rules apply.
I have a C-30, with the batteries strapped in the bottom of the nav station, as designed. There is a shelf above the batteries, but with a few inches gap, so the terminals are exposed when the cabinet doors are open.
I'll post the citation when I receive it in the mail.
I have a C-30, with the batteries strapped in the bottom of the nav station, as designed. There is a shelf above the batteries, but with a few inches gap, so the terminals are exposed when the cabinet doors are open.
I'll post the citation when I receive it in the mail.
With the shelf, you may not even have room for the lid of a battery box.
When I got my boat, one (of 2) batteries was in a plastic box but with no cover. They are both in a compartment under the quarter-birth next to the engine compartment. The wood hatch cover (of the quarter birth) doesn't allow enough vertical room for the lid of a battery box. I mounted battery hold-down trays but with space limitation, I can't even fasten the top part of the trays. With the terminal fuse blocks, the wood hatch cover is basically right on top of the terminals. Those insulating caps seem worthless - they don't really fit with the fuses installed. I resorted to simply fastening the wood hatch cover down with screws to the fiberglass frame as my battery cover. Nothing else except the cables are in that compartment. I'm not happy with it and think about designing a better compartment but I need to get a round tuit before that happens.
When I got my boat, one (of 2) batteries was in a plastic box but with no cover. They are both in a compartment under the quarter-birth next to the engine compartment. The wood hatch cover (of the quarter birth) doesn't allow enough vertical room for the lid of a battery box. I mounted battery hold-down trays but with space limitation, I can't even fasten the top part of the trays. With the terminal fuse blocks, the wood hatch cover is basically right on top of the terminals. Those insulating caps seem worthless - they don't really fit with the fuses installed. I resorted to simply fastening the wood hatch cover down with screws to the fiberglass frame as my battery cover. Nothing else except the cables are in that compartment. I'm not happy with it and think about designing a better compartment but I need to get a round tuit before that happens.
Man, that's terrible. I know exactly how the C30 battery box is built, and it should be considered closed. You would just about have to hold that shelf up and throw a wrench under it. Wow.
Maine Sail's excerpts from ABYC should be copied and kept on everyone's boat. Then show it to the offending officers.
I have open tops but these over the terminals.
uscg legal?
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71k-gESDJWL._SL1500_.jpg
uscg legal?
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71k-gESDJWL._SL1500_.jpg
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They cover the terminals, Bill......to me, that sounds legal according to their mandates. I would fight that in court..
Of course, I have an sob for a lawyer that loooooooves courtrooms..
Of course, I have an sob for a lawyer that loooooooves courtrooms..