Battery Location Issue

ChrisP · Feb 2, 2009

CruiserDave said:
Hi all. I've got a bit of an issue I've got to deal with. I've got an O'Day 35 (same as 34 w/swim platform). I need to add/move batteries. Currently I have 2 #27's on the factory mount and 2 #27's in the port side deep locker. Problem with the locker location is the weight causes the bout to list somewhat to port. I need to add a starting battery (#27). Has anybody found a location for 3 batteries close to the centerline? Thanks for any help.
David

Dave , on my 34, I found space for 2-27's(house bank) under the starboard quarter birth. This is very close to the engine and offsets the weight from the refrig. and water heater on the port side, I left 1-27(starter) in its original location (slightly to port of centre line) and I was also able to add 2-6volts forward of this area with some modification for accesibility, that I use for the refrigeration exclusively. These three banks are connected to the alternator (upgraderd to 100amps) via a combiner. The 1,2,all, battery switch was replaced with a separate on/off high amp switch for each bank. I never worry about the starter with this system and have lots of capacity to keep things cold. One caution, if you increase the alternator size be sure in increase your cables appropriately.
Good luck, Chris

DannyS · Feb 4, 2009

I did this last year

Last year we added a portable fridge/freezer to our boat that upped our need for a larger house bank of batteries (2-27's). When we bought our boat, it had only one house and one starting battery, both housed in the engine compartment. I too mounted them under the stbrd qtr berth. We also had a small list to port which factored into the placement there. The fridge/freezer is housed in the space under the nav station which is mostly wasted space for us anyway since we do most navigating from the helm. Now the boat stands up straight.

DannyS · Feb 5, 2009

2 banks

No, The two new batteries under the qtr. berth are the house bank and there is one as the dedicated starting battery (one of the original in the engine compartment). I left the other original battery in place as well but use it more as a back up to the starting battery. It's not hooked up to anything but should something happen to the starting battery, I can switch the leads to the backup and off we go.
My system is a work in progress, for now it's working out good. This past season was a good test for the new components added (fridge and the year before, chartplotter and radar) but for the most part, we anchor out for two to four nights at a time then we're back on shore power in the marina. Beyond that, we'd be charging out on the hook or while sailing. I want to add a battery monitor and someday solar panels so we can be more self sufficient.

DannyS · Feb 5, 2009

About the temperature...I haven't noticed a problem there.
In the compartment under the qtr berth, the floor/interior of the hull slopes quite a bit so I mounted cleats on the wall separating the engine compartment and this space, as well as a cleat separating the footwell for the nav station and this space. If you keep the cleats low and level, you have support on two sides for a platform for the batteries. The hull edge of the platform can rest on the hull. With the cleats in place you can use cardboard to make a template for the shape of the platform. I made a long bevel on the hull edge to spread the weight to a larger area of the hull.
Clear as mud?

rajhnsn · Feb 15, 2009

The oday 35 that I purchased last year has a (4) 6 volt house bank in a home made resin covered battery box with bolted on cross beams for knock down protection. The box was built behind the engine on the centerline of the boat. They are run in a series/parallel configuation. There is one starting battery in the port locker. I have all the batteries at home now charging. I do feel a slight list to port when sleeping but I don't think it is the batteries.