I have had a second battery installed along with a charger. Both batteries are in the aft locker behind the rear bunk. I am concerned about the lack of vented to this space and wonder if I should be concerned. I intend to leave the charger running while at the slip. After hearing about "explosions" I wonder if we are in danger. My wife and I bunk directly in front of this compartment. Should this compartment be vented? Michael Stephens S/V Pure Heaven (H-260)
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Steve
Yes
I too had this conern, as we smelled battery gas (hydrogen) at one time in the cabin. We decided to move one battery foward under the main cabin settee, not only for this reason but also for weight. Check your waterline aft. If you were to keep two on charge in the rear I would look at putting a small vent in as high as practical in settee aft coaming near the swim ladder. This assumes that hydrogen is still lighter then air and will tend to rise rather then sink into the bildge.
I too had this conern, as we smelled battery gas (hydrogen) at one time in the cabin. We decided to move one battery foward under the main cabin settee, not only for this reason but also for weight. Check your waterline aft. If you were to keep two on charge in the rear I would look at putting a small vent in as high as practical in settee aft coaming near the swim ladder. This assumes that hydrogen is still lighter then air and will tend to rise rather then sink into the bildge.
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Jim Loats
I moved mine for the weight
This fall I moved my set of gel batteries forward and mounted them as far forward as I could in the storage area under the v-berth. It always bothered me that the stern was so far down in the water. It is probably not a coincidence that the publicity photos of the 26 and 260 show only one person in the cockpit and the others sitting various places FORWARD. Jim s/v Grizzly Bear
This fall I moved my set of gel batteries forward and mounted them as far forward as I could in the storage area under the v-berth. It always bothered me that the stern was so far down in the water. It is probably not a coincidence that the publicity photos of the 26 and 260 show only one person in the cockpit and the others sitting various places FORWARD. Jim s/v Grizzly Bear
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Crazy Dave Condon
Battery
I ahve seen so many batteries located in varius places in the past 18 years and most have been in a small compartment. The rear portion of the 260 is much larger and I have found the venting the area where I have placed batteries has been fine even with a battery A.C. charger. The concern of course would be the hydrogen but never in any of the installations I have done, I never smelled anything but that is a good point about a vent. The fellow that smelled the gas, I would recommend that you check the output of the battery charger, battery tops and so forth because that gas should never have escaped. Placement of the vent will be critical should you decide to do this but strongly recommend against placing on the wall in the gas locker area. One thing to note that on the new Hunters, the black wiring for the 12 volt D.C> or battery system has been replaced with yellow wire so there will be no confusion with the hot black A.C. or shore power wiring. Crazy Dave Condon
I ahve seen so many batteries located in varius places in the past 18 years and most have been in a small compartment. The rear portion of the 260 is much larger and I have found the venting the area where I have placed batteries has been fine even with a battery A.C. charger. The concern of course would be the hydrogen but never in any of the installations I have done, I never smelled anything but that is a good point about a vent. The fellow that smelled the gas, I would recommend that you check the output of the battery charger, battery tops and so forth because that gas should never have escaped. Placement of the vent will be critical should you decide to do this but strongly recommend against placing on the wall in the gas locker area. One thing to note that on the new Hunters, the black wiring for the 12 volt D.C> or battery system has been replaced with yellow wire so there will be no confusion with the hot black A.C. or shore power wiring. Crazy Dave Condon
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Michael Stephens
Thanks
Thanks for the input guys. I will evaluate the trim of the boat. I know I will store auxillary anchors forward, maybe toolkits and other items to try for better balance. Keeping the 20 gal. water tank full should help also. I really don't want to compromise the integrety of the hull by cutting vents if not neccessary, just another way for water to get below. Michael Stephens S/V Pure Heaven
Thanks for the input guys. I will evaluate the trim of the boat. I know I will store auxillary anchors forward, maybe toolkits and other items to try for better balance. Keeping the 20 gal. water tank full should help also. I really don't want to compromise the integrety of the hull by cutting vents if not neccessary, just another way for water to get below. Michael Stephens S/V Pure Heaven
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Tim Schaaf
Gassing
If the batteries are brought to a full charge, they WILL gass a bit. I would be very leary about not having a vent....for the same reason that the battery caps have vents!
If the batteries are brought to a full charge, they WILL gass a bit. I would be very leary about not having a vent....for the same reason that the battery caps have vents!
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Bernie
Batteries in the aft lockers
Michael, For the last year, I had a large "starting and deep cycle" battery in the aft starboard locker" and two six-volt 220AH golf cart batteries in series in the aft port locker. I did not install a separate vent. These are all flodded batteries (gel batteries don't gas, but flooded batteries will during high charging rates or when conducting an equalizing charge). I have a 20 amp multi-stage, multi-bank battery charger. The only time I worry about gassing is when I do an equalizing charge. This I do about every other month depending on how many battery cycles the batteries have been through. I have a Link 10 battery monitor that provides a great deal of information about the condition of the batteries. I use the equalizing charge to prevent the batteries from aging prematurely and to achieve maximum possible charge. I selected golf cart batteries because they are relatively inexpensive and take a lot of abuse in being discharged. I have an inverter on board to power a microwave, TV, and hope to add a refrigerator soon - that's the reason for all the battery capacity. Whenever equalizing, I remain on board and open both doors in the aft locker. I also have a fan blowing in the direction of the lockers during this special charging. When the boat is left in the slip, I usually leave the aft locker doors open as well, not because I am worried about gassing, but to dry out the aft locker area where, until recently, I had some water leakage when heeling. I don't leave the charger on in the slip unless the batteries are not fully charged. I usually have charged them before returning from sailing either through the outboard's 10 amp alternator or by running my 1000 watt quiet generator for a few hours. I am in the process of removing the golf cart batteries from the aft locker. Hunter has told me that I have too much weight aft (the golfs are about 70 pounds each). I am still trying to decide where to put them. My problem is that they are tall batteries, about 12 inches high. That is too high to fit under the cabin bench seats. I am leaning towards putting them under the sink in the head, but haven't made a final decision yet. If I place them under the sink, I will probably place a small vent between the forward end of the undersink area and the cabin teak wall because this is a much more confined space than the aft locker. I hope my ramblings contain some useful information for you.
Michael, For the last year, I had a large "starting and deep cycle" battery in the aft starboard locker" and two six-volt 220AH golf cart batteries in series in the aft port locker. I did not install a separate vent. These are all flodded batteries (gel batteries don't gas, but flooded batteries will during high charging rates or when conducting an equalizing charge). I have a 20 amp multi-stage, multi-bank battery charger. The only time I worry about gassing is when I do an equalizing charge. This I do about every other month depending on how many battery cycles the batteries have been through. I have a Link 10 battery monitor that provides a great deal of information about the condition of the batteries. I use the equalizing charge to prevent the batteries from aging prematurely and to achieve maximum possible charge. I selected golf cart batteries because they are relatively inexpensive and take a lot of abuse in being discharged. I have an inverter on board to power a microwave, TV, and hope to add a refrigerator soon - that's the reason for all the battery capacity. Whenever equalizing, I remain on board and open both doors in the aft locker. I also have a fan blowing in the direction of the lockers during this special charging. When the boat is left in the slip, I usually leave the aft locker doors open as well, not because I am worried about gassing, but to dry out the aft locker area where, until recently, I had some water leakage when heeling. I don't leave the charger on in the slip unless the batteries are not fully charged. I usually have charged them before returning from sailing either through the outboard's 10 amp alternator or by running my 1000 watt quiet generator for a few hours. I am in the process of removing the golf cart batteries from the aft locker. Hunter has told me that I have too much weight aft (the golfs are about 70 pounds each). I am still trying to decide where to put them. My problem is that they are tall batteries, about 12 inches high. That is too high to fit under the cabin bench seats. I am leaning towards putting them under the sink in the head, but haven't made a final decision yet. If I place them under the sink, I will probably place a small vent between the forward end of the undersink area and the cabin teak wall because this is a much more confined space than the aft locker. I hope my ramblings contain some useful information for you.
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Crazy Dave Condon
This is to bernie. You can put one under the stove but will need to build a shelf. To equalize weigght, suggest putting one under the sink in the head but again build a shelf. Oh, if you have a hard time putting the floor down, give me a call. Crazy Dave Condon
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