Second battery location

[Brigg Franklin]

The area behind the aft bulkhead, on the starboard side, in the 260 seems to fit only one full sized battery on the built in shelf. Where and how would be a good and safe place to locate a second battery? I have the holding tank in the port side. I'm looking at the space under the cabin seats, on the starboard side, next to the galley. However this involves running a long set of cables through the galley lockers and up to the DC panel. Any ideas are welcome. Brigg Franklin

 

[Mark]

Hello Brigg

As mentioned on previouse posts we put a false floor under the stern box seat and located our batteries there.Works really well and they are so much easier to service. The heavy wire from the batteries simply goes thru the deck below and joins up to the existing cables with a couple of stainless bolts.Gives us a lot more room for storage in the bunk area as well.

 

[John Baumgartner]

another idea

I put my second type 27 Gel battery in the head, just outboard of the porta-potty, in the open locker. This works for me, to even out the normal batter weight on the stbd side.

 

[Brigg Franklin]

Battery in locker bottom

I like the idea of putting the second battery on the port side for weight distribution, however, the bottom of my wet locker in the Head curves with the hull side to form a wedge. How would you support the battery in this locker? Also how and where would you run the battery cables to connect to the system on the starboard side? Also (Mark) thanks but my fuel locker in the stern is already full of gas and propane

 

[Mark]

Another idea

Brigg why not concider putting a second battery up the front next to the fresh water tank?It would be very easy to run the wires back to the controll box!In one of our other yachts (this one is only 18 foot) we have an electric start Murcury, I think 7.5hp and the battery for that is located under a small sink about half way along (midships) The wire we used was not all that heavy, I guess about 4mm. It only has lots of drain when starting but apart from that it only has to carry a trickle of power.

 

[John Baumgartner]

Battery in the head

I made a platform out of wood to support the battery, it's a snug fit along the curved hull.

 

[Brigg Franklin]

Picture of wood support

John, is it possible you could take a picture of your wood support in the head and post it here? A picture is worth a thousand words, (where did I hear that before?).Mark, running a line to the bow, about 23 foot, would give a lot of voltage loss in the wire between the two batteries. I have had the 2nd battery both under the galley cabinet and in the rear of the starboard locker under the cabin seats. Both are still a long run of wire.Brigg