There WILL be more questions to follow regarding where to put things(plenty of spring projects), however to the question at hand. I have a '94 Hunter 29.5. I purchased a basic volt meter to monitor my batteries while underway. I thought of mounting it in the locker where my batteries are located (cockpit starboard), however, it says something in the packaging about not being protected from battery fumes ignition...is this something I really need to be worrying about? I've never heard of battery fumes igniting. Can someone shed some light on this subject please?
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Don
corrosive, not flammable
Tim The conventional wisdom about co-locating anything close to batteries is to not do it because of the sulfuric acid vapor generated during charging which is corrosive. Having said that, I wouldn't be too concerned about placing a voltmeter nearby as it isn't that expensive should you someday need to replace it except of course if there is an equally simple alternative location which would be preferable Don Illusion
Tim The conventional wisdom about co-locating anything close to batteries is to not do it because of the sulfuric acid vapor generated during charging which is corrosive. Having said that, I wouldn't be too concerned about placing a voltmeter nearby as it isn't that expensive should you someday need to replace it except of course if there is an equally simple alternative location which would be preferable Don Illusion
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Rich Wallace
Charging Batteries Exhaust Hydrogen
A battery under charge gives off hydrogen gas which is highly flammable. I would recommend that you put the meter well away from the batteries. Keep in mind that you can measure the voltage of a battery anywhere in the system as long as you isolate that battery with the battery selector switch. If that switch is on ALL, you are measuring the collective voltage of all of the batteries, which does not tell you much unless you are checking the charging voltage of the alternator. To check battery voltage, the engine and battery chargers should be off. The voltage should be around 12 to 12.5 volts with no load on the system (nothing drawing power from the battery.) To check the alternator, run the engine a 1/2 throttle and look at the voltage meter. It should be at or a little over 14 volts.
A battery under charge gives off hydrogen gas which is highly flammable. I would recommend that you put the meter well away from the batteries. Keep in mind that you can measure the voltage of a battery anywhere in the system as long as you isolate that battery with the battery selector switch. If that switch is on ALL, you are measuring the collective voltage of all of the batteries, which does not tell you much unless you are checking the charging voltage of the alternator. To check battery voltage, the engine and battery chargers should be off. The voltage should be around 12 to 12.5 volts with no load on the system (nothing drawing power from the battery.) To check the alternator, run the engine a 1/2 throttle and look at the voltage meter. It should be at or a little over 14 volts.
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Joe Mullee
Rich & Don, I have a question...
I have a battery charger hooked up all the time while at the dock. Are you saying that there are gasses constantly being emmitted that I should be concerned about and that those gasses are corrosive? My boat is an H34 with the batteries deep in the starboard lazarette. I guess my basic question is what should I be doing to keep things safe while charging?
I have a battery charger hooked up all the time while at the dock. Are you saying that there are gasses constantly being emmitted that I should be concerned about and that those gasses are corrosive? My boat is an H34 with the batteries deep in the starboard lazarette. I guess my basic question is what should I be doing to keep things safe while charging?
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Don Berger
Always use protection Joe...
As Rick and I said, both hydrogen and acid vapor are generated during charging but this sounds worse than it is - keep in mind where your car battery is in relation to lots of metal. The difference being ventilation which, if your batteries are deep in a locker, may be lacking. As long as you use common sense when it comes to the proximity of ignition sources and sensitive metal components close to the batteries AND there is some ventilation while at the dock AND you have some periodic inspection schedule, I wouldn't be overly concerned. Don
As Rick and I said, both hydrogen and acid vapor are generated during charging but this sounds worse than it is - keep in mind where your car battery is in relation to lots of metal. The difference being ventilation which, if your batteries are deep in a locker, may be lacking. As long as you use common sense when it comes to the proximity of ignition sources and sensitive metal components close to the batteries AND there is some ventilation while at the dock AND you have some periodic inspection schedule, I wouldn't be overly concerned. Don
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Claude L.-Auger
Voltmeter location
To avoid the problems Don and Rich talked about, most boat manufacturers install the voltmeter and ammeter near the electrical panel. It's easy and you don't have to run wires all over the place. It also allows you to monitor with a quick glance, without having to go through lockers, etc. Good luck
To avoid the problems Don and Rich talked about, most boat manufacturers install the voltmeter and ammeter near the electrical panel. It's easy and you don't have to run wires all over the place. It also allows you to monitor with a quick glance, without having to go through lockers, etc. Good luck
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Tim McCarty
Thanks Claude...
and everyone else for shedding some light on this subject. Unfortunately, with the 29.5, the batteries are located far from the electronics panel (in the starboard lazerette). Not to mention that the electronics panel is located above on the bulkhead ceiling of this boat. I've tried to find a place other than the starboard lazerette, and, simply can't find it.
and everyone else for shedding some light on this subject. Unfortunately, with the 29.5, the batteries are located far from the electronics panel (in the starboard lazerette). Not to mention that the electronics panel is located above on the bulkhead ceiling of this boat. I've tried to find a place other than the starboard lazerette, and, simply can't find it.
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Rich Wallace
Joe, I Also Have A 34
As with yours, the batteries are buried in the starboard lazerette. The good news on the 34 is that the starboard lazerette is open to the stern lazerette so there is some place for the hydrogen to go. I also have a P42 and the batteries on it are in the engine room. They are in boxes but I have not been able to see any vents...yet. There may be some but there is so much stuff in that area that I have not found them if they are there. The reason that I got on the topic was because of the not with the meter that it was not explosion proof. No sense tempting fate.
As with yours, the batteries are buried in the starboard lazerette. The good news on the 34 is that the starboard lazerette is open to the stern lazerette so there is some place for the hydrogen to go. I also have a P42 and the batteries on it are in the engine room. They are in boxes but I have not been able to see any vents...yet. There may be some but there is so much stuff in that area that I have not found them if they are there. The reason that I got on the topic was because of the not with the meter that it was not explosion proof. No sense tempting fate.
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Bill Murray
gauges - 29.5
If you look in the cockpit, there is a flat area an the starboard side, below the engine control panel, on the face of the seat. If you open the lazarette, it is accessible at the aft end of the locker. It is an easy wiring run to the batteries and the engine controls. You can easily put four standard round gauges (oil pressure, engine water temp, voltage meter, and engine hour meter) in this area with the wiring completely isolated from the batteries and protected from the elements and accidents too. This is very visible from the cockpit steering station and looks neat too. If you are interested - I will take pictures when the snow melts and I get the boat uncovered. Good Luck Bill Murray S/V Good Faith H29.5 #175
If you look in the cockpit, there is a flat area an the starboard side, below the engine control panel, on the face of the seat. If you open the lazarette, it is accessible at the aft end of the locker. It is an easy wiring run to the batteries and the engine controls. You can easily put four standard round gauges (oil pressure, engine water temp, voltage meter, and engine hour meter) in this area with the wiring completely isolated from the batteries and protected from the elements and accidents too. This is very visible from the cockpit steering station and looks neat too. If you are interested - I will take pictures when the snow melts and I get the boat uncovered. Good Luck Bill Murray S/V Good Faith H29.5 #175
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