Batteries in engine compartment (petrol) - bad idea?

[OAF]

Incidentally, I equally disagree with OAF who suggested that a "box securely fixed down with a strap over the top of the lid" is a "belt and braces approach", because the only boxes with lid and strap I've ever seen are the plastic ones sold in most chandlers, which imho are junk.

I was not referring to 'those' cheap plastic boxes with those cheap nasty straps, rather the strong fibre glass Battery boxes that you can buy and a good ratchet belt, But I can see that as I quoted Daka on his post I appeared to agree about the plastic boxes that you can easily buy at chandlers, but I would rather see a battery in any sort of battery box than not, and with a lid fixed down, as I said, " belt and braces"

 

[MapisM]

I wasn't sure of your age/health

Neither was/am I of yours. So, what?

PS: the thumb down was simply meant as a disapproval, but I'm sure you're actually aware of that.
You're clever enough to not think for a second that I could have used it to invoke your death...

 

[MapisM]

I was not referring to 'those' cheap plastic boxes...

'salright, though my whole point was that enclosed boxes are useless anyhow, even in a petrol engine compartment.

PS: in this respect, I am sorry to read that Daka went through a boat explosion, but I'm extremely skeptical that - whatever the reason - a battery box with a lid could have avoided that.

 

[OAF]

Batteries can be dangerous bits of kit and I think that any sort of protection is better than none at all.

I know that you can cover terminals etc, but you can't beat a box, it also helps to keep the batteries clean and dry and that helps against unwanted discharge!

 

[DAKA]

My battery boxes are substantial fibreglass, thicker than many sports boats hull. I sit on them while changing impellers and they could take the engine mounts !


BUT

I deduce the op boat is fast and light weight.

The plastic boxes from chandlers are ideal compromise for a sports boat/light weight boat.

 

[GrahamHR]

Batteries can be dangerous bits of kit and I think that any sort of protection is better than none at all.

I know that you can cover terminals etc, but you can't beat a box, it also helps to keep the batteries clean and dry and that helps against unwanted discharge!

Except of course that hydrogen could build up in a box, whereas in for example my boat, with the batteries under some open vents, hydrogen could never build up. The vents have a cover, so no water can get onto the batteries.

Short of doing something really stupid or deliberate, I can't see any way I could short out any of the battery connections whilst doing anything in the engine compartment; the main +12V connection at the starter is a much greater risk..

 

[zapcat]

well, thanks very much everyone, never meant to start a war! I'm not even going to ask if i should drill ventilation holes in the tops of the u/s battery boxes! (joke!!!) (ps hope there isnt some underlying message to my smiley)

 

[paultallett]

well, thanks very much everyone, never meant to start a war! I'm not even going to ask if i should drill ventilation holes in the tops of the u/s battery boxes! (joke!!!) (ps hope there isnt some underlying message to my smiley)

I'd drill holes in the bottom of your hull..... That should help vent the batteries nicely??

Your smiley indicates that you'll pay every poster to your thread a million pounds each!!

 

[OAF]

I'd drill holes in the bottom of your hull..... That should help vent the batteries nicely??

Your smiley indicates that you'll pay every poster to your thread a million pounds each!!

Drilling holes will only work if you drill some for the water to come in and some for it to escape, come on thought you would know that:

Them cheap nasty plastic boxes have a vent in the top if I remember correctly, I fitted one in my rib last year, but used a ratchet strap to secure the lid

Daka the battery box on my princess is a heavy fibreglass affair and I use it as a step to enter the lazerette locker it also has a 3" pipe coming off the top as a vent, it contains 4 batteries and the lid is secured down by wing nuts.