Batteries in fuel tank spaces

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colinwcolclough

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Most outboard powered sports boats seem to have the battery in the same compartment as the (removable) fuel tanks. I am currently refitting my boat but I'm just not comfortable with them sharing the same space for risk of vapours igniting. I guess that 1) there should be no escaping vapours and 2) there should be no spark at the batteries because all the connections are permanent.
I am building in vents to the space but how do other members feel about the situation? Anyone had a problem with vapours igniting and are still here to tell the tale?

Thanks

Colin
 
Yes in the back of a mini in the 70's, I put a 5 litre (or gallon in those days) tin can which had held petrol in the boot . The old mini's had the battery in a well in the boot, and the cover in mine had come loose.

I was driving down the A3, when I thought I heard gravel hitting the wheel arches. As the road whad no loose gravel on it I was a bit surprised, but had the intuition to stop the car and look into the boot.

The trace of petrol on the screw lid of the can had caught fire as the tin had shorted the battery.

Fortuantley I was able to put out the fire before any substantial damage was done.

Moral of the story that as we have to live with Sods law, just make sure petrol and electricity have no chance of getting together, they are lethal.

They only have to do it once!

regards
 
Re: Batteries in fuel tank spaces/and other detonators

Late 60's; Welsh valleys; in my teens and learning to drive.......'older relative' wanted me to stop so he could buy some electric detonators needed by the small private mine. He stuffed them under the dashboard where I knew there were lots of bare electrical wires. Without a word, stopped car, opened bonnet, DISCONNECTED battery.

Well, we had fun and took risks then; and (most) of us survived.

Vic
 
Re: Batteries in fuel tank spaces/and other detonators

The petrol tank of a mini was in the boot with the battery anyway!
I woldnt like to have battery in same compartment as fuel cans. But theres plenty of electrics around the engine itself. Not least the HT leads etc.
If it can be moved, I'd move it, extend the cables and put it in it's box somewhere else.
 
Re: Batteries in fuel tank spaces/and other detonators

So easily done! My dad's firm had an old Mini van with the battery under the seat. The lad was sent on deliveries (they were a car accesory shop) and amongst the deliveries were several sets of jump leads thrown (like verything else) into the back of the van...

...poor lad got his butt burned as he realised that what he'd been able to smell burning for the last few miles was, in fact, his seat!

Eee, them were't days!
 
Re: Batteries in fuel tank spaces/and other detonators

nothing like the time when driving in a mini from up north to down south, petrol started coming through the entire instrument panel. Carburettor float problem solved in a few minutes by AA man.


We'd been smoking in the mini at the time
 
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