Battery position

[Andrew_B]

I want to install an extra 150ah battery on my boat but there just isn't room inthe cockpit locker where the other batteries are housed.
Is is safe to house a battery inside the cabin under a bunk or even under the sink unit?

Also I have just installed a new Smev gas cooker and am building a gas bottle storage in a small cockpit locker at the back of the boat.What size copper pipe is recommended for the run from the gas bottle to the flexible coupling behind the oven?

Thanks in advance

Andrew

 

[PaulJ]

Andrew,

I am sure that someone somewhere could produce a regulation which says that your battery should not be mounted where you suggest but in reality, provided that it is not directly under or next to your new cooker and that the compartment is well ventilated, any gassing will disperse rapidly and you will not have a problem. I don't know what kind of sailing you are planning but I think that just as big a worry is the battery tipping and spilling and for that reason it is important to contain the battery in a properly strapped down, ventilated battery box which will contain any possible spillage.

As for the gas supply pipe, I was advised that it depends on the size of your cooker (number of rings and will you be using the oven at the same time) and the length of the run. Mine is a four ring cooker, I am sure we will need to use the rings at the same time as the oven and the run is about 5 mtrs and I was advised to use 8mm pipe. What is the size of the pipe coming from your cooker....?
Frankly, the difference in size and price between 8mm and 6mm pipe and fittings is so small that I would be tempted to use 8mm in any case....... unless it is a very short run.

Paul.

 

[Reap]

Having sailed on a variety of yachts...most of them coded for sail training I can tell you that most of them had there batteries inside, the majority under the bunk.
Just so long as they are secured so they cannot move around in rough weather or fly around the boat in the event of a capsise!

 

[Guest]

As short as possible cable run to engine for charging .... to reduce voltage drop, in a place that will not cause problems if spillage occurs, no possible ignition etc. etc.

My two 100 aHr are strapped under the aft section of my main cabin divan with a ply bulkhead separating them from the 'section with all sorts of rubbish in !!! as most boats lockers collect. BUT I am careful not to put anything there that consitutes a risk with the batt. compartment next to it.

As to gas piping ...... most boats used standard Caravan shop copper pipe .... as sold in coils. When new it is easily bent and formed to the contours you need to run, once bent and left for some time it seems to harden up and doesn't like to be bent again !!!! But basically the Caravan people are very good advisors and provide good gear for this ...... while you're there check out all the other goodies that are often a lot less for same thing than Boat shops !!!! Hatch Stays .... in caravan shops sold to hold windows open !! Galley pumps, holding tanks, cabin 12V lighting etc. etc. etc. AND of course all sorts of Battery box's, connectors, cables etc. etc.

Many will 'poo-poo' this suggestion - but has worked very well for me on past boats ...... use of multi-core trailer cable for running 12V power around a boat. WHY ? You don't have to use one set of leads to supply all ..... you have a number of leads combined into the single cable, that gives possibility to reduce load on one set of leads ... etc. If it can put up with trailers and dragging around roads etc ..... it can put up with my boating !!!!! It also is very neat in having all leads in the single cable ......
How do you lead off before the end of the cable ..... easy .... carefully cut into insulation and pull the required cables through the hole, leaving the insulation intact elsewhere and leads protruding from the main set.


Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[LadyInBed]

Re: Gas Pipe

look at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.socal.co.uk/marine.html> Hose and Pipe fittings </A> on the Socal site.

 

[HaraldS]

I'd try to place the battery as low as possible, as it is quite heavy, also try to keep the cable runs short. If you use a sealed or gel battery, you may not have to worry about venting too much. But also good liquid batteries provide for attaching venting hoses. As opposed to Propane or Butane, battery gases are lighter than air and will try to escape upwards.

If your cooker has an oven and you want to run two burners plus the oven, you may need to use 8mm, otherwise 6mm is sufficient.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.taniwani.de>http://www.taniwani.de</A>

 

[Strathglass]

Andrew
In spite of what has been posted many people still use imperial copper piping for calor gas, 3/8" is the normal.
Many gas fittings are made to fit this. Between the bulkhead connector from your gas cylinder box and the flexible pipe to your cooker, it is a good idea to sleeve the copper pipe in a clear pvc pipe (available from B&Q) to help protect it.
The Socal site http://www.bes.ltd.uk

There are further details which may be quite usefull on the boat safety scheme site <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boatsafetyscheme.com>http://www.boatsafetyscheme.com</A>

Additional battery. Fit this as low as possible and as far from the ends of the hull as practical in one of those plastic boxes. for ventilation of the gasses only a small tube is required say 1/4" (6mm) and as the gas is lighter than air positioning of an outlet is less critical than for calor gas. There should still be gauze on the outlet fitting as the gas is still inflamable.
The size of wire you use to the battery depends mainly on the maximum current which it will be required to carry. If one assumes that your existing battery capacity is 150ah then the wire must be capable of carrying half your total load (excluding starter) or half the maximum output current from your generator. Unless you have very high loads like a windlass or 12 volt microwave then I think that 10mm wire would be adequate.
I would also put an isolation switch in the positive line near the new battery.

 

[qsiv]

Andrew

I've got close to a ton of batteries under the saloon settee (1750 AH), and no issues at all with them - they are as low as possible without being in amongst the bilges (we dont leak so it isnt an issue). We have huge insulated strongbacks to hold them in place, and a perspex cover screwed over the top so we cant get accidental shorts, and an automatic fan to vent when charging.

 

[Oldhand]

Andrew,

Nobody has mentioned the idea of placing domestic batteries as close as possible to the highest loads. If it is not an engine starting battery then the length of of cable runs to an electric windlass and/or bow thruster are the most critical considerations. If either of these are fitted the battery should be around the main bulkhead/mast base, as one wouldn't want the weight any further forward. Normal "wet" batteries must be vented to the outside via small tubing but this is not necessary if the batteries have "gel" electrolyte.

 

[Avocet]

I only have one battery and it used to live under the cabin sole. I was then advised to move it somewhere higher up because if I sprang a leak, the battery would be immersed before I could see water in the cabin. This would mean that by the time I needed to radio for help, I'd have a useless battery.

A fair point, I thought so I did move it to one of the cockpit lockers but frankly, I've never had any water in the bilges and the boat didn't feel as nice with the extra weight in the stern. If I ever get round to re-wiring, I think I'll put it back under the floor and have a small emergency battery with an isolation switch just to run the VHF and navigational essentials mounted higher up.

 

[saturn]

my batteries were ok under a bunk(mine) until i fitted a 95 amp alternator and stealth voltage regulater,then the increased gassing became unpleasent (for me).the charger system stayed but the batteries went in the cockpit, its a compromise wherever.

 

[Guest]

Motorcycle battery with reduction link to charge it ....... plenty of juice there for VHF etc.


Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !