Changing battery cut off switches

[Refueler]

The boat has simple single action Cut off switch for each battery ........ but location !!

Right aft down in locker so necessary to lift portside cockpit floor ... literally lay on cockpit sole and reach down .... right PITA !

The batterys are 2x 80A/hr standard cranking wet LA batterys that each can start the engine / run gear ... so have choice by just operating one or both switches as to which battery(s) are used.

There is no dedicated domestic or engine battery.

I have another Victron Smart charger in hand ... and this will be setup to charge each battery ...

The matter is - moving and replacing the main cutoff switches. Because of the simple setup - I flip flop'd between new better separate switches or just a plain 1-2-both -off switch. I have bought all three !! I have another boat that will be receiving batterys ... so no switch wasted. Where to mount it ..

There's no need to change the simple setup as the boat doesn't have anything fancy to power ... I will be adding a few things ... speed / depth and plotter .... but they really are simple.

 

[simonfraser]

Can get remote controlled 12v battery switches

 

[Refueler]

I have another question - where to mount the Victron Charger ...

Also where to mount the mains IN ......

The mains BLUE plug unit is a surface mounted item - with cable exiting top and then through into boat. I want it to be an obvious place - so I don't forget to unplug ! Yes I've done that......
Thoughts are at the command station ... but then the mains cable is untidy coming in over / under canopy.
Thoughts then are on the cockpit external transom ... with cable coming into the locker behind seat back. Breaker box can be mounted in there. Cables can then drop down into the area under cockpit sole and split off to charger / cockpit sockets and cabin.

The Victron was chosen - not because of the Bluetooth - but because it has terminals to accept Owner supplied cables .... the Mastervolt unit I also have - has Mastervolt permanent connected output cables .... meaning larger holes to feed cables.
Where to mount the unit .. to mount it in view - would mean cutting holes in cockpit sole ...
Mounting it under cockpit sole in the side boxes or engine bay means no air movement for cooling ....

 

[Refueler]

Can get remote controlled 12v battery switches

True ... but its an old boat 1980 .. and TBH - although a very good and unique boat (only one was ever built) ... I think simple is best.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I have another question - where to mount the Victron Charger ...

Also where to mount the mains IN ......

The mains BLUE plug unit is a surface mounted item - with cable exiting top and then through into boat. I want it to be an obvious place - so I don't forget to unplug ! Yes I've done that......
Thoughts are at the command station ... but then the mains cable is untidy coming in over / under canopy.
Thoughts then are on the cockpit external transom ... with cable coming into the locker behind seat back. Breaker box can be mounted in there. Cables can then drop down into the area under cockpit sole and split off to charger / cockpit sockets and cabin.

The Victron was chosen - not because of the Bluetooth - but because it has terminals to accept Owner supplied cables .... the Mastervolt unit I also have - has Mastervolt permanent connected output cables .... meaning larger holes to feed cables.
Where to mount the unit .. to mount it in view - would mean cutting holes in cockpit sole ...
Mounting it under cockpit sole in the side boxes or engine bay means no air movement for cooling ....

The Victron charger will be fine in a locker or the engine room, as long as not a tiny, sealed space. I've fitted dozens of these in small boats, in engine spaces, under bunks, in lockers etc. Obviously needs to be a dry space. I can't see any value in fitting in in sight, it has Bluetooth if you want to see what it's doing.

 

[RAI]

My thoughts.
Battery isolation switches should be easily accessible in case of fire. So should Shore Power circuit breakers, plugs and sockets.
Anything electric needs to be in a dry ventilated space.
One battery for starter only and another for domestics is usual. The 1, 2, both, off switch is good for sharing.
The 80 Ah battery is not much for domestics.
CO2 fire extinguishers are great for electrical fires and leave less mess.

 

[Refueler]

The Victron charger will be fine in a locker or the engine room, as long as not a tiny, sealed space. I've fitted dozens of these in small boats, in engine spaces, under bunks, in lockers etc. Obviously needs to be a dry space. I can't see any value in fitting in in sight, it has Bluetooth if you want to see what it's doing.

OK ... if I can mount in the underfloor locker where the trim tab hydraulic pump is ... it will make life easy.

The rear half of cockpit covers 3 bays ... in the centre is the engine bay square box about 1.5m wide x 2.0m long and sufficient depth to take the 6cyl inline upright. Each side is a separate space - same length and about 50cm wide ..... that have the stainless steel gasoline tanks suspended from deck and trim tab hydraulic pump mounted. Plenty of space in them.

 

[Refueler]

My thoughts.
1. Battery isolation switches should be easily accessible in case of fire. So should Shore Power circuit breakers, plugs and sockets.
2. Anything electric needs to be in a dry ventilated space.
3. One battery for starter only and another for domestics is usual. The 1, 2, both, off switch is good for sharing.
4. The 80 Ah battery is not much for domestics.
5. CO2 fire extinguishers are great for electrical fires and leave less mess.

I've added numbers to your list - so I can answer each ...

1. I totally agree and cannot understand why the cut-offs are placed in such position ... It also runs to the fuel tank valves - I have to lift same floor panels each side to access valve at bottom of space .... I am thinking to install extended spindles to valve wheels above cockpit floor.

2. That's ok as is.

3. Its a big lump of motor and needs plenty of battery when its cold. There is very little domestics on the boat at present ... couple of cabin lights and nav lights is all. I will be adding plotter .. speed ... depth ... but nothing else really.

4. As said - there is very little domestics ... this is a 24ft mobo with a single cabin ... and very limited services.

5. As a Certificated MN Officer with Fire Fighting Tickets .. with due respect - I am aware of the Extinguisher differences. CO2 is fine - but has limited residual extinguishing properties ..... that's why Powder and Foam are more widely used ... accepting the absolute mess they cause.

The boat needs thought and changes to items .... to bring it to easier use ....

It may be an old boat - but it has character and all who spend time on her walk away liking her.

Guy in next house has a new 12m boat ... honestly - its not a boat as I think of ... its a Cocktail Gin Palace ... that could be a deathtrap if it ever went to sea !
He came on my Primor 24 and liked it ... understanding that my 7.x m PoS would do more at sea than his cocktail platform ...

 

[RAI]

I've added numbers to your list - so I can answer each ...

1. I totally agree and cannot understand why the cut-offs are placed in such position ... It also runs to the fuel tank valves - I have to lift same floor panels each side to access valve at bottom of space .... I am thinking to install extended spindles to valve wheels above cockpit floor.

2. That's ok as is.

3. Its a big lump of motor and needs plenty of battery when its cold. There is very little domestics on the boat at present ... couple of cabin lights and nav lights is all. I will be adding plotter .. speed ... depth ... but nothing else really.

4. As said - there is very little domestics ... this is a 24ft mobo with a single cabin ... and very limited services.

5. As a Certificated MN Officer with Fire Fighting Tickets .. with due respect - I am aware of the Extinguisher differences. CO2 is fine - but has limited residual extinguishing properties ..... that's why Powder and Foam are more widely used ... accepting the absolute mess they cause.

The boat needs thought and changes to items .... to bring it to easier use ....

It may be an old boat - but it has character and all who spend time on her walk away liking her.

Guy in next house has a new 12m boat ... honestly - its not a boat as I think of ... its a Cocktail Gin Palace ... that could be a deathtrap if it ever went to sea !
He came on my Primor 24 and liked it ... understanding that my 7.x m PoS would do more at sea than his cocktail platform ...

I put in the CO2 extinguisher thought because my one electrical fire on board was fixed very quickly and the tidying up and repair afterwards was much less work. In my case, the extinguisher worked very quickly so had adequate capability for the fire concerned. Having seen what a powder extinguisher does, I would rather try CO2 first, powder second.

 

[Refueler]

Here's the builders plan which is still accurate after all these years !! If anyone wants to have a play and suggest locations for gear ..

Lets keep it simple :

Mains lead IN point
Breaker consumer box (break + and -)
Victron Charger
External domestic sockets (1 in cockpit ... 2 in cabin)

Note that the two Lead Acid batts sit just behind the seats in bottom of engine bay centred.