Lets see your battery banks

[seaangler23]

My boat currently has 2 battery's (engine and house) but is no where near enough for our future plans, wel be looking at around a bank of 8 (7x110amp plus engine) eventually but planning on upping it to 5 for this season. Luckily space isn't an issue and there is a large unused area on the port side of the engine bay (weight distribution isn't an issue as she's 12ton and will be balancing it out ) whatever I build I want to be for the worst case senario of a capsize so the shelf will be either replaced with an hdpe sheet and bolted to hull or straps down the the hull over the bank.
Anyone got pics of suitable set ups for ideas, I work in a workshop fabricating with hdpe so I'm wavering to a compartmented box with a strap across the top or a cnc'd frame that will hold battery boxes with individual straps over the top

 

[macd]

A need for 770Ah is by no means unknown, but might suggest a paucity of charging options and/or prudent electrical economy rather than a lack of battery capacity.
FWIW, our (mainly Mediterranean) liveaboard yacht has 450Ah of domestic, which comfortably meets most eventualities, including plenty of ice for gin. Of course the charging options might be different where you are going.

 

[duncan99210]

We have a total of 500 amp hours in the domestic bank, 5 x 100 amp hour batteries. They are spilt into two parts, one of two batteries on the centre line, three offset to starboard under the saloon seating. All secured in place by ratchet straps bolted to the deck. Been like that for five years or so now, all working fine.
I see no need for any battery boxes. The batteries are all sealed ones so there's no real danger of spillage unless one were to split. Even if that were to happen, there's nothing stowed in the compartments they're in that would be damaged by the leakage, so little point in boxing them.

 

[pvb]

I had 6x110Ah domestic batteries in my old HR352 - 2 under the port aft cabin berth; 4 under the starboard aft cabin berth, plus a starter battery. The ones to port were restrained by a wooden bar, held in by sliding bolts. The ones to starboard were held in by plywood lids, again held in by sliding bolts. I took the positive and negative feeds from opposite ends of the bank. The boxes were based on HR's original set-up, which included the ventilation hoses you can see.

 

[LadyInBed]

I'm curious to know why you need 770Ah and what you're using to recharge them.

 

[Bobc]

Here's my house battery bank. 6 x Trojan T105s. 675Ah.

 

[matthewriches]

Lovely set of batteries

Here's my house battery bank. 6 x Trojan T105s. 675Ah.

View attachment 68710

 

[seaangler23]

I'm curious to know why you need 770Ah and what you're using to recharge them.

Building it for bluewater and live aboard, currently solar and engine or shore power, will increase solar capacity and possible wind turbine. 8 batteries is what we have space for comfortably if required.

 

[seaangler23]

We have a total of 500 amp hours in the domestic bank, 5 x 100 amp hour batteries. They are spilt into two parts, one of two batteries on the centre line, three offset to starboard under the saloon seating. All secured in place by ratchet straps bolted to the deck. Been like that for five years or so now, all working fine.
I see no need for any battery boxes. The batteries are all sealed ones so there's no real danger of spillage unless one were to split. Even if that were to happen, there's nothing stowed in the compartments they're in that would be damaged by the leakage, so little point in boxing them.

Boxes may be overkill but I like the idea of the terminals covered, any leaks contained and can be strapped easily. Il probably build a shelf over the bank as there is plenty height for storage .

 

[sailaboutvic]

Building it for bluewater and live aboard, currently solar and engine or shore power, will increase solar capacity and possible wind turbine. 8 batteries is what we have space for comfortably if required.

770AH is a lot of power , we only have 330AH but could do with at less one more battery to bring us to 440 AH but even so we can manage find between April to September just using our solar panels in the Med , the problem is the few months over the winter when there just not enough sun, after a few days at anchor we need to start the gen to charge .

 

[Graham_Wright]

Is it really good practice to parallel up batteries? Opinions seem to differ.

 

[seaangler23]

770AH is a lot of power , we only have 330AH but could do with at less one more battery to bring us to 440 AH but even so we can manage find between April to September just using our solar panels in the Med , the problem is the few months over the winter when there just not enough sun, after a few days at anchor we need to start the gen to charge .

It is, but with long journeys possible and long periods using the autopilot and other instruments I'd like to have the option of more batteries for that, 5x 110 is what I'm aiming for initially and if it seems wel never need more we won't

 

[seaangler23]

Is it really good practice to parallel up batteries? Opinions seem to differ.

I have looked at larger battery's but keeping them 110ah suits me as I have a plentiful supply of good batteries, almost every system runs parralel

 

[seaangler23]

Here's my house battery bank. 6 x Trojan T105s. 675Ah.

View attachment 68710

That has me thinking now, seems these are the way to go, may just make up a temporary set up to give me a bit more power for the next couple seasons then invest in a bank of these before heading off

 

[Bobc]

That has me thinking now, seems these are the way to go, may just make up a temporary set up to give me a bit more power for the next couple seasons then invest in a bank of these before heading off

I think that makes a lot of sense. You should be fine with 6 though. I can't see you needng 8.

 

[Plevier]

Here's my house battery bank. 6 x Trojan T105s. 675Ah.

View attachment 68710

Very nice, but you appear to have +ve takeoffs on banks 1 & 2 and -ve takeoff on bank 1.
It's a minor point but it's recommended to have the + on bank 1 and the - on bank 3 (or vice versa) to equalise the current paths.

 

[LadyInBed]

Il probably build a shelf over the bank as there is plenty height for storage .

Be careful what you store over the batteries as gassing will attack anything not sealed in strong plastic bags/containers.

 

[sarabande]

I have a little experience with HDPE and find it is more flexible than good ply, unless you weld stringers and ribs to the sides.

If you are planning against a capsize, then unless you have sealed batts, then any straps and stitching must not be susceptible to weak sulfuric.

I agree with the others, 770Ahr is a lot. The problem is that if you deplete them all to - say - 50%, then unless you have clever switching arrangements or route the charge by banks, then your charging system will havea lot of work to do over a long time.

There are also optimum ways of connecting a multiple battery bank to ensure that the charge is delivered equally.