safe location for eberspacher

[otto434]

Hello, I have fitted a eberspacher D2 AIRTRONIC heater into my port cockpit locker which has the domestic battery in.
Is it a safe to leave the battery in with the heater, I am thinking of Hydrogen gasses when charging!
I could relocate the battery into the starboard locker alongside my cranking battery. but then I would have to put the diesel fuel tank in with the heater. (small lockers on Hardy 20 Pilot)
Which is the safe and legal combination.
Regards
Phil.

 

[BlueChip]

IMHO the safest thing is to put your battery in an airtight box with a small breather tube leading to a vent overboard. A hydrogen build up in a cockpit locker cannot be safe, heater or not

 

[otto434]

the cockpit lockers are vented, but not in isolation as you suggest.
Thanks

 

[Searush]

I'll put in my locker if you like?

 

[jimi]

The eber installation should be safe on its own, mines is in the blige under the gas locker which works well at keeping the gaz warm on a cold morning. My batteries are also in the boat and I've never had a concern about hydrogen build up ,,... booooom ... argh!

 

[JerryHawkins]

To quote a quick Google search source:

"The optimum operating temperature for the lead-acid battery is 25°C (77°F). As a guideline, every 8°C (15°F) rise in temperature will cut the battery life in half. VRLA, which would last for 10 years at 25°C (77°F), will only be good for 5 years if operated at 33°C (95°F). Theoretically the same battery would endure a little more than one year at a desert temperature of 42°C (107°F)."

A D2 in a small locker will make the environment very hot very quickly. You may end up replacing the battery quite frequently! Is there any other place you could put the battery? How about replacing the cranking battery with a DMS Red Flash (much physically smaller) then move the house battery to where your current cranking battery is?

See http://www.dmstech.co.uk/marine/index.htm#01

Had these on last boat and have them on current boat. More expensive, yes (not excessively so, on the smaller sizes), but very small and can be fitted anywhere and at any angle. Worth a look, maybe?

Cheers, Jerry

 

[otto434]

Thanks that is a good idea!
I can put the diesel tank in with the two batteries which leaves the heater on its own.

 

[baggypipes]

have you got room for the heater unit in the enging compartment it would be safe there & keep the enging warm, put ours in & no problems checked with eb fitter first & he said it fine

 

[otto434]

The boat is a Hardy 20 Pilot outboard model, so no engine bay.