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16-10-2018, 09:51
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#1
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Elvish meaning 'Far-Wanderer'
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Boat - Greece - Me - Michigan
Boat: 56' Fountaine Pajot Marquises
Posts: 3,489
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Battery bank located in berth area
I'm thinking about relocating my battery bank from the stern of the boat to a spot under floor boards in a forward berth area. Possibly even under the berth itself. I know the batteries gas when charging if lead acid and that would need to be addressed. Is there anything obvious about locating a large house bank in this area?
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Our course is set for an uncharted sea
Dante
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16-10-2018, 10:38
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: ABC's
Boat: Prout Snowgoose 35
Posts: 1,756
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Re: Battery bank located in berth area
Flooded lead acid batteries give off hydrogen gas, you’d want good ventilation. Normally you wouldn’t want what is the heaviest item on the boat, anywhere near the bow.
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16-10-2018, 11:16
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Maryland, USA
Boat: 58' Sedan Bridge
Posts: 5,418
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Re: Battery bank located in berth area
It could be a good application for sealed valve-regulated AGM batteries... if your situation can deal with the rest of the typical AGM requirements.
And/or depending on your target voltage, Firefly Carbon Foam AGM batteries bring the advantages of being sealed and valve-regulated, but they're said to be better in a usually-PSOC (partial state of charge) environment.
There are lots of threads about pros/cons of AGMs, and Maine Sail's "marine how to" website goes extensively into it too...
-Chris
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Chesapeake Bay, USA.
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16-10-2018, 11:22
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#4
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֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 15,136
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Re: Battery bank located in berth area
Even AGMs can outgas, so they still need to be vented overboard.
Running any battery forward may be problematic, because you're going to need pricey thick cables with low voltage loss to connect them back to the charging source and distribution panel in the stern. Pricey, and often a nuisance to run.
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16-10-2018, 12:51
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#5
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: aboard, cruising in Australia
Boat: Sayer 46' Solent rig sloop
Posts: 28,400
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Re: Battery bank located in berth area
Also, if they are FLA batteries, they are heavy. Their present location is where the designer thought that weight should be, perhaps the boat is even strengthened there to support them, but it is also the shortest run, with least voltage loss.
Ann
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Who scorns the calm has forgotten the storm.
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16-10-2018, 19:05
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#6
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Elvish meaning 'Far-Wanderer'
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Boat - Greece - Me - Michigan
Boat: 56' Fountaine Pajot Marquises
Posts: 3,489
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Re: Battery bank located in berth area
This situation is a little different as the thick heavy wire right now is running from the stern about 50' forward to my 12v distribution panel. By moving them the lead wire would be about 8'. It's also still about 14' back from the bow. My sterns are very heavy due to extra equipment installed in the aft compartments. This would definitely help with the balance of the boat and also move the weight lower in the hull. Access is very good and I can have a secure platform installed for the batteries. I'm just not sure how to go about venting the bank. And, is there a danger to having them in below the waterline and in a berth in general.
__________________
Our course is set for an uncharted sea
Dante
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16-10-2018, 19:33
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,007
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Re: Battery bank located in berth area
Quote:
Originally Posted by Palarran
This situation is a little different as the thick heavy wire right now is running from the stern about 50' forward to my 12v distribution panel. By moving them the lead wire would be about 8'. It's also still about 14' back from the bow. My sterns are very heavy due to extra equipment installed in the aft compartments. This would definitely help with the balance of the boat and also move the weight lower in the hull. Access is very good and I can have a secure platform installed for the batteries. I'm just not sure how to go about venting the bank. And, is there a danger to having them in below the waterline and in a berth in general.
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There is a danger, albeit a small one.
I know of three boats with well built battery boxes that were passively vented overboard, that had a loose cable connection spark and explode accumulated hydrogen. Anyone sleeping on top the batteries would have been seriously injured.
Having said that, I do sometimes still sleep on top of my batteries...
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16-10-2018, 21:58
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Sydney Australia
Boat: Fisher pilothouse sloop 32'
Posts: 3,413
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Re: Battery bank located in berth area
Quote:
Originally Posted by Palarran
I'm thinking about relocating my battery bank from the stern of the boat to a spot under floor boards in a forward berth area. Possibly even under the berth itself. I know the batteries gas when charging if lead acid and that would need to be addressed. Is there anything obvious about locating a large house bank in this area?
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Hi, the only real issue that I can see is that in the remote offchance that the hull is even partially flooded due to whatever reason then the batteries are all flooded as well leaving no power for bilge pumps, radio etc.
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Rob aka Uncle Bob Sydney Australia.
Life is 10% the cards you are dealt, 90% how you play em
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16-10-2018, 23:52
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#9
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2008
Location: cruising SW Pacific
Boat: Jon Sayer 1-off 46 ft fract rig sloop strip plank in W Red Cedar
Posts: 21,134
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Re: Battery bank located in berth area
Hydrogen is very light and has very small molecules, making it kinda hard to seal up and contain. But that is good for ventilation, where you want to get it out of the boat. So, if you can rig a vent line that goes only upward (no loops) and exits on deck somewhere, the forces of nature will generally get rid of the gas. The production rate isn't too great, either, so you don't need a big flow. If you are worried, a small muffin fan forcing the flow could help with the ventilation of the box.
Jim
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Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II, lying Port Cygnet Tasmania once again.
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17-10-2018, 00:52
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2016
Boat: Lagoon 440
Posts: 736
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Re: Battery bank located in berth area
Lagoon puts the batteries under the aft port berth (at least on L440 & L450). So more than a thousand boats out there, never heard of any problem. Yes, once a friend of mine woke up at night because of that typical battery smell, it was the starter battery going well above 15V. Starter batteries are under the floor, aft cabins.
FWIW, I have relocated the house battery (1000Ah@12V) in my L440. Put it in the big cockpit locker. Much better balance, better safety, less & shorter cables.
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17-10-2018, 04:44
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: ABC's
Boat: Prout Snowgoose 35
Posts: 1,756
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Re: Battery bank located in berth area
Quote:
Originally Posted by rom
Lagoon puts the batteries under the aft port berth (at least on L440 & L450). So more than a thousand boats out there, never heard of any problem. Yes, once a friend of mine woke up at night because of that typical battery smell, it was the starter battery going well above 15V. Starter batteries are under the floor, aft cabins.
FWIW, I have relocated the house battery (1000Ah@12V) in my L440. Put it in the big cockpit locker. Much better balance, better safety, less & shorter cables.
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What type of batteries though?
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17-10-2018, 10:15
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Montreal
Boat: Dufour 39 Frers
Posts: 402
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Re: Battery bank located in berth area
My FLA batteries are under my bunk, but I mostly sleep at night.
Since the batteries get charged by solar, they gas out during day time, when port holes are usually open.
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17-10-2018, 10:35
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#13
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Port Credit, Ontario or Bahamas
Boat: Benford 38 Fantail Cruiser
Posts: 7,045
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Re: Battery bank located in berth area
If you are also considering moving your charger, do not mount it over your batteries. Hydrogen is not only explosive, it is corrosive.
__________________
If you're not laughing, you're not doin' it right.
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17-10-2018, 10:35
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Boston's North Shore
Boat: Pearson 10M
Posts: 839
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Re: Battery bank located in berth area
Move them under the berth and don't worry about them.
There will be enough ventilation in almost all cases.
Do make sure they are secured.
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17-10-2018, 10:38
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#15
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Port Credit, Ontario or Bahamas
Boat: Benford 38 Fantail Cruiser
Posts: 7,045
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Re: Battery bank located in berth area
Quote:
Originally Posted by guyrj33
Move them under the berth and don't worry about them.
There will be enough ventilation in almost all cases.
Do make sure they are secured.
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............
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If you're not laughing, you're not doin' it right.
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