Remote Battery Terminals

[coopec43]

I am tired of lifting the floor-boards to get at the busbars to charge the batteries so I thought I'd install a pair of remote battery terminals.

When I priced them I decided to do my own thing. I thought I'd drill a hole through the engine room bulkhead attach the battery leads to the engine room side with terminal covers. The terminals would be placed about 4 inches apart.





On the other side where I plan to attach the jumper leads I'd have the bolts (P/N "terminals") enclosed in a plastic "Tupperware" type container.

Does anyone have a problem with my plan?

[SailingHarmonie]

There are bulkhead penetrating terminals, so nothing wrong with the concept. Its the details..
Like what are you using for materials in the bolts?

But it raises a much bigger question: Why do you need to access your buss bars to charge your battery??

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by SailingHarmonie

There are bulkhead penetrating terminals, so nothing wrong with the concept. Its the details..
Like what are you using for materials in the bolts?

But it raises a much bigger question: Why do you need to access your buss bars to charge your battery??

What is wrong with attaching the battery charger clips to the bus bars as the battery terminals are covered. My house battery system as well as the starter battery system are are 24V.

Am I doing something wrong?

[SailingHarmonie]

Originally Posted by coopec43

What is wrong with attaching the battery charger clips to the bus bars as the battery terminals are covered. My house battery system as well as the starter battery system are are 24V.

Am I doing something wrong?

Many “clip on” battery chargers have quite primitive charging controls and do not take good care of the battery when used routinely, and they also are a pita to use (as you know). You do not have a “proper” permanently installed battery charger?

[Wotname]

Like what are you using for materials in the bolts?

This is the number one question!

Steel and stainless steel bolts are unsuitable. Copper is good but hard to obtain, a bit soft and corrodes quickly. Brass is sort of OK but they have to have a greater diameter than copper for a similar resistance.

Ideally you want large diameter plated (tin/silver/nickel) brass bolts. Price them before attempting to make your own.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Wotname

This is the number one question!

Steel and stainless steel bolts are unsuitable. Copper is good but hard to obtain, a bit soft and corrodes quickly. Brass is sort of OK but they have to have a greater diameter than copper for a similar resistance.

Ideally you want large diameter plated (tin/silver/nickel) brass bolts. Price them before attempting to make your own.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/p...8aAgxwEALw_wcB

So this is a boat you built and are now finishing? You will be the only boat without a fixed installation inverter/charger or just a charger.

[skipperpete]

If you intend to only use a portable battery charger, consider connecting it with “ Andersen” plugs they’re very common in industrial and RV installations and have the advantage of being impossible to connect the polarity wrongly. The biggest ones are often used to connect batteries for a” jump start”, the smaller sizes are for solar panels and portable refrigeration.

[Uncle Bob]

You have mentioned multiple times that you are going to sell the boat for multiple reasons so may I suggest the optics of a cobbled together homemade connection point may be detrimental to the eventual sale, given that it may make a prospective buyer wonder just what else has been done in a similar vein.

The suggestion of anderson plugs would be my go to. I have several on my boat , neat and very effective.

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/p...8aAgxwEALw_wcB

So this is a boat you built and are now finishing? You will be the only boat without a fixed installation inverter/charger or just a charger.

I have two 80W solar panels (in series) charging the house bank and starter bank using a MPPT controller. Unfortunately the panels are right under the mizzen boom so they only get about 1.5 hours a day but that is enough to keep the batteries topped up.

On the motor I have a 55A 24V alternator with a battery combiner.

The other day when testing the inverter to provide power for the HWS, to boil a jug of water, the microwave rather than starting the motor I hooked the 50A battery charge up to shore power.

I certainly don't consider it a routine exercise.

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

You have mentioned multiple times that you are going to sell the boat for multiple reasons so may I suggest the optics of a cobbled together homemade connection point may be detrimental to the eventual sale, given that it may make a prospective buyer wonder just what else has been done in a similar vein.

The suggestion of anderson plugs would be my go to. I have several on my boat , neat and very effective.

Excellent point! (Actually I hadn't looked at it as being a bit "dodgy")

I've gone to the trouble of installing lightning ground strips, X3 large Rule Bilge pumps, x3 fire extinguishers, gas alarms, bilge blower etc, etc so why do a cheap and nasty job?

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by skipperpete

If you intend to only use a portable battery charger, consider connecting it with “ Andersen” plugs they’re very common in industrial and RV installations and have the advantage of being impossible to connect the polarity wrongly. The biggest ones are often used to connect batteries for a” jump start”, the smaller sizes are for solar panels and portable refrigeration.

I also use Anderson Powerpole connectors for this sort of thing.

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by Jammer

I also use Anderson Powerpole connectors for this sort of thing.

At $5.50 they are incredibly cheap. I'm not sure how they mount but I'll certainly investigate them.

https://www.jaycar.com.au/30a-anderson-powerpole-connector-set/p/PT4405?gad_source=1

[s/v Jedi]

Don’t forget you need the tool to crimp them.

Originally Posted by coopec43

At $5.50 they are incredibly cheap. I'm not sure how they mount but I'll certainly investigate them.

https://www.jaycar.com.au/30a-anderson-powerpole-connector-set/p/PT4405?gad_source=1

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by coopec43

At $5.50 they are incredibly cheap. I'm not sure how they mount but I'll certainly investigate them.

I bought a box with perhaps 8 pairs in plus a variety of different sized metal lugs. Crimped them with a hydraulic crimper and then just pushed them in the socket and they all went "click" when fully home. There is a mounting plate for the double pole connectors which will take a couple of screws and holds it off at a slightly raised angle to make connecting easier.

However, they are a one shot puppy and couldn't get the wires out even with a thin screw driver.

Didn't realise there was a special tool, what does that look like?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spurtar-Bat...8&sr=8-30&th=1

[jcapo]

For the 15, 20, and 45 amp terminals.

https://powerwerx.com/tricrimp-power...-crimping-tool