Usually boxes were constructed out of plywood / fiberglass or Roto-molded plastic and these were used to contain the battery. The logic was that any spilled battery acid would be contained by the box.
While I haven't discounted using wet cell technology (e.g. Golf Cart 6V) I am more likely to install AGM batteries. I happen to believe that sealed, maintenance free batteries will be the standard in the future. For that reason I am installing a battery "tray" whose sole purpose is to secure the battery bank in place.
The yellow piece of cardboard is a generic battery outline whose dimensions are the max length of a Group 31 and the max width of a Trojan 6V. The tray can a accommodate 8 group 31 AGM batteries for a total of 840AH.
The spaces in between will be chocked with starboard pieces and the batteries held down by wooden battens bolted down to the edge of the tray with threaded bar.
This is the bracing on the bottom of the tray. It will be supported on wooden beams and bolted into the lead keel. It will also be braced fore and aft and side to side to prevent movement.
8 comments:
Looks shiny!
You couldn't have found a lower point to install your AGM batteries. The big advantage you have with “TIH” is you basically you a bare hull and can install what you like where you like. I am envious. Ocean Dove is always a compromise of were I would like to install equipment and were I can install it. Ocean Dove has the hot water heater, deck wash pump and macerator pump in the location where you are installed your batteries.
My batteries with remain the engine room in 3 Blue Sea boxes.
Derek
Yes, there must be some benefit of having a big empty boat that I have to fill with expensive equipment, LOL. On a serious note, older boats frequently suffer from a series of "projects" that were not well thought from a maintenance or ergonomics point of view. Its never good to let a "marine professional" loose on your boat until you actually know what you want to achieve.
from Sinbad, I haven't figured out what to do with my batteries. I have 4 imiditly forward of the engine...2 inches rom the fly wheel.?? Not good. Plus...I just bought Sinbads first windles...got to bust my brain on how to install and wire it....with where ever I decide to store and wire the battery's.
on a lighter note...All my Alpenglow lights are in and they work better then expected {7}.
We are still working under the shrink - wrap ....but this weekend it will be in the high 70's...to bad for us, because we tore of all the old teek on the cockpit and got it all ready for the final coats of epoxie. Let me tell ya about this, for yuall sho don't no about shrink wrap. If'in the sun is shining...it's 20 deg warmer inside the wrap!...Life is good ! Working on the boat is better then working anywhere else!
Happy Sails...rr
One other thing....I should look at my typing before I hit send!
Hi Randy
No problem, it made sense to me.
Gerry
When it comes to cruising try to keep it Simple!
Rubbish skips in the Caribbean are littered with AGM and other so-called maintenance-free batteries. Some crap out in less than 2 years use.
We are a Niagara 35 Mk1
Our six inexpensive 6v golf cart batteries have a great charge density (225ah for each pair totaling 675ah)) for the space taken and will last a long time because we CAN maintain them. A flat non-tracking 440W solar array plus MPPT regulator allows regular equalization while we're out on the hook. AGM cells do have an advertised high charge acceptance rating (50%) but that would require us to charge a similarly sized AGM bank at the rate of 330A
Who has that charging capacity anyway?
As we sit right now in Grenada West Indies we've recovered all of our usual overnight deficit of 70ah by lunch time.
Ken
Absolutely no argument with what you say. That is why I sized the tray to take 6V batteries as an option. Take a look at this article;
http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=124973
I had Trojan 105 on our last boat and they were excellent.
My rehab was not as extensive as yours, but I did take the HWH out of the bilge, and install a new one in the aft, port corner of the ER (where it's nice and warm, and the run of the water hoses is short). I then installed four T-105's in a plywood/fiberglass box that I built in the bilge, under the companionway/galley area (away from the heat of the ER). My starting battery, however, is still in the ER, but it is still going strong after 10 years (just an ordinary group 27 wet cell).
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