Batteries without a battery box?

[sail4evr]

Originally Posted by ranger42c

Don't think that's universally true. Boats like ours seldom have boxes -- just trays and hold-downs -- and pass surveys all the time.

-Chris

Hi Chris, i think i read you now have AGM. AGMs don't need a box. FLA do need a box. It's an ABYC requirement. Surveyors who don't bring it up could lose their license. If there was an accident and a FLA battery without a box was involved, there could be issues about coverage and fault.

[capnorv]

I'm a marine electrician, working for the largest ferry service in the United States. We started switching to AGM about ten years ago. We have glassed plywood (cold molded) boxes sixty years old that have seen numerous spills. These have very corrosive interiors, but still function, use neutralizer and good to go. We have lead calcium 120vt banks open air, secured, vented, in steel rooms. Highly corrosive 1800 specific gravity, and a real bugger when they leak. We have semi Rigid plastic boxes and rigid fiberglass boxes. The plastic boxes are the best in my experience. They are not prone to cracking when impacted like fiberglass, for asthetics, fiberglass boxes are hard to beat. What I'm wondering is why this poor guy bought wet batteries to begin with in the twenty twenties? Was it salesman, lack of knowledge, or low budget? I know it was years before we could convert our radio systems to non liquid, due to lack of knowledge, at least in my opinion. As with most things maritime, common sense goes a long way to safety. If you have a wet battery, it has a potential to leak, provide a containment vessel and set up a maintenance schedule.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by sail4evr

Hi Chris, i think i read you now have AGM. AGMs don't need a box. FLA do need a box. It's an ABYC requirement. Surveyors who don't bring it up could lose their license. If there was an accident and a FLA battery without a box was involved, there could be issues about coverage and fault.

I do have AGMs...

But our boat and a gazillion like it (at least pre-2005 or so, AFAIK, maybe even yesterday) were originally delivered with FLAs... in trays, with hold-downs, and rubber boots over the positive terminals.

My surveyor did cite one of the boots was mis-aligned...

I prefer boxes; just saying lots of new boats weren't delivered with FLAs in boxes.

-Chris

[MicHughV]

The batteries on a Beneteau are in front of the engine. they are not in boxes, but on a tray of sorts.....these are the big 225 amp batteries, not sure there is a box for them ?? The engine has a regular bat in a box behind the engine.

[a64pilot]

Then as I said there are boats like mine, that the battery compartment is thick, sealed fiberglass, with no holes. What would boxes accomplish?

[MerMike]

A64 - Your box sounds like it meets the ABYC requirement and another box is not needed. ABYC doesn't specify a material for battery boxes. Gelcoat and fiberglass are resistant to acid attack - to a point of course. If they also allow for venting of hydrogen, and prevent movement of the batteries, then they should be adequate.

From E-10:
10.7.1 Provision shall be made to contain incidental leakage and spillage of electrolyte.
NOTE: Consideration should be given to:
1. the type of battery installed (e.g. liquid electrolyte or immobilized electrolyte).
2. the boat in which the battery is installed (e.g. angles of heel for sailboats, and accelerations for powerboats).

[CassidyNZ]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Then as I said there are boats like mine, that the battery compartment is thick, sealed fiberglass, with no holes. What would boxes accomplish?

Your battery compartment is a box Mine are also in a GRP “compartment but vented at the top to allow gas to escape while charging.