Waterproof battery and panel

[Kayakeur]

How do I waterproof the battery and electrical panel?

The panel is especially a problem because it's 10 inches off the bottom of bilge. Also the bilge pumps don't get power if battery shorts out.

[sail sfbay]

Originally Posted by Kayakeur

How do I waterproof the battery and electrical panel?.......

Consider a Blue Sea Weatherdeck or Paneltronics waterproof switch panels.

https://www.bluesea.com/products/cat...ls/WeatherDeck
https://www.paneltronics.com/Waterpr...-Switch-Panels

[smac999]

do you normally see water 10" above the bilge?...

batteries are also 10" tall. so you need more then 10" of water in the boat to effect either. which certainly should not happen.

I would move the panel if you are that concerned.

[smac999]

Originally Posted by sail sfbay

Consider a Blue Sea Weatherdeck or Paneltronics waterproof switch panels.

https://www.bluesea.com/products/cat...ls/WeatherDeck
https://www.paneltronics.com/Waterpr...-Switch-Panels

he is worried about the whole panel being underwater. not just getting the front wet.

[Clivevon]

Originally Posted by Kayakeur

How do I waterproof the battery and electrical panel?

The panel is especially a problem because it's 10 inches off the bottom of bilge. Also the bilge pumps don't get power if battery shorts out.

Not brilliant design (my bilges are 30 inches deep below the floorboards on a 36 foot boat), but hey.. thats modern boats. Several points here:

If you have a flat bottom shallow bilge & your pumps let water get 10 inches deep, they are not keeping up with the leak so you are sinking anyway. When the pumps cut out you will just sink quicker - unless you use a bucket - not ideal, as discussed on another thread recently. Get bigger pumps with wider hose.

If it concerns you (it would concern the heck out of me) you can move your switch panel higher - much higher - & find a way to raise side walls around your batteries to keep the water out for longer.

Something I never got around to was fixing a smaller emergency battery up high next to the VHF so I could still send a Mayday if seawater shorted out my house batteries.

[Clivevon]

"(my bilges are 30 inches deep below the floorboards on a 36 foot boat)"

actually they are about 36 inches deep & just over a foot wide - so a dropped nut is tantalisingly just out of my reach...

[BillKny]

Originally Posted by Kayakeur

How do I waterproof the battery and electrical panel?

The panel is especially a problem because it's 10 inches off the bottom of bilge. Also the bilge pumps don't get power if battery shorts out.

If you have flooded lead acid batteries and there is any chance of water flowing over the tops of your batteries, that is really dangerous. Salt water mixing into battery acid generates poisonous, corrosive gas, and must be avoided.