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Battery restraint

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10timesSaltier
1st Mate

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80 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/11/2006 : 12:00:14

The straps that used to hold my batteries in place died from who knows what, probably battery acid. After broaching in 60+ knot gusts last year, restraining them has become a priority.

I liked my simple idea, four 5/8" holes, two 14" hardwood dowels, and two hose clamps and it's done:

Brian.
Great Salt Lake (10-times saltier than the ocean)
"SAFARI", '81 C25 TR-FK #2275

Edited by - 10timesSaltier on 04/11/2006 12:03:46

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2006 : 16:56:24

Looks solid Brian, good idea. How long has it been in service. do you have a problem being without the battery boxes?

Val on the hard DAGNABIT # 3936 Patchogue, N.Y.

Edited by - on

ngrinich
1st Mate

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28 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 00:11:12

I found that the battery boxes I got from West Marine for the 2 Group 24 batteries don't fit under the starboard settee. With the top of the battery boxes in place, I can't close the compartment shut. It seems that the battery box with lid is too tall. Since the battery terminals are really shielded from other objects by the closed nature of the compartment, and the batteries are strapped in place, is it really necessary to enclose the batteries in boxes? Anyone have a good source on ones that fit our boats?

Edited by - ngrinich on 04/12/2006 00:12:14

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 09:47:03

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I found that the battery boxes...don't fit under the starboard settee. With the top of the battery boxes in place...battery box with lid is too tall...is it really necessary to enclose the batteries in boxes? Anyone have a good source on ones that fit our boats?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Yes, I think it's important to use at least the bottom of the battery boxes with flooded cell batteries. My flooded cell group 27s managed to spit out several ounces of electrolyte over a period of several months. If not for the battery boxes, that could have caused a lot of damage, some of it perhaps hidden, and would have been a much worse mess to clean up.

As for the height issue, I ended up fabricating my own battery shelf from 3/4" plywood and epoxy to get everything to fit in the stbd settee locker. I use the plastic webbing battery hold down straps, but the wooden dowel method looks good too.

-- Leon Sisson

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 10:42:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Leon Sisson
 ...My flooded cell group 27s managed to spit out several ounces of electrolyte over a period of several months. If not for the battery boxes, that could have caused a lot of damage, some of it perhaps hidden, and would have been a much worse mess to clean up.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

After a rather spirited day with the rail in the water, I managed to spill out enough battery fluid to make my depthfinder go bonkers.

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Cate
Navigator

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199 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 12:22:44

Do AGM batteries require a battery box? I am installing 2 Trojan AGM's this spring.
I am thinking of getting battery trays, attaching locking adjustable straps and glueing the trays to the floor of the battery compartment.

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Justin
Admiral

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502 Posts

Response Posted - 04/17/2006 : 07:41:55

I had some excellent sailing on Saturday, cruising 5-6 knots for quite a bit of time, and of course we had some heeling. Once we got back to my marina and I was closing things up, I found my battery under the dinette seat on its side. The battery tray came free from its glued base. What type of adhesive is recommended to glue the battery tray down?

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 04/17/2006 : 10:03:58

Justin,<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">...and of course we had some heeling... I found my battery under the dinette seat on its side. The battery tray came free from its glued base. What type of adhesive is recommended to glue the battery tray down?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I wouldn't try to glue down one of those plastic battery boxes or trays; they don't hold adhesives well. Now obviously if you're attaching battery hold downs to your hull, you'd probably prefer not to drill and thru-bolt (especially with the boat in the water

).

The way I've done this is to fabricate wooden mounting brackets, and glue those to the hull with epoxy. (Polyurithane would likely work as well.) Then I attach the battery hold downs to the wood. I made up 1x2 fiddle rails of wood and epoxy to contain the base of the battery box. Before installing those 1x2s, I cut slots or notches in their bottom edges to accommodate a battery hold down strap.

In another post, someone asked if gelcells and/or AGM batteries require battery boxes. Maybe not. With those types of any side up sealed batteries, the main functions of the box are to keep the battery in one place, protect it from physical impact, and the terminals from shorting by 'stuff' (a spare anchor for example) sliding around in the same locker.

-- Leon Sisson

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