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 Onboard battery charger		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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Inspiration
Deckhand

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USA
17 Posts
Initially Posted - 05/14/2010 :  06:31:48  Show Profile
I just installed an onboard battery charger, I want to put the plug in the port compartment that holds gear and the propane tank. Would this be a safe place or Im I creating a safety issue with the propane tank in there? I thought about placing the plug on the lower part of the starboard cockpit near the companion way but I cant get the nerve to cut a hole in her. The reason I don't open the companion way is because I don't want little critters getting in and taking up residents inside.

Ted
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Inspiration
Deckhand

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USA
17 Posts
Response Posted - 05/14/2010 :  06:34:00  Show Profile
Forgot to mention Inspiration is kept inside my shop.

Ted
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skrenz
Captain

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USA
351 Posts
Response Posted - 05/14/2010 :  08:14:26  Show Profile
The question I might ask is why do you have a propane tank in the port compartment - dumpster? I think that in itself is asking for trouble. Unless you mean that it is just stored there and not hooked up to anything. Even so, I would not store a propane tank below decks.
If there is no chance of a propane leak, you should be fine with the charger there. On my boat and most of her era, the outboard fuel tank is stored aft and the whole electrical system is mounted on the bulkhead forward. These installations are not typically spark proof. The compartment is vented with the passive vent system. So the real question is propane fumes. If there is even a remote chance of some, they will sink to the bottom of the compartment and stay there until a possible spark and then....no more boat. And in your case, perhaps no more shop either.
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farrison
Navigator

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USA
166 Posts
Response Posted - 05/14/2010 :  09:17:36  Show Profile
The PO of my boat mounted the battery charger on the wall just behind the companionway stairs and hard-wired it into the AC switch. When I rewired the boat, I left it there, as it was out of the way, but you can still look through the stairs to check the charging lights on it and it gets good ventitation there.

Paul
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Patrice C25
1st Mate

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78 Posts
Response Posted - 05/14/2010 :  09:49:10  Show Profile
Hi Ted,
If your talking about the shore power plug, Personnaly I would not put it inside the cockpit, but outside. To make shure when it is plug and walking around in the boat, that no one would hit it accidentaly. Somewhere like under where the winch are mounted.

And I think it might not be good idea to have propane tank near an electrical componant, just in case ....
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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts
Response Posted - 05/14/2010 :  12:39:48  Show Profile
I hard wired my charger to the AC distribution and mounted it on the vertical surface behind the companionway ladder too. My wiring runs through the bilge to the battery switch and batteries. Easily visible, well ventilated, and out of the way. I'm thinking about mounting my inverter there too but it should really be as close to the batteries as possible..
Edited by - Dave5041 on 05/14/2010 12:41:36
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Inspiration
Deckhand

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USA
17 Posts
Response Posted - 05/14/2010 :  20:26:00  Show Profile
i think i didn't make myself clear on this sorry. My propane tank for the stove is stored in the outside port storage compartment. My charger is installed inside on the starboard side near the batteries behind the stairs, i would like to run the power cord from the charger to the outside compartment, I was concerned that the electrical charge could potentially cause a fire if the tank ever leaked. make since? This has nothing to do with shore power this is for keeping the batteries topped off during the storage months. I wanted to plug the charger in while in my shop without opening the companion way doors.

Ted
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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts
Response Posted - 05/16/2010 :  19:10:32  Show Profile
Is there any reason to keep the propane tank in the locker during storage? If you have a shore power receptacle, why not hardwire the charger and plug the boat in? If none of those options are possible and the cord is to short to reach out of the compartment, I guess you could let a fan blow into the compartment for a couple of minutes, plug the charger into an extension first, then to the wall and power.
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DanM
Captain

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USA
256 Posts
Response Posted - 05/17/2010 :  04:55:06  Show Profile  Visit DanM's Homepage
If you have side pockets in the cockpit, (I stow the winch handle there), you could try mounting the plug receptacle on the stern wall in there. Then run the leads inside the dumpster to the panel.

Propane tanks should never be kepted indoors -- inside a building or in a closed compartment. They should be visable outside for safety and the safety of fire emergency responders.
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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts
Response Posted - 05/17/2010 :  05:23:45  Show Profile  Visit Prospector's Homepage
A bit of clarification please...

By Port Side Locker - I think you mean the big stowage space behind the galley, often called the dumpster.

By Propane tank, are you talking a little 1 lb screw-in bottle or a larger tank?

My charger is inthe dumpster, mounted on the bulkhead under the distribution panel. I think the guys who have their charger under the ladder have a better setup.

We keep 1lb propane bottles in teh stbd locker built into the cockpit bench (AKA The glovebox).
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.