[C320-list] battery compartment, box

[Warren Updike]

John, thanks for that. As for venting hydrogen gas, batteries will vent hydrogen only when under charge, and with a healthy battery, only when fully charged and charging energy is being dissipated by heat and gas. My take is that under normal conditions, the only time venting is a real issue is when equalizing batteries. With a modern 3-stage digital charger, the batteries should never be overcharged. Still, no one wants to assume that other problems can't occur. 
The comment about protecting pos terminals with a boot is good advice. 
As for venting, there are battery caps designed to recombine the H and Co2 into water and return it to the cell. Not sure if effective on a boat where the batteries are moving.
Also, re. venting, Yandina.com makes a Battery Ventilator Controller that will ventilate the battery compartment automatically when charging. This may mean adding some vent openings in the compartment.
Good post,

Warren and Pattie Updike
1994 C320 "Warr de Mar" #62
Middle River, MD (Chesapeake Bay)

-----Original Message-----
From: John Frost [mailto:john at frostnet.net] 
Sent: Saturday, September 08, 2018 12:28 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] battery compartment, box

I happen to have a copy of the 2009 American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) "Standards and Technical Information Reports For Small Craft" which sets the standards.

There are several pages of requirements for battery installations, but a few that might be cited by an inspector include:

10.7.1 Battery mounting materials and surfaces shall withstand electrolyte attack.
10.7.2 Provision shall be made to contain incidental leakage and spillage of electrolyte.  Consideration should be given to the type of battery installed and the angles of heel for sailboats.
10.7.4 Each installed battery shall not move more than one inch in any direction when a pulling force of 90 pounds or twice the battery weight, whichever is less, is applied through the center of gravity of the battery.  (It then gives the directions and methods of testing)
10.7.6 Battery shall not be installed, without an intervening barrier, directly below electrical equipment susceptible to attack from corrosive gases.
10.7.7 To prevent accidental contact of the ungrounded battery connection to ground, each battery shall be protected so that metallic objects cannot come into contact with the ungrounded battery terminal and uninsulated cell straps.
This may be accomplished by such means as covering the ungrounded battery terminal with the boot or nonconductive shield or installing the battery in a covered battery box or installing the battery in a compartment specifically designed only for the batteries.
10.7.9 A vent system or other means shall be provided to permit the discharge from the boat of hydrogen gas released by the battery.
10.7.10 Battery boxes, whose cover forms a pocket over the battery, shall be vented at the upper most portion of the cover.

Bottom line, at least in 2009, is that it was a performance standard that did not specifically require a "battery box".  The hydrogen venting requirement is interesting, I assume the consensus is that a loosely fitting seat and cushion allow the hydrogen to vent sufficiently


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-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Geof Ward
Sent: Friday, September 7, 2018 10:10 AM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] battery compartment, box

Our 320 (2004, #966) has batteries installed as you describe.  It was surveyed in 2017 before we purchased it, and it was deemed satisfactory by the surveyor.

Geo F Ward
"Joshua"
Holland, MI


On Sun, Aug 26, 2018 at 4:06 PM Warren Updike <wupdike at hotmail.com> wrote:

> From what I can find, the standards for battery storage have to do 
> with restricting movement and protection of the pos terminals. I can 
> find nothing specific re. containing batteries in a box.
> We have a 1994, #62, the batteries sit on a shelf with a very low lip; 
> but, otherwise are not contained in case of a failure of the case. 
> They are restrained by a heavy wood bar across the top secured to the 
> settee with nut& bolt which I feel is sufficient to restrict movement per standards.
> I'm interested to know if anyone has experience with a boat survey 
> that dealt with battery storage, especially on the older 320s.  And, 
> what kind of battery box might be used on the older 320.
>
> Thanks,
> Warren and Pattie Updike
> 1994 C320 "Warr de Mar" #62
> Middle River, MD (Chesapeake Bay)
>
>
>