DIY battery box charging point

[Blankton]

I have made a DIY battery box for my SIB using a waterproof junction box.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/schneider...5-x-90mm/61100

The box has been fitted to a piece of ply and clips under my bench seat with some stainless clips. The only thing I use it for is a fish finder, which is the single lead coming out of the box currently.



Overall it was a pretty cheap and effective solution. The only issue is that to charge it I have to open the box to clip the charger to the battery. I would like a solution to enable me to charge the battery from the outside.

I thought I might be able to get some terminals with screw on waterproof caps that I could just bolt through the case. I could then connect the crocodile clips from my battery charger to these points. But I cant see anything, certainly not reasonably priced.

Next thought was to fit a surface mounted 12v waterproof cigarette lighter, then make a male 12v adaptor to connect to my battery charger. I'm sure this would work, but would mean buying 2 items - the socket and a male slave to plug in as a charger. The advantage would be I could use the 12v socket to charge my phone or similar on the water.

Final idea was to use a lead like this:

https://www.brandedbiker.co.uk/shop/...CABEgJCFPD_BwE

which I believe will connect to the adaptor on my battery charger. but this would be another loose lead from the box, Other than cable ties I cant see a way to neatly fit the lead to the box.

Before I start ordering bits and bobs from ebay which may / may not work, does anyone have any other products they have used to add a charging terminals to a DIY battery box.

[A1an]

Nice solution.

Can you mount a surface mounted female bulgin connector to the Battery box such as the link below...

https://www.gaelforcemarine.co.uk/en...xoCV3AQAvD_BwE

Male end could be on your charger.

[Blankton]

Originally Posted by A1an

Nice solution.

Can you mount a surface mounted female bulgin connector to the Battery box such as the link below...

https://www.gaelforcemarine.co.uk/en...xoCV3AQAvD_BwE

Male end could be on your charger.

Thanks for suggestion, £12 and the same again for the male end, that would blow the budget right out of the water 😂

In all seriousness I would need to find out how deep that fits internally. Unfortunately I didn't plan ahead that well and I only have about 20mm internal clearance around the battery. This restriction internally is what is preventing me fitting any of the generic flush mounting 12v waterproof sockets.

[ribber]

Fix a red and black distribution post to the sides of the box.

http://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/positi...kaAitGEALw_wcB

[Nasher]

Well done, nice solution.

I'd be going with something that as you've suggested can be used as a 12V Aux output as well as charging input, and there's nothing more common than a lighter socket.

Nasher.

[Blankton]

Originally Posted by ribber

Fix a red and black distribution post to the sides of the box.

http://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/positi...kaAitGEALw_wcB

Those posts were what I originally envisaged, but I wanted some with an insulated cap so I didn't get a shock. I did find a set, but they were "marine" grade and about £50!

I've ordered a couple of cheap bits off eBay now, I'll post up how I get on.

[Matt]

The ctek charging socket also has a rubber cover that seals well. That’s what I have in my boat.

[Nasher]

That's a good thought Matt.

I have a Ctek charger I use to keep my D4 battery topped up via the tow socket when it's not going to get used for a while.
The charger lead and the extension I brought with it look really well sealed.
Only when they are plugged together of course, but I'm sure I've seen a blanking plug somewhere.

Nasher.

[Matt]

With the CTEK Battery sense also wired in of course.
Here you go. Yes, it has carpet.

I wouldn't like to state the rubber covers are full IP67 or better, but they are a good, tight, well sealing, fit.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143445895078

[Blankton]

To resolve this I ended up taking a punt on an "optimate" charging cable.

https://www.brandedbiker.co.uk/shop/...yABEgI_SvD_BwE

The cable has an "SAE71" connector on the end, which it turns out, is the connector that is on the end of my cheap battery charger.

I did think about adding a 12v cigarette lighter socket, but that would have meant attaching a lump to the outside of the box. I quite like the fact that there aren't any sticky out bits to damage at the moment.

I have just cable tied the connector to the outside, it will be under the seat and out of site when the battery box is installed.





I have re-made the spade connectors on the battery terminals to take the fish finder lead and charging lead.