Second battery and switch

[Jimbob]

Hi all

Hope you all had a nice xmas

I m intenting to fit a second battery as part of getting the boat coded, i have read some information on this before but cannot find it, so

1) Where can i get some proper bracket to fit the second battery
2) Where can i get a DC power switch that can be, off, battery one connected, battery two connected and both batteries connected.

I realise i have not supplied the rating of the battery, but i just need some starting points please

[Mark Halliday]

Jimbob

Most chandlers will sell a battery box with lashing straps and a twin battery isolator.
The best isolators are the rotary bulkhead type, which give you the choice of 1, 2, 1+2 and OFF. Make sure that you switch to 1+2 when the engine is running so you charge both.

[Pete7]

Jimbob, I asked a similar question over on the dark side a while ago after being concerned about putting heavy batterys in a plastic box in a boat that would be going to sea in all weathers. For once John Fuller came up with a useful suggestion and a photo which in the best traditions of ribbing I promptly splashed by having a local engineering company make a copy.

Portchester Engineering made this one me, cost £50. All I did was take them the photo and the new battery and left them to it.

http://www.applegate.co.uk/company/coz/1076067.htm

Pete

[peteb]

Why not get Rogue Wave to do it and sit back with a beer or two and watch

See 2nd post here :- http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread....hlight=battery

[Rogue Wave]

Is the link to the people what I get most of my components from. If I am doing it for myself or a discerning customer the I use the Blue sea stuff which is wicked.

I use normal commercial stuff for most work I do for people which is perfectly serviceable but not as sexy! I'll happily do the work for you and/or supply the normal components for the fund

regarding sitting back and watching I am not sure that watching my Banjo is that pleasent a view nowadays!

[limeydal]

I attended a wiring class at West Marine as I was looking at the same 2 battery setup.
They suggested an isolator or better still a voltage combiner to get the best out of the system .(posted diagram below)
As the combiners are not cheap do you think it's a good setup or are they trying to sell equipment I don't really need?

Also they warned of not turning off the battery switch while the engine is running as this can blow the engine diodes.Not that I would think anyone would do,but are they correct.

(The 3 phase/stage charger shown is for permanant fixture in larger boats)

Any advice appreciated as i just carry a jump start pack at the moment in case the primary battery fails,
cheers Dal

[Searider]

Originally Posted by Mark Halliday

Jimbob

Most chandlers will sell a battery box with lashing straps and a twin battery isolator.
The best isolators are the rotary bulkhead type, which give you the choice of 1, 2, 1+2 and OFF. Make sure that you switch to 1+2 when the engine is running so you charge both.

The rotary is the cheapest and simplest way of connecting up a second battery.

However, chances are that the one time you flatten the battery the switch was set to 1+2 - to charge them both and hence both will be flat.

Better to fit a charging diode between the two batteries and then a second isolation switch for the second battery. That way the second battery will always get charged. When you need it isolate battery 1 and switch in battery 2.

[jwalker]

Yup, I'd go with that.

[Scary Des]

Although I like the look of pete7 battery holder I think I would be inclined to make it out of something that doesn’t conduct

Equally what about sulphuric acid and aluminium seem to remember that that does interesting things
Des

[Rogue Wave]

Originally Posted by Scary Des

Although I like the look of pete7 battery holder I think I would be inclined to make it out of something that doesn’t conduct

OK.. there's all of two inches between the battery terminal and the frame. I've heard of arcing but we aint talking thousands of volts here.

In fact. I think we are talking about 12.

RW.

[limeydal]

I came across a ready made bracket when searching through some old parts of a large UPS.(Battery backup supply).
It seems ideally suited if you are installing the battery in a pod seat where it is difficult to secure and screw downwards.
The bracket is Galvanized and could be easily made with anyone with a sheet metal folding brake.It has 2 threaded holes at each side so can be bolted through the side of the pod seat.
This way the bracket slides from the side and there is no chance of arcing as it sits below the terminals. .
Put my battery in place on a 1/2" rubber pad and then bolted through with stainless from the outside.So very easy to get at.
Solid as a rock and doesn't budge at all;
cheers Dal

[Scary Des]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

OK.. there's all of two inches between the battery terminal and the frame. I've heard of arcing but we aint talking thousands of volts here.

In fact. I think we are talking about 12.

RW.

I wasn't thinking about arcing, my comments were more from an installation point of view.

Batteries are often in an inaccessible position and there is a chance of touching both battery poles while fitting the cage. Dead shorts like this on a battery can be very interesting all be it for a short period of time .

On my boat the battery is held in place with a wooden strap which will not conduct Steel straps are used on some cars but generally they are dipped in plastic to stop problems.

Des

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by Scary Des

Batteries are often in an inaccessible position and there is a chance of touching both battery poles while fitting the cage. Dead shorts like this on a battery can be very interesting all be it for a short period of time .

If the fkin thing welds itself onto the battery posts, it'll be even more interesting.

[Powerboat]

Hi,

We have been using the Vetus twin battery selector switch for the last few years and now have them fitted along with reserve battery as standard on every Parker Ally Cat we sell.

Heavy duty, over engineered, weather proof and reaonably priced !

Best wishes,

Stuart

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Scary Des

Batteries are often in an inaccessible position and there is a chance of touching both battery poles while fitting the cage. Dead shorts like this on a battery can be very interesting all be it for a short period of time

Agreed, but this one is going in a small Ribtec console under the seat so access isn't a problem. Prefer to use a socket set extension bar across the terminals myself to see if the batery has any sparks in it

[Scary Des]

Originally Posted by Pete7

............Prefer to use a socket set extension bar across the terminals myself to see if the batery has any sparks in it

I have heard of people achieving the same thing by leaning over a battery (in a car) with a sweat moistened T shirt not really my idea of fun, but it takes all sorts Des

[Rogue Wave]

That's actually one of the problems with trying to sort out a problem at sea on a wet day. Every time you touch the power cable you complete the circuit

Luvvly fkkn luvvly

[Scary Des]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

That's actually one of the problems with trying to sort out a problem at sea on a wet day. Every time you touch the power cable you complete the circuit

Luvvly fkkn luvvly

It’s even better when it is HT One rib I had would give me a belt through the throttle lever every time the engine got wet Ended up selling it to the YMCA thought they would enjoy the electrifying performance more than i did.

Des

[CJL]

Can I just ask what might be a stupid question (all mine are!) but whats wrong with the two piece plastic ones which are fitted to the inside of the console or deck?

I mean if your bolting the batteries down to this extent what are you going boating in? A hurricane?

Seems over the top to me but I wait to be enlightened!

I did notice in the consolidated coding doc thats up on the MCA Web site they are recommending you don't run the boat with both batteries on. They suggest one on then swop over every so often to charge it up.

Chris

[Rogue Wave]

Running on a single battery of your pair is I think pretty standard and is certainly RYA poicy on a yacht course.

The plastic boxes are OK but they can break and also they can be a bugger to get the batteries in and out. Having said that all my boats have got boxes but I'd much prefer brackets