PSC 31 battery set up

[okapi3]

I also use my starboard lazarette for battery storage. The lazarette is very deep, so to make most efficient use of the space I used two Lifeline 6V GPL-GCTs. They have a small footprint for their height and provide 320 Ah. I could have fit two L16 scrubbers in the same footprint, just taller, and got 400 Ah but I was concerned about all the weight to starboard (and my bank acct). I can easily fit my starter battery outboard of the house bank and have lots of free space in the lazarette (batteries forward, junk aft).

[Summit_Elan]

Hi All:

I am about to settle on a PS 31; one of the first things i'd like to do is free up that starboard lazerette...it has 2 Rolls 8D batteries and I think that space would be better utilized by docking lines, fenders, cleaning gear, etc. I am going to install a starter battery on that shelf over the stuffing box; but has anyone else moved the batteries or seen them in another location? the hanging locker behind the head is filled with a 17 year old belt driven compressor for the fridge-that seems like the best place to move the batteries to, when the fridge dies (any day now, I think), and then relocate the fridge compressor to the hanging locker next to the fridge?

Any thoughts would be welcome, and hi to everyone, I will be drawing (pun!) on your experience.

Elan

[boatpoker]

AGM's or not we are still talking about electrolyte (sufuric acid) and any battery can split open. ABYC requires all batteries be secured in electrolyte resistant boxes (plywood doesn't not cut it) and are not permitted to move anymore than 1" in any direction..... shouldn't move at all in my book.Beacuse they generate hydrogen when charging they must also be vented to the outside (may be hard to do in a hanging locker).While we are at it, conductors must not be connected with wing nuts.

[teejayevans]

That's the biggest problem with the 31, lack of large storage spaces.
I hang my fenders off the stern railing, my SB locker has both batteries and the reefer, so there is limited room. I store my storm sails in the wet locker.
Have you thought about increasing the size of the port locker? You could deepen it by ~5 inches and make it much larger by cannibalising the aft part of the shelf area.
Tom

[Summit_Elan]

Wow, you have the compressor in there too?

I looked on line at some photos of a 2010 year 31 and the factory puts the batteries in the sb locker. I have always seen batteries under a settee so I wasn't too concerned about venting. Do you guys think that trying to put them in the head locker would be a bad idea?

[orientalnc2010]

Lifeline AGM batteries will not leak electrolite when the case is split or ruptured. Lifeline is a high end AGM, It's hard to imagine that a high quality builder like PSC would send 300 per battery and not another 10 for a plastic battery case if it was required.
AGM stands for absorbed fiberglass mat and are electrolite starved by design. That is why they can be placed in any position, my staring battery is on it's side.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by orientalnc2010

Lifeline AGM batteries will not leak electrolite when the case is split or ruptured. Lifeline is a high end AGM, It's hard to imagine that a high quality builder like PSC would send 300 per battery and not another 10 for a plastic battery case if it was required.
AGM stands for absorbed fiberglass mat and are electrolite starved by design. That is why they can be placed in any position, my staring battery is on it's side.

ABYC disagrees with you. you pays your money and takes your chances.

[teejayevans]

Originally Posted by Summit_Elan

Wow, you have the compressor in there too?

I looked on line at some photos of a 2010 year 31 and the factory puts the batteries in the sb locker. I have always seen batteries under a settee so I wasn't too concerned about venting. Do you guys think that trying to put them in the head locker would be a bad idea?

Yep, its tuck up on a shelf on the aft part of the locker, a fairly good spot really, I'd post a pix but sailnet doesn't seem to support that.
Also, my locker is vented, I assume that's because overcharging could cause the batteries (even AGMs) to vent hydrogen gas.
Tom

[okapi3]

I am about to settle on a PS 31; one of the first things i'd like to do is free up that starboard lazerette...

Elan,

At the risk of repeating my previous post, I just wanted to point out that the SB lazarette is very deep, and when I looked up 8D batteries they appear to be low and broad, which would be very inefficient use of that space. There are some very good batteries which are tall and slim (usually 6V)) which can be stored securely right up against the forward bulkhead of the SB locker, leaving lots of room for storage aft. All the battery websites give the dimensions so it might be useful to look for the tall skinny ones which pack a lot of Ahs. Just a suggestion...

Paul

[boatpoker]

ABYC requires that batteries be vented outside of accomodation spaces. Whenever I saw a battery under a settee or in a locker in those spaces I mentioned it in the survey report but never made a big deal out of it unless some idiot put five batteries under the settee with a battery charger in an unventilated space (like many newer boats).
Last night changed my mind. As my wife and I were watching TV there was a terrific whooosh and the boat (40') instantly filled with a stench that smelled like burning urine. The single group 31 battery under my poorly ventilated V-berth (powers bow thruster) had let go. It looked like a watermelon and had blown all the caps off. The line from my thruster oil reservoir had melted and dumped a liter of oil in the bilge.

I check my batteries every 2 weeks on a schedule and had done this check five days before, everything was fine. This battery is charged through the echo charger on my Xantrex. The other four batteries are fine. the charger is working properly so no overcharge.

Conclusion : This 4 year old battery suffered an internal short, probably helped along by overheating due to poor ventilation.

A new vent system will be fitted before I replace the battery.

My survey reports are going to be worded somewhat more strongly from now on when I see improperly vented batteries. Had I not been on board I'd probably be waiting for the insurance cheque ..... damn ! should let it go.