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 3 hrs to wreck out battery trays		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts
Initially Posted - 08/30/2004 :  16:37:20  Show Profile  Visit Ben - FL's Homepage
I just spent three hours working on removing the battery boxes in the aft locker below. The way the batteries were configured was not practical. The original battery was just inside the hatch cover. The second battery looked like it was added later by p.o. It had a bare wood tray put together with screws. The first was a manufatured fiberglass tray. The second battery was aft of the first, so if it needed attention I had to pull the first out (first).

So I took the wires loose and removed both batteries to the galley. Then I commenced to hammeringg, sawing, grinding, and chiseling on the trays to get them out of the way. I ended up using a sawzall to cut them into smaller pieces and then hammer and chisel them loose. Believe me I was a little concerned about sawing right through the hull. Not a good thing while she is sitting in her slip. And my only bilge pump is manual. So I would be pumping away until somebody came along.

The original tray was fiberglassed to the hull. The wood tray was stuck down with some kind of super rubber stuff.

It was a very hot and sweating job. I used a small vacuum cleaner for an air blower. But I persevered finally. Now all that remains is to install two new trays which will be side by side and all the way aft to the transom. That way I can access one battery without removing the other. Also there is a ton of space in there now for extra food or what ever.

Part of the reason for this procedure was also to install my solar battery charger. I want to use a through hull plug in the cockpit similar to the one used on my AutoTiller.

Q: How should I wire my solar charger? Should I wire it to the OFF/ONE/ALL/TWO switch? Or should I wire it directly to the battery? If so, how do I charge both batteries with out defeating the ONE/ALL/TWO isolation switch?

I will probably have some more questions for you electrical gurus. Like, what keeps the breaker panel from defeating the isolation?

I know this seems like I am rambling, but I believe in knowing my vessel intimately. And the wiring is the only thing I am not up on.
Safe voyages,
Ben
sloop Chick-a-pea,
C250wk#364
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Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts
Response Posted - 08/31/2004 :  20:22:43  Show Profile  Visit Ben - FL's Homepage
Here is a picture of the new configuration. There is a ton of space there. At least 8 or 9 cf. You can see where the old battery was right in the access hatch. It still needs some work cleaning up the wires. But it will have to wait until after hurricane Frances.
Edited by - Ben - FL on 02/09/2005 21:49:47
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Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts
Response Posted - 09/02/2004 :  10:46:23  Show Profile  Visit Oscar's Homepage
I would put a "2-all-1-off" switch in, wire the solar charger to the "all" terminal, and then run cables from the 1 and 2 terminal to either the battery plus terminals, or to the 1 and 2 terminals on your battery selector switch...(same difference, just the other end of the cable.)

This way you can control to which battery the charge goes, and you can charge with the house off....(which is what you want to do when you leave the boat.)

One note, if you have the battery switch in Both, you will be charging both batteries, regardless of what position the charger switch is in, as you have connected the two batteries parallel, draw a picture and you'll see.

Oscar
C42 # 76 "Lady Kay"
C250 # 618 Good Survey, awaiting closing.
http://www.woodenshoemusic.com/C250WB
Edited by - Oscar on 09/02/2004 10:49:04
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Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts
Response Posted - 09/02/2004 :  19:28:31  Show Profile  Visit Ben - FL's Homepage
I think I will. (draw a picture that is) Thankx.
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Jeff McK
Captain

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USA
389 Posts
Response Posted - 09/04/2004 :  11:21:01  Show Profile
Ben,

Great job in a tough location! Best of luck with Frances.
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Al
Captain

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USA
269 Posts
Response Posted - 02/10/2005 :  00:48:29  Show Profile
I feel your pain, Ben! I did the same thing a while back. Not fun at all!

Now that you're done I hesitate to ask, but did you remove the bulkhead first? It's just held in with a few screws and pops right out.
Edited by - Al on 02/10/2005 22:00:53
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Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts
Response Posted - 02/10/2005 :  21:48:35  Show Profile  Visit Ben - FL's Homepage
No I did not remove the bulkhead. I probably should have.

This message poped up again because I was reading the other thread and realized that I had deleated the pictures. So I edited the old post so the photos would show again. BTW, where are yours?
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Al
Captain

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USA
269 Posts
Response Posted - 02/10/2005 :  22:04:27  Show Profile
The pix should display properly now. I moved them from WebShots to SnapFish.
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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts
Response Posted - 02/15/2005 :  17:48:14  Show Profile
Al,
How did you secure the wood to the hull?
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Capt. Kurt
Navigator

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185 Posts
Response Posted - 02/15/2005 :  18:06:29  Show Profile
Tom,
It looks like he used 8 screws in the second picture he posted. (the one that shows the platform only) You will want to make sure the screws are not too long though...
Kurt
#818 C250WK 'Tortuga'
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Al
Captain

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USA
269 Posts
Response Posted - 02/15/2005 :  18:15:59  Show Profile
I wanted it to survive a capsize, so after I sanded the original surface smooth (1st picture, above), I smeared on a layer of 3M 5200, then attached the board with eight #10 screws (2nd picture). I don't remember the length, but the original tray area is built up quite a bit, so you have plenty of material to screw into.
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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.