Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 12-17-2017, 11:02 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Dave_E's Avatar
 
City: La Conner, WA
Vessel Name: Agnus Dei
Vessel Model: 36' Shin Shing
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 276
Broke a battery terminal

After all the work for the new flooring, the new battery boxes, cleaning and routing all the cables and wires.... I was checking things over last night and saw 2 large cables on a negative post of one of the 6V batteries that looked like it was loose. Upon further close investigation, the battery post is cracked at the base. Aaaaaaaaaaaarrg!

We're not cruising for a few months. Does anyone see a problem with leaving this battery hooked up at the dock?

Dave
__________________
GOD, Family, career
Dave_E is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-17-2017, 11:17 AM   #2
Guru
 
City: Carefree, Arizona
Vessel Name: sunchaser V
Vessel Model: DeFever 48 (sold)
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,179
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave_E View Post
After all the work for the new flooring, the new battery boxes, cleaning and routing all the cables and wires.... I was checking things over last night and saw 2 large cables on a negative post of one of the 6V batteries that looked like it was loose. Upon further close investigation, the battery post is cracked at the base. Aaaaaaaaaaaarrg!

We're not cruising for a few months. Does anyone see a problem with leaving this battery hooked up at the dock?

Dave

Dave

No, possible dead short or fire danger IMHO - when charging.

How old are the batteries? How many in the bank? Maybe just disconnect all but one if needed for pumps. Then use a small safe charger for that one.

Or bite the bullet and replace all in bank now.
sunchaser is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-17-2017, 11:54 AM   #3
Scraping Paint
 
City: CT
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 963
Ouch, what a pain!

Any ideas how it happened, so we can learn from your experience?

What make/model batts?
john61ct is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-17-2017, 11:55 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Dave_E's Avatar
 
City: La Conner, WA
Vessel Name: Agnus Dei
Vessel Model: 36' Shin Shing
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 276
I have 4 6V batteries, 2 in each bank, the 2 banks in parallel. All batteries are less than 2 years old.
__________________
GOD, Family, career
Dave_E is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-17-2017, 12:00 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Dave_E's Avatar
 
City: La Conner, WA
Vessel Name: Agnus Dei
Vessel Model: 36' Shin Shing
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 276
Quote:
Originally Posted by john61ct View Post
Ouch, what a pain!

Any ideas how it happened, so we can learn from your experience?

What make/model batts?
Interstate 6VHDU batteries. I'm going to assume it was my fault, as I had to wrangle those big cables pretty good, just had to much preload on them.

Dave
__________________
GOD, Family, career
Dave_E is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-17-2017, 12:07 PM   #6
Scraping Paint
 
City: CT
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 963
Well lesson learned then. 8-)

I've heard of people using welding cables - much more flexible at heavy gauges - for things like jumper cables.

I wonder if OK, if just used for a short distance from the batt to the first buss bar / distribution point, easy to inspect as part of battery maintenance checklist.
john61ct is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-17-2017, 12:20 PM   #7
Scraping Paint
 
City: CT
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 963
You're probably aware Interstate's not really true deep cycling? rated for maybe 5-600 cycles at 50% DoD

At that low price end of the market IMO the Duracell branded FLA GCs sold at BatteriesPlus or Sam's Club would be a big step up in quality, actually made by Deka/East Penn and likely lots cheaper!

The Trojan T-105s, especially RE version even more so, but those cost a fair bit more.
john61ct is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-17-2017, 12:52 PM   #8
Guru
 
C lectric's Avatar
 
City: Gibsons, B.C., Canada
Vessel Name: Island Pride
Vessel Model: Palmer 32'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,409
Don't trust a broken battery lug. If it breaks no telling where it could go. Maybe cause a short to a pos. lug and you would have a serious problem.

Even if not shorted directly to a Pos. lug any sparking that results could explode a battery from the gassing.
C lectric is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-17-2017, 04:38 PM   #9
Guru
 
tiltrider1's Avatar
 
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: AZZURRA
Vessel Model: Ocean Alexander 54
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 4,281
Quote:
Originally Posted by john61ct View Post
Well lesson learned then. 8-)

I've heard of people using welding cables - much more flexible at heavy gauges - for things like jumper cables.

I wonder if OK, if just used for a short distance from the batt to the first buss bar / distribution point, easy to inspect as part of battery maintenance checklist.
ABYC specifically rejects welding cables, they do not meet all the necessary requirements.
tiltrider1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2017, 06:13 AM   #10
FF
Guru
 
FF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
For the low loads of sitting , drilling the top of the post and tapping the bottom and installing a COPPER bolt to hold it together should work fine.

Hardly OK for diesel starting amps , or even an inverter for an air cond , but to just charge to make up internal losses or an occasional bilge pump , why not?
FF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2017, 06:18 AM   #11
Guru
 
psneeld's Avatar
 
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,119
I have been informed that welding cable does meet ABYC requirements in the sense they arent specifically rulled out and any specs mentioned wouldn't necessarilly rule them out.

Anyone have the ABYC section on wire handy? AND, knows all the othe required specs?

Not to say dont use marine cable in upgrades, but I will bet there us a lot of welding cable still out there in older boats and I have no idea what some of mine is from Taiwan...but it is still serviceable and no need to replace for the sake of replacement.
psneeld is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2017, 06:25 AM   #12
Guru
 
O C Diver's Avatar
 
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,818
Does ABYC allow non tinned wire for boat permanent wiring?

Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush.....
"Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
O C Diver is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2017, 06:48 AM   #13
Guru
 
psneeld's Avatar
 
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,119
yes on the untinned from other threads, unless changed within the year or so.
psneeld is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2017, 06:55 AM   #14
Guru
 
Lou_tribal's Avatar
 
City: Quebec
Vessel Name: Bleuvet
Vessel Model: Custom Built
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 4,374
Quote:
Originally Posted by psneeld View Post
I have been informed that welding cable does meet ABYC requirements in the sense they arent specifically rulled out and any specs mentioned wouldn't necessarilly rule them out.

Anyone have the ABYC section on wire handy? AND, knows all the othe required specs?

Not to say dont use marine cable in upgrades, but I will bet there us a lot of welding cable still out there in older boats and I have no idea what some of mine is from Taiwan...but it is still serviceable and no need to replace for the sake of replacement.
Welding cables are not specifically mentioned as to be exclude. They only mention what are the requirements that should be met (ul1426, saej378, saej1127, number of strands etc).
Not sure if a welding cable meets these.

L
Lou_tribal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2017, 07:36 AM   #15
Guru
 
psneeld's Avatar
 
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,119
thats always the trick....matching specifications, not just certifications as often the requirements aren't "XYZ" certification but "must meet" (or similar language) certification.
psneeld is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2017, 09:20 AM   #16
Guru
 
City: Melbourne, FL
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,731
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lou_tribal View Post
Welding cables are not specifically mentioned as to be exclude. They only mention what are the requirements that should be met (ul1426, saej378, saej1127, number of strands etc).
Not sure if a welding cable meets these.

L
Welding cables are designed to be more flexible and have more / smaller conductors. The problem is that they tend to wick more water via capillary attraction into the wire if left open on the ends.

In theory, a boat battery cable should be flexible enough to route but not move much from then on. I know having it flexible when changing batteries is nice but at what cost / risk?
stubones99 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2017, 09:37 AM   #17
Guru
 
diver dave's Avatar
 
City: Palm Coast, FL
Vessel Name: Coquina
Vessel Model: Lagoon 380
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,570
I think "old school" welding cable is natural rubber, and you don't want that. But, the newer stuff is much more likely neoprene or EPDM, both with good flex, oil, fuel, and water resistance.
diver dave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2017, 11:44 AM   #18
FF
Guru
 
FF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
"I know having it flexible when changing batteries is nice but at what cost / risk?"

Clamps with rubber covering are quite cheap , and would not be a PIA if only need removal for battery exchanges.
FF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2017, 02:11 PM   #19
Guru
 
River Cruiser's Avatar
 
City: UMR MM283
Vessel Name: Northern Lights II
Vessel Model: Bayliner 3870
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,357
Broke a battery terminal

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave_E View Post
After all the work for the new flooring, the new battery boxes, cleaning and routing all the cables and wires.... I was checking things over last night and saw 2 large cables on a negative post of one of the 6V batteries that looked like it was loose. Upon further close investigation, the battery post is cracked at the base. Aaaaaaaaaaaarrg!

We're not cruising for a few months. Does anyone see a problem with leaving this battery hooked up at the dock?

Dave


When I was working I had molds for battery post a + & a -. Occasionally a post on the equipment would be damaged, I cut off whatever was left of the original post. Then I would use a small wood screw about 1” long, screw that into what’s left of the old post. Then use a jumper cable one clamp on the good post and a small carbon rod in the other. Use the carbon rod to melt the lead around the screw and add lead till I had a new post. Lay wet rags over the battery before starting this, I’ve replaced dozens of post on dozers, scrapers and similar excavation equipment.
__________________
Ron on Northern Lights II
I don't like making plans for the day because the word "premeditated" gets thrown around in the courtroom.
River Cruiser is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2017, 03:50 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
City: Washington
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 468
ABYC standards change from time to time as do land based building codes. You are not required to upgrade your boat to meet current (no pun intended) wiring standards.

For that matter, on a recreational boat you are not required to follow ABYC standards. It's a good idea to follow them though, they are safety standards.
aboatman is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:01 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012