Is my Surveyor correct when he says ..

D

DLL

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you are not supposed to have wet cell batteries under an inverter? They were inside a high quality battery box, but the fumes might get out.
I understand the theory, but the Yacht Broker said the Surveyor was wrong.

I finally put AGM batteries in that spot. Still in the container. Does that pass the safety test?

He said we had delam wood/dry rot and our repairman cannot find it. It seems like the Surveyor used a Multi-Tester to check for wet wood, but I can't remember for sure. There were some wood shavings from an electric drill when they installed some items. Any ideas?
 
"but the Yacht Broker said the Surveyor was wrong." Your surveyor is correct, when the wet cells charge they "gas out" and emit corrosive gas. On a wooden boat, the gas will cause the surrounding wood to get "punky". In the ideal world (or custom built boat) batteries should be housed in a seperate gas tight compartment, vented directy to the open atmosphere.
 
Your surveyor is correct. ABYC standards show it clear as day. Even with the AGM batteries it will not pass.
 
Well, does that apply to chargers too? You know with an inverter it is most advantageous to make the cable run from the battery to the inverter as short as possible, I guess beside the batteries but not above would be kosher??
 
Who are you going to believe? An accredited surveyor or a broker who just wants to make money at any cost?
 
I would not place any electronics or air conditioning or mechanical gear above the batteries unless they are properly housed and vented out..maybe not even then...

You are paying the surveyor to give you the best advice, why ignore him over the broker???

dave
 
i certainly woudn't pay to much attention to what the broker said...

As to the delamination, the survey should be detailed enough to state where it was found, you need to call the surveyor. that's why it's always important to be there when the boat is surveyed.

Al, what are the ABYC standards about batteries in living quarters? obviously AGM, not lead acids.. if they are in enclosed boxes, is it acceptable? I've seen a few boats like that and always wondered.

About the inverter above the batteries, if they are in an enclosed box, with a vent routing gases outside, it that ok? I've seen some really heavy duty fiberglass boxes with a 2"+ hose at the top routing gases out... i dont' see what the concern woudl be in that case.
 
Pascal, If the batteries are completely isolated in there own compartment its fine. If i get a little free time ill post the standard.
 
The broker is wrong, the surveyor is correct.
ABYC 10.7.5 Batteries shall not be installed, without a intervening barrier, directly below electrical equipment susceptible to attack from corrosive gasses.

ABYC 10.7.9 A vent system or other means shall be provided to permit the discharge from the boat of hydrogen gas released by the battery.

Gary
Sound Marine Survey
 
Certainly agree, about flooded lead acid batteries. But I wonder about the recumbant AGM's. Which are more commonly put into living spaces, and on occasion mounted on their sides?

I would guess that the surveyor used a moisture meter--which might look like a multimeter, although dampness in wood could be shown with a multimeter; it is difficult and not as accurate as a moisture meter.
 
thank GAry... that make sense... so if you have a good battery box, with a vent at the top connected to a hose routing the gases outside, you can have something above the batteries.
 
So how much hydrogen must a battery bank emit into an engine room before you have an explosive atmospehere?
 
an engine room is well ventilated so as long as the batteries are in boxes and gases dont' get out corroding metal things nearby, it's fine.

the problem may arise when batteries are fitting in other smaller compartments, especially if the charger starts acting up.
 
Pascal, thats exactly what I did for my windlass battery mounted in my V-berth, its in a case vented with a thru-hull to the outside. I don't think you would really have a problem mounting a small battery in living spaces, at least not one small 27 or 24 battery. Tons of older sailboats mounted them inside. I guess there was a problem somewhere in the past.. It would be a little shaky for those who have completely discharged 8D's, 4D's etc. below their cabin seats. Charging dead 8D's, 4D's or golf cart batteries would probably put out enough gasses to the point you could smell it. Well thats the rules, the surveyor did the right thing, no matter what size the battery was it should'nt be venting in living spaces or mounted below an inverter.
Also lots of inverters are not ignition protected. Having battery venting in the same compartment is not a good idea.
 
Gary a small 24 or 27 series battery if it's a wet cell can give off enough fumes to cause problems, your application venting it would seem fine not vented wouldn't be good. I would only use AGM's or Gels for batteries in or under living areas. Then again I would never use a Gel-Cell in any boat for any purpose. They are just to finacy with charging and discharging.
Bill
 
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