I have to agree with Paul. Yellow top
batteries are not all they are cracked up to be,
however they should have worked, maybe not just
as long. I like his choice of the AGM BA-UB-GC-2
golf cart batteries even though they are
relatively expensive. I used 24 of them coupled
into 6 paralleled groups of 4 (24 volt) for a
solar project at a friends place in Baja. that's
1260 AHrs or 30 KWHrs. They have performed
superbly and run everything from refrigerators
and a microwave to a washing machine and of course all the house lights.
(I sent this out earlier, but it did not make the cut or something.)
Hi Guys,
Why not use AGM batteries and reduce the
explosion problems. They can be mounted in any
position and do not have need for water filling
or venting applications, however I would
recommend they not be sealed in a box and have
some slight venting. There is some good battery
information at:
http://www.impulseelectronics.com/batteries_tech.htm
and http://www.impulseelectronics.com/batteries2.htm.
Marvin - W6MJM
At 12:22 PM 12/2/2009, you wrote:
Tom,
Please be advised that boating laws do not
specifically require a battery to be in a
box. What they do require is a battery to be
securely mounted and the "non-grounded" terminal
covered. Most folks interpret that as a battery
box or bracket to old the battery in
place. Most folks usually cover both battery
terminals, as interpretation of the terminal
issue varies state to state and officer to officer.
Battery boxes as used in boating are generally
vented, by the cable entrance-ways and some even
have a small open vent on the top. If a battery
is placed in an enclosed compartment, it is
generally vented externally or via another
compartment. I do not recall the precise
position of the ABYC on battery ventilation, but
I know they require the battery not be mounted
under any electronic or electrical equipment for the sake of corrosion.
In the past, I have used marine type battery
boxes for radio installations and I usually
vented it outside by cutting a hole in the
battery box top and affixing a flexible vent
line to the outside. I have experienced no
complications following this procedure, either
with corrosion or explosive events.
Good Luck,
Rich
N9EMS
