How to Rebuild a Battery Box (LEAKING lead acid batteries on a Sailboat!!) Patrick Childress #46

Leaking Lead acid batteries on our sailboat caused a LOT of corrosion and rot ...after being healed over in rough seas. So we either had to upgrade and do a battery box rebuild in fiberglass, upgrade to LiFePO4 lithium batteries, or do both so we have the options for what battery chemistry to use when these Trojan T-105s wear out. Battery acid can corrode, melt, and dissolve a battery box on a cruising sailboat. Patrick Childress explains what he does to replace/repair/rebuild the wood and fiberglass battery box compartment to repair the damage done by leaking/gassing lead acid batteries. He step by step rebuilds a custom acid-proof battery box/compartment. Much of the wood was destroyed by the acid from our 6v golf cart Trojan T-105 lead acid batteries, during bad weather, or overfilling of the water, or was it the gasses emitted during equalization of batteries? Was it spilling of electrolytes after overfilling the battery with battery water, or did battery acid spill out during rough weather/ rough seas? This was also explained in the video before this one: https://youtu.be/WYlhinRAM0I Although we currently have Trojan T-105 lead acid batteries (FLA), we are researching replacing them next time with lithium iron phosphate batteries (12V LiFePO4 battery bank instead of Trojan golf cart batteries) The prices have come down since we started looking at them a few years ago, and they are said to be extremely safe now. We will not have to make too many changes to our charging units because we have been slowly upgrading those over time anyway. But thr price upfront is gigantic for these batteries. Over the long haul though, it catches up and moves ahead considering the number of cycles compared to lead acid and other factors. Since we are longterm liveaboards with no foreseeable end in sight of this cruising lifestyle, long term value is good! The companies we are considering are: Freedom Won” in South Africa, who produces a new kind of marine lithium battery set up (http://www.FreedomWon.co.za) -an excellent product which will revolutionize marine lithium iron phosphate batteries on boats! As per our usual habit, we are also strongly considering importing American made quality lithium batteries, The batteries, and accompanying components that we are most impressed with, as well as the level of support, is ElectroMaax. (http://www.Electromaax.com) Rebecca WILL find the best drop-in Lithium batteries to replace our Trojan T-105 lead acid batteries, or may conclude it’s best to stick with the leaking lead acid batteries for now. Eventually, we will have to replace our lead acid batteries and LifePO4 batteries may be our goal. There is a LOT to consider when replacing lead acid batteries with LifePO4 batteries, so we will spend the next 6 months researching and learning in preparation for replacing our marine batteries with the best marine battery we can find! Be sure to subscribe to find out what we do! This video, is the rebuild of the battery box using a cored structural panel made here by “Fleet Management” in Zululand Yacht Club Boat Yard. It is much like “Coosa board” in the USA, as well as marine plywood, coating everything with fiberglass resin for protection from acid. AMT Composites has been our technical advisor and supplier of epoxy resin, hardener, peel-ply, fiberglass cloth, filler, and other materials...many made by Gurit throughout this project and more. (Http://www.AMTComposites.co.za) Please start your Amazon shopping here if at all possible; as an Amazon affiliate, we may make a small commission from any purchase you make : https://amzn.to/2K9MmuA ▬▬ FOLLOW ALONG! ▬▬ ✩Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/svBrickHouse ✩ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/SYBrickhouse ✩ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SVBrickhouse ✩Our blog: :http://www.WhereIsBrickHouse.com ✩Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/PatrickChildress ✩Tshirts and other: https://www.WhereIsBrickHouse.com/store Want to know more about us, and how we met...http://whereisbrickhouse.com/about-the-crew-patrick-and-rebecca-childress/ Wish we were on Patreon? We aren’t...but you can support us in 5 other ways: 🍯(Tip Jar) http://whereisbrickhouse.com/tip-jar/ ⛵️ TWO FREE SAILING COURSES: http://whereisbrickhouse.com/sailing-school/ ⏩Start your Amazon shopping here: https://amzn.to/2K9MmuA ✩Tshirts and other: https://www.WhereIsBrickHouse.com/store ✩Send us a personal note or tip, or surprise by snail mail, to arrive by October 20, 2019. Address is at the bottom of this page: http://www.WhereIsBrickHouse.com/Tip-Jar **As an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn commissions on qualifying purchases, as well as from other affiliate links listed on this page**