How Protective Boots on Your Boat Batteries Can Save Your Life

[@Coyotehello]

That was actually a very funny video on a very serious subject! Thanks Jeff. It is literally needed in 70% of my reports.

[@landrum3893]

I bought a boat recently that had exposed battery posts in the aft lazarette with metal handles and things sliding around all over it. A fire waiting to happen. I ended up getting basic plastic terminal covers and then top to battery boxes for them as well. The batteries are AGM so they dont need full boxes but the tops can still be strapped on to protect the terminals and connections.

[@marcomorgato1064]

Hi Jeff, great talk. You have this gift of explaining crucial issues in a simple and object way. Can you talk a little about lighting strike protections? Do they really help? Many thanks, Marco

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks, don't have experience in this field as lighting strikes are rare in Vancouver, BC.

[@thangknowa2567]

The protective boots come in different sizes and configurations, sometimes you need bigger or different configuration boots to afford better coverage and protection. Thanks Jeff!

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Yep, they do, you generally spec them to the wire size.

[@cinqzero2839]

Awesome video. I had a metal rod fall off a shelf in my truck canopy , onto a battery with no cover. It arced out, melted the 1/2" rod, and lit the battery on fire. Pretty random accident. But the fire got put out....but this was occurring while i was driving. Imagine my surprise when I got to my destination. At least I didnt have to swim for it! .....anyway buy some boots and battery boxes folks.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks for sharing.

[@mrwiik644]

Great video 😀 would be awesome with an demonstration of instalation.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Noted!

[@greglions9690]

Better still a demo of a direct short!

[@rebelrrp]

I just finished installing a set of jabsco 24 volt spot lights on my boat. Luckily the switch was only about 4 feet from the battery box because I ran the wires and since the switch had a fuse in it didn't put one in the wires. The ends were exposed and touched and in about 5 seconds completely melted the wires. So when I replaced them I put in line fuses into wires as well. If I had run the wires through the whole boat I would have been screwed big time.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Sharing not only the good but our own errors is excellent, thank you for that. We learn from our own and hopefully from others too.

[@robertgallant6422]

I covered the battery terminals but never though of the solenoid, thanks, I'll be looking into doing that. Great videos. I have one question: I'm upgrading wires on my 30 year old boat, what gauge wire should I use to replace the wire (looks like welding wire) from the starter & ground to the battery? How can I calculate it? I have a 30hp Atom 4 gas engine.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Sizing the starter cables is based on the anticipated amps use to start the engine and the cable length between battery and starter. Always err on the side of caution, i.e. a bigger cable. For instance, my 30 HP sailboat engine as 1/0 wiring for the starter.

[@SailingPauHana]

Great info and we love the channel. What about bus bars? Do we need protective covers on a bus bar?

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Good question, yep, you should have positive covers over positive bus bars and even fuse holders too.

[@GI-AUS]

Great vids, thank you. (Maybe you want to turn the recording level/sensitivity on your audio down a bit, your voice is powerful and mic level is going int into the red, which causes audio distortion. Just turn down the mic/audio recording level in your camera.)

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks for the tip!

[@steveking8548]

@@PacificYachtSystems My audio was PERFECT - no distortion whatsoever. I don't need a high volume but there are tons of older folks who do. Thank you for your videos!

[@anthonymarino4260]

Well said

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks.

[@charlesshelby2717]

Jeff, Thank you so much for the information. I plan on install NorthStar batteries and they have a protective cover over the battery terminals. The cover does protect the top of the terminal but I noticed the side is exposed. The exposure is not flush with the battery, it at least 1/2 in recessed. Does the protective cover replace the battery boot or do I need to add a protective boot? As I type this I want to say "if the boot fits put one on." your thoughts? Thank you in advance.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Probably, a protective boot on battery terminals is a good thing.

[@hippybaker]

Oddly enough, I can't seem to find a video of a battery dead shorting out and doing crazy things. I think you should make one, Jeff :)

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Scary thought but will keep this in mind.

[@steveking8548]

I think here's one of Jeff's videos with a number of dead shorts: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqvJfH2te6iDntE

[@Valk69]

Arc welding 101

[@PacificYachtSystems]

exacxtly.

[@fanaticforager6610]

Nice 👍 boots 👢 ✨🙌🥳

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Good one!

[@tao4409]

They are so when you drop a tool it doesn't come back molten and spatter you. I am presently awaiting some boots to fit 4/0 cables; not only do they protect against carelessness, they also tidy up your aesthetics. That's actually a good selling point for the lithiums; they are protected internally and won't vaporize a tool in your face. No smelting in the bilge please.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks Tao for contributing to the discussion.

[@martinbowers852]

late winter night, mechanic stuffed can of either inside his coveralls, used batteries as a step while climbing onto truck to squirt either into intake, slipped fell punctured either can and wrench in his pocket arced on battery, he is now running around with flames coming from his leg, arm and neck opening, true story i was watching, lucky guy only a severe sun burn on his hands, neck and face also a very short free hair cut. Be careful out there.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks for sharing, what a crazy story,

[@brianyates1703]

Jeff, Great update. Many don’t understand the importance of the boot covers. The ABYC standard that I found only calls for the positive posts to be covered so that is what I did on my install. I like your idea of all posts being covered so going order covers for negatives today. The biggest issue I had was finding where to get the covers I needed. I used www.vteworld.com to order mine. They have all different cover configurations to meet the needs. My alternator and starter have covers but are old and brittle after 21 years and lots of heat. Where can I find small boot covers for these connections?

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Hi Brian, thanks for sharing. Let us know where you found your boot covers.

[@brianyates1703]

@@PacificYachtSystems Jeff, I got them at www.vteworld.com/content/termins/TerminalInsulators.php. They have a fantastic selection to meet almost any configuration. Plus reasonable prices.

[@alvin1984fiji]

Yep ..protects from slips..oopsy's

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Good one.

[@alvin1984fiji]

@@PacificYachtSystems hi Jeff..do you have a video link of your sailboat..if you have a tour video..might have seen glimpse of your sailboat ⛵ during some of your seminar clips..

[@lnewbyliveca]

On my house bank of 6 batteries I just cover all the positive posts

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Good one!