The existing electrical system on Saint Brendon is antique (two inefficient and dead lead-acid batteries, a square-wave inverter, etc.) and not capable of running the devices I will use for extended trip. Also, the wiring itself is a rats nest of modifications over many decades. I decided to start over.
All but the most essential wiring was removed as was most of the electronic devices. The battery box is is located under the port settee together with the fuel tank. The platform the batteries were sitting on was rotten. I started by saturating the platform with epoxy and then laminating a second piece of 1/2″ plywood on top.
The battery platform is 11×28″ and will accommodate a 70 Ah AGM starter battery and three small-format 100 Ah LiFePO4 batteries. I made the design decision to use the rest of the space for the Victron components. Since those components must be mounted vertically, I needed a vertical surface to mount them on. That surface turned out to be 10×28″. Another consideration was ventilation. On one hand, I wanted the same to be contained so I could use the fire suppression system I had chosen. On the other hand, I was concerned that the components would overheat in the confined space. Another issue was the 10×28″ surface was insufficient to comfortably fit the DC-DC charger, two MPPTs, shunt, breakers, and buss bars.
I solved this issues by using SendCutSend to manufacture a universal Victron mounting plate that allows the components to be mounted side-on (to improve circulation) and it incorporates a small (80 mm) fan and (KSD-01F) thermostat switch as insurance should the component begin to overheat (exceeds 40 C). The fire suppression system activated about
The resulting system is compact and everything is assessable to service in one place.
I spent quite a bit of time thinking about the layout and where all the wiring will go. There are holes in the bulkhead to the right where the lines from the feeds and loads will be attached to the buss.
The vertical mounting board has been incorporated into the original aluminum battery bracket. My plan is to assemble everything on the board/bracket, then install it as a unit.