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I wanted to build a battery box for my kayak. I have a couple of stipulations in mind: portable in/out of the boat; water proof; plugs to switch out electronics; upgrade capable for future electronic items.
I wanted something that I could pull out of the boat and use campsite to run a LED lamp, could run a fish finder and marine-grade LEDs in the boat. And I wanted something that I could upgrade components in over time in.
I came up with one of the off the shelf dry boxes that seem to fit well behind the seat... But this will go under the deck hatch. I placed a fuzed power distribution strip and a distribution ground return on Velcro pads under the lid. I drilled holes and put rubber gaskets in the holes. I eventually will silicone them closed once I figure out how much slack is needed in and out of the box.
Initially I thought I would simply use construction adhesive to glue in walls to hold the batteries. But it just doesn't stick well enough and I popped them right out. So now I have decided to build an aluminum tray that sits down into the box. I had some angle stock in the shed to start with... I just need to buy some to finish the project with. The idea is that I will have two batteries at either side of the tray (weigh balanced) and have them switched so as one runs out I can flip the switch to change power sources to my electronics.
I found some marine-grade LED strips that I like. One is going to go in the box lid for an emergency light source. The other I will put up under the center hatch door so I can lift it and turn the light strip on for a utility light right in front of me while on the water.
I wanted to build a battery box for my kayak. I have a couple of stipulations in mind: portable in/out of the boat; water proof; plugs to switch out electronics; upgrade capable for future electronic items.
I wanted something that I could pull out of the boat and use campsite to run a LED lamp, could run a fish finder and marine-grade LEDs in the boat. And I wanted something that I could upgrade components in over time in.
I came up with one of the off the shelf dry boxes that seem to fit well behind the seat... But this will go under the deck hatch. I placed a fuzed power distribution strip and a distribution ground return on Velcro pads under the lid. I drilled holes and put rubber gaskets in the holes. I eventually will silicone them closed once I figure out how much slack is needed in and out of the box.
Initially I thought I would simply use construction adhesive to glue in walls to hold the batteries. But it just doesn't stick well enough and I popped them right out. So now I have decided to build an aluminum tray that sits down into the box. I had some angle stock in the shed to start with... I just need to buy some to finish the project with. The idea is that I will have two batteries at either side of the tray (weigh balanced) and have them switched so as one runs out I can flip the switch to change power sources to my electronics.
I found some marine-grade LED strips that I like. One is going to go in the box lid for an emergency light source. The other I will put up under the center hatch door so I can lift it and turn the light strip on for a utility light right in front of me while on the water.
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