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From: Derek <glamourpets_at_yahoo.com>
subject: [Paddlewise] Pump System - Building a Bomb Proof Battery Box
Date: Fri, 6 Oct 2006 18:11:51 -0700 (PDT)
I am working on building an electric pump system.  I
plan to put the batteries in a small pelican case. 
How do you get the power cord out of the case?  I
could run the cord out through the side of the case
opening, but am concerned that I may be introducing a
leak.  I could drill through the case, and put sealant
around the wire.  What methods have been found to be
satisfactory?   Thoughts? 

Derek

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From: Michael Daly <mikedaly_at_magma.ca>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Pump System - Building a Bomb Proof Battery Box
Date: Sat, 07 Oct 2006 01:25:30 -0400
Derek wrote:
> I am working on building an electric pump system.  I
> plan to put the batteries in a small pelican case. 
> How do you get the power cord out of the case? 

Finding an affordable, watertight socket and plug is difficult.  I just passed 
the wires through holes in the case.  Two holes, one for each wire, close 
together and each is a snug fit for the wire.

> I could drill through the case, and put sealant
> around the wire.

I've used Aquaseal with good results.  With a knot in the wire on both the 
inside and outside of the case, the wire doesn't put a lot of stress on the 
sealant and Aquaseal is pretty tough stuff.  The bottom photo on the following 
page shows it:

<http://www.greatlakeskayaker.ca/pump.html>


Mike
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From: Mark Sanders <sandmarks_at_comcast.net>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Pump System - Building a Bomb Proof Battery Box
Date: Fri, 6 Oct 2006 19:38:23 -0700
You can see a couple small pictures of my pump system on my web-site

http://sandmarks.home.comcast.net

I drilled holes in the case for each wire and made them as small as I could
to just let in the wire. Then I coated the inside and outside with epoxy. I
have my case in the aft hatch, so it's not subject to a lot of water anyway.
I run the wires for the pump through the bulkhead.
I love my pump!!!

Mark Sanders

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net
[mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net]On Behalf Of Derek

Subject: [Paddlewise] Pump System - Building a Bomb Proof Battery Box


I am working on building an electric pump system.  I
plan to put the batteries in a small pelican case.
How do you get the power cord out of the case?
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here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
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From: Tord Eriksson <tord_at_tord.nu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Pump System - Building a Bomb Proof Battery Box
Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2006 12:27:40 +0200
On Saturday 07 October 2006 23:33, Derek wrote:

> I am working on building an electric pump system.  I
> plan to put the batteries in a small pelican case.
> How do you get the power cord out of the case?  I
> could run the cord out through the side of the case
> opening, but am concerned that I may be introducing a
> leak.  I could drill through the case, and put sealant
> around the wire.  What methods have been found to be
> satisfactory?   Thoughts?

We have a big pump system that works well, where the
sealed lead acid battery box is vented in the bottom, and 
the contacts on the battery are greased with Vaseline. 
The switch (marine quality on-off switch used by boaters) 
is mounted in a little plastic box, connected to the battery box with 
outdoor quality electric cabling (from an old outdoor jule-tree 
lightening). I sealed the hole in the box as well as I could with hot glue,
and regularily spray the innards of the switch with 5-56, WD-40, or 
similar. The lid to switch-box is sealed with Form-a-Gasket, and
there is very little air inside, so the risk for leaks is minimal!

The pump is rather big, but was the cheapest, seawater-proof,
I could find!

On the battery box there are two banana style jacks, as the
GPS gets its power from the battery, as will the navigation
lights, one day :-)! A solar panel that can feed the battery, is
also available for longer trips :-)! The same plugs on the battery
box are used for charging at home, with a CTEK charger,
said by some (like Yatching World) to be the best !

A hefty SLA is heavy, so it is strapped to the bottom of the kayak,
of course, and the pumps is strapped to the bottom, too!

Other types of rechargable batteries either selfdischarge 
very fast (NiMHs), or age fast if 'topped up' (NiCADs should always
be discharged before being recharged), or are costly, and
need even costlier chargers and can cause lethal accidents 
due to their habit of catching fire (Li-Ions).

Lithium and water is a lethal mix, as many of us know, and 
such batteries can easily cause firebomb-style pyrothechnics. 
A short is all that's needed - and I wouldn't want that
in my kayak! And if you charge the battery while under 
way to the paddling trip you might get a nice warming 
fire in your car ...

Non-rechargable batteries need a case that can be opened
and sometimes can't deliver decent amps to drive a pump!

And you have no idea if they are properly charged or not!

Good luck,

Tord

Photos and descriptions of my set up:

http://foldingkayaks.org/gallery/album07
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