The provisions of this section of Part 4 in the 2002 BSS Standards are mandatory for non-private boats where applicable.
Fires can be caused by overheated cables, which can come about if the cables don't have adequate capacity for carrying the current. To reduce the risk of this happening, the connection from the battery charger on the boat to the charging point on shore must be via a three-core flexible cable of adequate current carrying capacity and of suitable construction and grade. This will ensure the cables can carry the full electrical load continuously.
To protect the cables from water damage it's advisable to ensure that connectors comply with the splash-proof category of BS EN 60309 Part 2. Having splash-proof cable connections will greatly reduce the risk of electric shocks. [4.6]
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Batteries can be secured by the battery boxes themselves if they are a rigid and a fixed part of the boat and allow no more than 10mm movement laterally. Alternatively batteries can be secured by using a strap of insulating material to hold them down. [4.2] |