[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] Boat RF Ground plans, plus do you know if anyone has a battery cable crimper and cable cutter that I can use?

Philip Brown phil at pjb3.com
Sat May 29 17:07:38 EDT 2021 

Thank you all.

AK4QY, Doug, I really appreciate the offer.  I may take you up on borrowing your equipment or getting supplies and finding a Saturday to come by and work
on the cables together.

Here are my updated plans:


I’ve decided to change my plans, and keep the existing battery in the stern, and install the 2nd battery next to the starting battery in a new battery box also in the stern.
This will drastically reduce the length of most of the cable runs, simplifying my installation, *and* making it much less expensive.

I already have an assortment of cables that I can use to get up and running, but I will probably order the custom made cables, and then revisit the solder issues.

I’ve heard the stories and first hand experience, including how rockets would experience crimp failures after as short at 6 to 8 weeks of sitting.
Wow!  That’s definitely an argument for either (1) soldering AND crimping, or (2) if I’m lazy, keeping a spare cable stored in the cabin along with wrenches in case I have trouble, I’ve got some options!

My change of heart regarding the battery location from doing some reading on what happens when batteries get wet or even submerged in salt water.

My fear was that the sea water would could act as a good conductor,  causing a rapid discharge discharge of the batteries
if they become submerged, causing a rapid failure and leaving me out of commission with no radio, no bilge pumps, and possibly a stalled engine!

From some posts that I read on the The Hull Truth, including some first hand accounts of hands-on experience,
it seems that even if fully submerged, the batteries would discharge SLOWLY through the salt water… meaning that I’d still have the use of the bilge pumps and
the radio, and if the engine did stall, I could likely restart it.

So with the batteries in battery boxes, with lids on them and secured by a strap, as they are supposed to be, even with the small vents at the top of the battery box,
I should be OK even under a scenario such as accidentally stuffing the bow, and taking on a boat full of sea water suddenly and unexpectedly.

That makes me feel a lot safer, and eliminates the most important reason why I was planning to relocate my batteries towards the bow.


I appreciate all of the information, and I especially appreciate the offers to borrow equipment and for assistance.

I will save all of this info, and may circle back re: borrowing equipment and/or getting help… most likely in the fall.  This way I can get up and running
and enjoy the summer boating season!

Thank you all.

I will post back with a link to my build thread once I’ve added some photos.

     73

Phil
W3PJB

> On May 28, 2021, at 9:29 PM, Robert Wilson, D.D. <bob.wilson.dd at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I have had success using vice grips on larger wires for crimping. Some have
> followed that up with careful hammering.
> Note the word CAREFUL.
> 
> regards....
> 
> On Thu, May 27, 2021 at 1:32 PM Ian <iann8ik at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Anyone have a crimping tool to handle 4ga battery cable?
>> 73, Ian N8IK
>> 
>> 
>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
>> From: Philip Brown <phil at pjb3.com>
>> Date: Wed, May 26, 2021 at 9:22 PM
>> Subject: Boat RF Ground plans, plus do you know if anyone has a battery
>> cable crimper and cable cutter that I can use?
>> To: Ian Keith <n8ik at arrl.net>, Don (KI4D) <don.ki4d at gmail.com>
>> Cc: Philip J Brown III <phil at pjb3.com>
>> 
>> 
>> Hello Ian,
>> 
>> (Don,  I’m CC’ing as an FYI… since you’re clearly interested in everything
>> RF ! :-)     )
>> 
>> Do you know if anyone in the club has a battery cable crimper that I can
>> borrow?
>> Is there any way that you could pose the question to the membership?
>> 
>> 
>> I’m planning to run some 4 Gauge tinned copper wires in both the boat and
>> the 4Runner, and once I crimp and heat-shrink the cables
>> I’d have no use for a crimper or a cable cutter of that size…  not to
>> mention that this project is starting to get **expensive**  !!  :-)
>> 
>> 
>> Here’s the update on my plans for an RF ground for the boat, and also for
>> my 4Runner.
>> 
>> *Any feedback from you, Don or an Elmer would be warmly welcomed.  :-)*
>> 
>> 
>> I found a part on craig’s list for $45 and bought it today — New old
>> stock…. basically someone bought it and never used.
>> Westmarine sells the same part new for $109.   The manufacturer claims it
>> has the same effect as 12 sqft of copper foil.
>> 
>> It’s cool.  It’s extremely pourous bronze that is specially bonded together
>> to act as an electrical and RF ground.  You bolt it to the bottom
>> of your boat, and connect the ground wire to a gold plated bolt using gold
>> plated nuts that are provided.
>> 
>> It also protects the boat from lightning strikes by offering a high-current
>> path to ground.
>> It has some type of silver conductive paste that’s dried out in the box for
>> my unit… I could probably use a small amount if anyone has a tube of that
>> as well.
>> 
>> The guy who I bought mine from said that his boat had a lighting strike
>> while at the dock, and while it destroyed his dynaplate and fried his
>> electronics,
>> it didn’t blow-out his through-hull transducer, which he said is a common
>> problem that leaves a hole in the hull that sinks many boats.
>> 
>> This is pretty cool, and all new to me, but I find it exciting!
>> 
>> I’m planning to use one of these
>> as my “common RF ground” point for the boat, and another one for the
>> 4Runner.
>> I’m planning to run a  4 gauge copper tinned cable from this ground to the
>> dynaplate on the boat, and to the vehicles body near the battery ground
>> on the 4Runner.
>> 
>> From Westmarine:
>> 
>> 
>>   1. Marine Electronics <https://www.westmarine.com/marine-electronics> /
>>   2. Marine Communication <
>> https://www.westmarine.com/marine-communication>
>>    /
>>   3. VHF Accessories <https://www.westmarine.com/vhf-accessories> /
>>   4. Grounding <https://www.westmarine.com/grounding>
>> 
>> [image: Dynaplate, Bonding Use]larged view of picture, opens dialimages
>> carousel, showing slide 1 of 1
>> GUEST <https://www.westmarine.com/guest>–Dynaplate, Bonding Use
>> 0 stars, 0 reviews, skips to reviews
>> $109.99
>> 
>> 
>> Model # 377010 | Mfg # 4008
>> SpecsDynaplate, Bonding Use
>> NameValue
>> Type Ground Plates
>> Product Overview
>> 
>> Bronze grounding plates replace yards of copper foil. Looks like a solid
>> bronze plate, but actually a porous matrix of bronze spheres, presenting
>> the same effective electrical surface as a much larger expanse of copper
>> foil. Use as electronic ground for SSBs, Lorans and ham transceivers, or as
>> a ground reference in bonding systems. Includes gold-plated bronze flathead
>> fasteners and silver contact paste for superior conductivity. Plates have
>> tapered ends and rounded edges for reduced turbulence.
>> 
>> Standard Dynaplate
>> Part No. 4006
>> Dimensions: 6.0"W x 2.0" H x 0.50" D
>> Mounting Holes: 2-1/2" center to center
>> Mounting Hardware:1-3" Gold plated bolt and nut, 1-3" Bronze bolt and nut,
>> 3 copper washers
>> Weight: 3 Lbs.
>> 
>> 
>>   - Use for basic bonding and grounding
>>   - Improves performance of electronics and reduces RF interference
>>   - Offers the best path for hull bonding without long runs of copper foil
>>   - Equivalent to 12 square feet of copper foil
>>   - Provides a direct, low resistance path for improved lighting
>> protection
>>   - Deters electrolysis and galvanic corrosion
>>   - Sintered porous bronze sphere construction for maximum conductivity in
>>   a compact size
>>   - Low drag, non fouling shape
>>   - Easy to install
>>   - Easy to clean with wire brush
>>   - Conforms to ABYC standards
>> 
>> From the installation instructions:
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> 
> 
> -- 
> In servitio regis :
> 
> Rev. Robert Wilson, D.D.
> 
> * (Verbum sap sat est) *
> *"Instruction does much, but encouragement does everything." -- Johann
> Wolfgang von Goethe (German writer and statesman 1749-1832)*
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