Battery compartment
Printed From: myHanse.com
Category: Hints & Tips
Forum Name: 400
Forum Description: 400 Hints, Tips and News
URL: https://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15129
Printed Date: 27 March 2026 at 03:41
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Battery compartment
Posted By: Arborist
Subject: Battery compartment
Date Posted: 24 May 2025 at 08:41
|
Hi all Would anyone please have the internal dimensions of the battery compartment to the left of the chart table under seat(hanse 400)2007 My Electrician would like to know so we can figure out how many lithium I can fit in there I am going to remove the engine starter battery and use the new lithium batteries to power the windlass my Boat is abroad so can't measure Many thanks Eoin  ------------- hanse 400 2007 no 244 |
Replies:
Posted By: sgrhma2
Date Posted: 24 May 2025 at 11:17
|
Hi Eoin. In my 370 I replaced the domestic lead acid with lithium. I used the 150ah lithiums from sterling power. To get them in the compartment I had to trim the location strips of plywood on the underside of the seat base to accommodate the handles on the batteries. I retained my winch battery as lead acid, but there is sufficient room to get three of these lithium batteries in the compartment. My domestic battery bank is split across the boat with two in the original battery compartment and two underneath the saloon seat outboard of the fridge compressor. I discussed at length this arrangement with Sterling and while not ideal from a configuration perspective it is working extremely well. It has transformed the power use on the boat giving me a usable 600ah against the previous 200ah from the four 100ah lead acid I use to have. One thing you will need is a battery to battery charger to protect your alternator when it’s charging. I kept the winch battery as lead acid as a backup to my engine start lead acid and I have a link strap to use if I ever need the back up. The reason for keeping the engine as lead acid is that the lithium BMS (each battery has one and in the event of a shorting failure will limit the discharge to approximately 120a and then shut the battery down for safety) when not experiencing a demand go into sleep mode after a while. The initial charge voltage from the alternator when the engine is started wakes them up, as does the morning charge from the solar. The vastly increased capacity has meant that when I’m cruising around Ireland or up in the Scottish islands I now have power to survive misty rainy days at anchor without a revolving crew from lack of electrical toys. I know that the early 370 and 400 had the same sized battery compartment as on my boat all the panels in the compartment are marked 370/400. Hope this is useful Simon
|
Posted By: Per Arve
Date Posted: 25 May 2025 at 13:51
| Hello and thank you for sharing this. I am in the process of doing the same in my 370e. I bought 2 x 100 Ah Lithium. I will keep the engine battery but are unsure of the anchor battery. Is your anchor battery always connected, in parallel with your lithium batteries? Or will it be separated by the switch? |
Posted By: sgrhma2
Date Posted: 25 May 2025 at 14:28
|
My anchor winch battery is on a completely different circuit from the domestic lithium batteries. The only connection is the common negative or earth. I’m heading down to the boat later today and will take a photo. Simon
|
Posted By: sgrhma2
Date Posted: 25 May 2025 at 14:55
 Just realised I had photos of the batteries and this is the link to Sterling https://sterling-power.com/products/lithium-batteries-no-bluetooth?variant=42321393975485" rel="nofollow - https://sterling-power.com/products/lithium-batteries-no-bluetooth?variant=42321393975485
 The first photo is of the standard battery location and the second is underneath the saloon seat outboard of the fridge compressor. Total domestic battery bank of 600ah from 4 x 150ah lithium. Each battery has a 60 amp fuse fitted to avoid any issues with potential shorts. The fuse size was based on my maximum possible domestic load. Hope this is useful Simon |
Posted By: Arborist
Date Posted: 26 May 2025 at 22:28
|
thanks Simon i can fit 2x200 lithium batteries in there i reckon i like the back up idea re engine battery so now thinking i can possibly move the two lead acid to the other compartment/seat area makes sense as the engine is safety that needs a back up, dont think my paddle will cut it in an emergency! ------------- hanse 400 2007 no 244 |
Posted By: sgrhma2
Date Posted: 26 May 2025 at 23:24
|
I should point out that getting the heavy battery cables across the boat was really difficult and involved me making a small access hole in the base of the battery compartment under the winch battery. Once I had this hole it enabled me to use the existing limber holes that Hanse put in the subframe for the cables and conduit. But with this access it’s proven very useful for several projects I’ve done since. If you do run battery cables across, have a swear box nearby and you’ll find by the time you’re finished it’ll have nearly enough in it for your next holiday🤬 Good luck Simon
|
Posted By: jeb
Date Posted: 27 May 2025 at 09:13
|
I have installed 4x 400Ah 3,2V Winston cells (so 400Ah@12,8V) in my Hanse 400 from 2006. They are taller than the box so I had to cut the bottom of the box and built a compression box inside. Photo taken during installation. BMS is located behind the box, still room for the starter battery. I'm running my winches (halyard + 2x windlass) directly from the LFP only letting the BMS control the control signals to the contractors.
 ------------- Jesper Hanse 400e |
Posted By: asimo
Date Posted: 27 May 2025 at 14:42
|
internal dimensions of cavity. 555mm - "North South" 585mm - "east west". cant remember the height, it was 215mm i think or 225mm? I ended up cutting the base and it comfortably fits battery which is 260mm in height. see narrative below. I had 3 x 120 AH AGMs plus 1 x start batt. I now have 2 x 300 AH Lifepo (600AH 12v), 1 start batt 100AH 12V AGM and no headaches. Like Jeb, I cut a hole in the "box", as the new battery 260mm height was too tall. Cutting a hole in the box means batteries sit on the fiberglass and it gives you about an extra 40mm or so of height.
------------- H400e - DE HANJ0344K708 |
Posted By: Arborist
Date Posted: 27 May 2025 at 18:55
|
thanks jeb do you have a spare lead acid for the windlass or just one lead to run the engine? tusen takk / ------------- hanse 400 2007 no 244 |
Posted By: Arborist
Date Posted: 27 May 2025 at 18:56
|
nice one, i can order the batteries now with these dimensions ------------- hanse 400 2007 no 244 |
Posted By: H8jer
Date Posted: 27 May 2025 at 20:00
|
Hi My 370 has 3 x 100ah. They measures 330 x 175 x 220/235 mm Had to alter the seat a bit. Take a look here. https://www.myhanse.com/lifepo4-batteries_topic11944_post98916.html#98916" rel="nofollow - https://www.myhanse.com/lifepo4-batteries_topic11944_post98916.html#98916 ------------- Hanse 370#487 30HP 3-cabin |
Posted By: DJgun
Date Posted: 30 May 2025 at 10:46
|
HI Eoin, I measured yesterday the battery box on my 400e built 2007 . Internal dimensions Width 555mm (across the boat) Length 580mm Depth 245mm. Hopefully that is accurate enough. Please note, the space in your box may be affected by any mechanisms used to close the lid. Cheers DJ ------------- DJ.....Sailor Ordinaire HIN DE-HANJ0331J708 |
Posted By: jeb
Date Posted: 03 June 2025 at 13:03
|
To Arborist, I'm running both Windlasses and the halyard winch directly from the winston battery. Only the control signal to the contactors are feed thru the BMS/Battery Protect. ------------- Jesper Hanse 400e |