What are batteries for kayak and how to buy them ideally

Although batteries for kayak are small, the effect and power are not ordinary. Improper daily maintenance of batteries for kayak often creates safety hazards and leads to accidents.

The batteries for kayak we want to understand should not be just a regular voltage test. Today, this article takes you through more aspects of batteries for kayak. I hope to draw more people's attention to the safe use of batteries for kayak.

1. Kayak battery working mechanism

At present, the commonly used batteries for kayak are mainly lead-acid batteries. Lead-acid batteries are generally composed of cathode and anode, separators, shells, electrolytes and terminal pile heads, etc., and the chemical reaction to their discharge is carried out by relying on the active material of the cathode and the active substance of the anode under the action of the electrolyte.

When discharged, the cathode changes from lead dioxide to lead sulfate, and the anode also changes from lead to lead sulfate. When loaded, lead sulfate on the cathode is reduced to lead dioxide, and lead sulfate on the anode is reduced to pure lead.

● Side reactions

The loading process, especially at the end of charging, will have some side reactions during the above reactions. Electrolyzed water reactions and water evaporation brought about by the increase in the temperature of the electrolyte create conditions for damage or even the explosion of batteries for kayak.

2. The main application of marine kayak batteries

• Backup power for radio equipment.
• Low voltage power supply equipment, such as emergency lighting, alarms, and signal lamp power supplies.
• Power supply for starting the engine.

● Kayak battery arrangement

Depending on the purpose of batteries for kayak, the arrangement of batteries for kayak on board will vary.

• Main battery backup system

The first type of kayak battery is mainly housed in the battery cabinet. This arrangement is both comfortable away from the living area and easy for people to access. It is conducive to the maintenance work of the crew and is close to the electrical equipment to prevent voltage loss.

• Small batteries used in portable devices

The second type of kayak battery is usually on a boat that is not equipped with an emergency generator, and kayak battery is used as an emergency power source. Therefore, such batteries for kayak are usually arranged in the battery room of the boat deck.

• Start the emergency generator battery

Type III batteries for kayak are located in cabinets near the engine and should maintain good ventilation on their premises.

3. Analysis of the causes of the explosion of batteries for kayak

There are three main reasons why batteries for kayak explode during use and charging.

● The internal pressure of kayak batteries is too high

At the end of batteries for kayak charge, due to overcharging, the water will decompose into hydrogen and oxygen. Short circuits, severe vulcanization, and sharp increases in electrolyte temperature during charging can also evaporate a lot of water.

At this time, if the vent hole of the liquid filling hole cover is blocked. Since there is too much gas to spill, the pressure inside batteries for kayak will rise. First, it causes the deformation of batteries for kayak tank, and when the internal pressure reaches a certain pressure, it will burst from the joint of batteries for kayak tank cover or other weak points, which is a physical process similar to car battery voltage change.

● Hydrogen meets flame

When the hydrogen content inside batteries for kayak is within the explosion range or the hydrogen content in the air accumulates to the explosion limit, an explosion will form when it encounters an open flame, which is a chemical reaction.

● The blocked exhaust hole

The batteries for kayak burst first, and the burst causes batteries for kayak to vibrate. The weak wiring of the pole column produces a spark, which detonates the combustible gas to form an explosion. This is a physical and then chemical process, which is a chain reaction of the first two explosions.

● Precautions

• Smoking is strictly prohibited

Operators working in batteries for kayak charging area should wear anti-static work clothes and set up a human antistatic device to prevent static sparks. Smoking is prohibited in the area, non-igniting metal tools should be used during work, and collisions should be avoided during the lifting of batteries for kayak.

• Avoid overcharging

Flammable and explosive gases are produced. The batteries for kayak charging device should be checked regularly to prevent malfunctions, and overcharging batteries for kayak are strictly prohibited.

• Check batteries for kayak exhaust holes regularly

Make sure batteries for kayak exhaust hole is unobstructed. The batteries for kayak should be able to discharge hydrogen and water vapor generated in a timely manner. Regularly inspect the mechanical exhaust unit to ensure gas flow in the area and prevent hydrogen buildup.

4. How to improve batteries for kayak safety

• The battery room environment must be dry and well ventilated.
• Equipped with independent exhaust fan.
• The fan should be non-sparking type and should not generate any static electricity.
• Check the ventilation of the battery compartment.

Charging equipment must be dust-free, and there should be no overheating or loose connection, and the indicator function should be normal.  Both lead-acid kayak batteries and alkaline batteries for kayak require good ventilation. The inlet conduit should be below the battery level and the outlet is at the top of the battery compartment.

The paint and piping materials used in the battery chamber should be corrosion-resistant. Use an insulating wrench and a plastic kettle for distilled water to prevent short circuits. It is critical that the battery compartment is not near the emergency switchboard. Pipes must not be threaded into the battery compartment. Because pipe leaks can cause damage or malfunction of the battery system.

However, in unavoidable cases, pipe joints should be welded joints, and flanged joints, threaded joints or mechanical joints should not be used. The temperature of the battery chamber should be kept at 15 and 25 °C. The door of the battery compartment should always be kept closed and an alarm signal or a self-closing door should be installed when opened. The deck near the lead-acid kayak battery should be painted with acid-resistant paint.

Install a system in the cabin to provide information such as the temperature of the battery room, the operating conditions of the battery chamber ventilation system, and the operating conditions of the cooling system in the battery chamber.

5. Maintenance of batteries for kayak

As with all systems on board, batteries should be regularly inspected and maintained in accordance with the safety management system (SMS) and the manufacturer's requirements. Common maintenance items include:

• To keep the battery fully charged, the charging circuit needs to remain connected at all times.
• The battery installation is to be checked, as is its charging rectifier.
• The top of the battery should be clean and dry, the joint nut must be tightened, and petroleum jelly should be applied to prevent corrosion.
• The electrolyte should be kept in place, and its specific gravity value should be checked by a hydrometer.
• The battery should be filled with distilled water because it will lose water during charging.
• The battery connector should be coated with petroleum jelly and kept clean.
• Metal tools used for repairs should be coated with plastic.

6. How to properly charge the battery for kayak

To say that it has to start from the first use, but this is also the most critical, which will directly affect the service life of the battery. The first charge of the battery we just bought back is called the first charge. The first charge has a great impact on the charge capacity, so the time of the first charge should be grasped.

If the charge is overfilled, the electrical performance of the battery is very good, but it will also have an impact on service life, so it should not be overfilled. If the charge is insufficient, this directly affects the low charge capacity and seriously shortens the service life. Generally, it is most suitable for us to charge for 6-8 hours for the first time. There are three situations to avoid:

• It should not be charged for a long time.
• Idle for a long time.
• The battery capacity is too low.

7. How to choose the right batteries for kayak

Kayak batteries will use different batteries depending on the type of electric boat, so which kayak battery is better cannot be generalized. It is necessary to compare the application of the same type of electric boat. There are many types of electric boats, and in general, they are mainly divided into two categories: unmanned and manned.

● Model electric boat battery

The lithium batteries used in high-speed model electric boats are high-rate batteries that support high-current discharge. This lithium battery can provide strong explosive power for electric boats, which is mostly used in recreational racing or competitive fields. The performance requirements for batteries for kayak are relatively high.

In addition, it is sensitive to the weight of the battery, so the battery generally used is a high-performance polymer pouch lithium battery. Normal speed stable electric boats do not have very high requirements for battery discharge, as long as it can meet the application of certain working or recreational conditions, of course, the weight of the battery is also more important, so the use of ordinary pouch lithium battery can be.

That is to say, batteries for kayak used in the non-manned model electric boat is only a pouch type of lithium battery, as for the 18650 battery steel shell or the lithium battery prismatic aluminum shell lithium battery, these are too heavy to use.

● Manned practical electric boat

The battery used in the manned practical electric boat is powered, and batteries for kayak used is also a lithium battery pack composed of a relatively large single battery. Of course, as with model electric boats, the larger the battery capacity and lighter the weight, the better. Therefore, it is better to choose a pouch lithium battery.

● The kayak

The manned and practical type of ordinary stable normal speed driving is more sensitive to price and more economical. Therefore, it will be better to use a kayak battery such as lifepo4 battery. Because lithium iron phosphate batteries are relatively cost-effective in price and service life, they can meet the needs in terms of power provision and endurance time.

8. Conclusion

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