Do you wish to see lithium batteries added to class rules?

[Dan Corcoran]

Please respond to this thread if you wish to see lithium batteries supported? Please jump in and say so, along with
1. If this was available now, would you (i) buy it now, and if not, in what calendar year in the future would it be relevant to you.
2. why?

Your answers decide if volunteers such as me, do the work to add them to the class rules in 2025 or instead some future year.

If you want to volunteer your boat for a lithium trial, see my other post in class rules.

Thanks
Dan

[Dan Corcoran]

Please reply if you wish the class to invest technical efforts into expanding battery rules beyond lead acid into Lithium. I thought I heard at least 4 people desire this for cruising their sailboats. Others might simply not want their next 10yr battery investment to be lead acid again.

Please also write here, if lead acid is good enough. Your comments are welcome also.

[Dan Corcoran]

Bill, I would like to propose the following Lithium Battery rule change to the technical committee for consideration in the upcoming business meeting.

“Lead is Dead” (see article). Our owners should not be constrained from switching to LiFePO4 when their Lead Acid batteries expire. Such LiFePO4 batteries are clearly more economical than Lead Acid over the life of a boat.
https://marinehowto.com/drop-in-lifepo4 ... -consumer/

The proposed rule changes take in the following considerations:
• The work of the measurer is minimized as described in the document. Optionally it can be reduced further.
• The class is promoting that owners safely upgrade their J/109’s in an ABYC E-13 compliant manner plus additional precautions, rather than performing a dumb LiFePO4 drop-in style upgrade.
• Any potential weight benefit is offset by a requirement for (2) batteries (Both LiFePO4, or a LiFePO4 plus Lead Acid) and that the weight of other components required for a safe LiFePO4 upgrade (and) that the Lithium Ahr capacity is off-set by a weight multiplier of 0.50, e.g. a 200 Ahr LiFePO4 counts as 100 Ahr, will eliminate all weight advantage.

Best regards,
Dan Corcoran

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J/109 Proposed Class Rule Change
By Dan Corcoran, September 8, 2024

Proposed Change to Measurement Checklist
Lead Acid Battery Standard Option (unchanged)
* 2 x lead technology batteries minimum combined capacity 150Ah
LiFePO4 Battery Option (added)
* 2 batteries minimum combined capacity of (0.50 x LiFePO4 capacity) + Lead Acid capacity, of 150Ah.
* Documentation of Class Compliant LiFePO4 Installation. Documented upgrade checklist on boat ready for class inspection, of safe LiFePO4 upgrade plus J/109 Class requirement that boats can quickly recovery from a total failure of a single battery/Battery BMS.
* Documentation at the electrical battery switch that clearly explains how to configure the J/109 to bypass a failed battery.
* 20% of boats to be chosen randomly, need to demonstrate for the measurer the 109 crew can start the engine on each battery without the other, including a demonstration on the battery monitor that the alternator output is reaching the good battery and house loads.

Documentation of J/109 LiFePO4 Installation
A compliant installation of LiFePO4 Batteries must have all the capabilities listed below as attested to by a competent installer and the boat owner, available to show the measurer at all national events.
The simple replacement of Lead Acid batteries with “Drop In” LiFePo4 batteries is expressly disallowed without the additional upgrades listed below and/or in the ABYC E-13 standard.
The intent of the following requirements is to reduce the opportunity of a J/109 with LiFePO4 having a weight advantage over those with Lead Acid AND to allocate the saved weight towards additional electrical system that will ensure every LiFePO4 equipped J/109 has an additional capability to operate fully and safely in the event of any one battery BMS failing, and to reduce the risk that an electrical storm at the time of a race will completely a J/109, as theoretically could happen in response to an electrical storm EMP pulse during a race or delivery to race venue.

[ ] An installer of sufficient knowledge and competency in boat electrical systems has made an ABYC E-13 compliant upgrade. List added components here: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[ ] Describe here how the J/109 can operate from Battery 1 (start engine, receive alternator output, supply house loads), with all other batteries disabled. Battery 1 is labeled ______________ Battery 1 manufacturer & model # _____________________ Battery 1 chemistry is _____________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[ ] In the event Battery 1 failed, or is about to fail, the user receives the following ABYC E-13 alarm as follows : ______________________________________________________________________. The user can silence the alarm by __________________________________________________________. In the event the BMS for this battery has failed, the user will be alerted the battery and/or BMS failed as follows (e.g. the user won’t be caught unaware): _____________________________________.

[ ] Describe here how the J/109 can operate from Battery 2 (start engine, receive alternator output, supply house loads), with all other batteries disabled. Battery 2 is labeled ______________ Battery 2 manufacturer & model # _____________________ Battery 2 chemistry is _____________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[ ] In the event Battery 2 failed, or is about to fail, the user receives the following ABYC E-13 alarm as follows : ______________________________________________________________________. The user can silence the alarm by __________________________________________________________. In the event the BMS for this battery has failed, the user will be alerted the battery and/or BMS failed as follows (e.g. the user won’t be caught unaware): _____________________________________.
Such upgrade to achieve the above included (all must be included to meet class rule):
[ ] If no Lead Acid Batteries, each of Two LiFePO4 batteries must be individually capable of starting engine while supporting house loads (or) If One battery is Lead Acid, One LifePO4 battery must be capable of starting engine while simultaneously supporting house loads (or) Two Lead Acid batteries are separately available for starting engine.
[ ] An additional 2/0 or larger electrical cable has been run from battery switches to the engine compartment to isolate the engine starter from the alternator output. The engine starter can select which of two or more batteries to start from.
[ ] Document the engine has been successfully started 5x from battery 1, after first being discharged 50% (if LiFePO4 battery) or 10% (if Lead Acid battery)
[ ] Document the engine has been successfully started 5x from battery 2, after first being discharged 50% or 10% (if Lead Acid battery)
[ ] Either, all batteries are of the same chemistry or additional components were used to insure the correct multi-state charging of each battery chemistry is successful. Those components included: _____________________________________________________________________________
[ ] The battery switch used for selecting which battery starts the engine, MUST NOT HAVE A BOTH OPTION. It such a “both” battery combiner capability is desired, there must exist a separate dedicated combiner switch sufficiently wired and fused to combine a discharged battery to a charged battery safely.
[ ] In the event a battery fails, alternator output can be directed either manually or automatically to a good battery. Describe here how that occurs ________________________________________________
[ ] The alternator must be protected from a sudden loss of one, or all batteries, with an alternator protector. Describe alternator protector product, model number, and location here ___________________________________________________________________
Attested by:
Boat Owner ______________ Signature _____________________ Date: __________________

Installer Name ______________ Signature _____________________ Date: __________________