The story of the bilge blowers

I question how an alternator or distributor that is "ignition protected" can have a vent screen. How can a screen prevent fumes from entering the component where it might be ignited. Perhaps "ignition resistant" would be a more appropriate term.
 
hottoddie said:
I question how an alternator or distributor that is "ignition protected" can have a vent screen. How can a screen prevent fumes from entering the component where it might be ignited. Perhaps "ignition resistant" would be a more appropriate term.
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Flame can not pass through the wire screen. The gas fumes inside the wire screen will ignite but any gas fumes outside the wire screen will not ignite.
 
2016FLD said:
What's wrong with wing nuts on battery terminals?? My new cables only work using the wing nut post and my new marine batteries came with wing nuts...
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Nothing wrong using that post, but a nut instead of the wing can be torqued much better
 
Loose battery connections can damage alternators and ECM's, create heat and arcing causing fires and even explosions. That can be very expensive. Best to use anti-corrosion grease then lock washers and nylock nuts torqued down. Wing nuts are not reliable or recommended. Wing nuts holding the cables to the battery clamps are not compliant with the ABYC Standard E-10. The Standard states that for cable 6AWG or larger, wing nuts are not allowed. Your boat will have a survey deficiency if you use wing nuts, with possible insurance implications.
 
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2016FLD said:
What's wrong with wing nuts on battery terminals?? My new cables only work using the wing nut post and my new marine batteries came with wing nuts...
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I use two stainless steel hex nuts on each battery post. The second hex nut prevents the first hex nut from backing off, and the two are easy to individually tighten. Nylock nuts will work, but they are a pain to tighten if you need to go any distance on the battery post.
 
Stee6043 said:
I have a silly question for you guys:

If everything in our bilge is "ignition protected", which it's required to be?, what is it that would typically ignite fumes that could accumulate in our bilge? Of course I'm not referring to the story shared here, that's obvious. But we've all seen videos of boats going boom at the fuel dock post-fillup. Presumably when they hit the key? What's sparking down there? And is it supposed to be?
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A friend of mine just bought 97 370 dancer.
I went to take a look andHe had the motors running and I heard an arch in tune with the firing of the motor. I wake off the boat instantly and just simply left. (This is post accidenrt) I called him after I left and told him why I left. He didn't blame me but told me I was nuts and it was ptsd. I asked him for his own safety to check every plug wire spark plug and Ignition wire before starting it again. He actuality did and what did he find. A boot torn in half arching to the block and when I say arching he said it was about a half inch length arch.
So to answer your question a simple torn plug boot at the cap can make boomboom
 
Chip S said:
Flame can not pass through the wire screen. The gas fumes inside the wire screen will ignite but any gas fumes outside the wire screen will not ignite.
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Now this is interesting. Is that why a flame arrestor is just a screen as well? How does that work...?
 
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