Battery and Electrical Safety Policy

Version 3.0 · 22 September 2026 · Effective 4 November 2026

This policy forms part of the M-Oceans Terms of Sale and Website Use when presented and incorporated into a purchase before the order is placed. The electrical-product acknowledgement in section 2.2 of the Terms applies. This policy covers all batteries and electrical equipment we supply, including EPOCH, Victron, IONBASE, ePropulsion, Solid State Marine and all other battery brands, and their connection with motors, chargers, inverters, solar equipment and accessories. It sets safety responsibilities and precautions; it is not a wiring diagram, installation design or substitute for the exact manufacturer manual. The boat-operation requirements in section 10 of the Terms also apply to boat purchases.

Fire and electrical warning: Batteries store substantial energy. A fault can cause fire, burns, arcing, hazardous gases, explosion or loss of essential power. Electric shock can be fatal in applicable systems. LiFePO4 chemistry, a battery-management system and certification do not eliminate these risks. Equipment must be selected, installed, protected and used for its intended application.

If a battery is smoking, hissing, venting, burning or rapidly heating: move people away, avoid the fumes and call emergency services or the appropriate marine emergency service. Do not handle, open, carry, ship or restart it. Follow section 12 below.

Contents

1. Who is responsible for installation

M-Oceans supplies components and may introduce purchasers to independent marinas and service providers. We do not design the vessel's electrical system, provide installation wiring diagrams, install, supervise, inspect or commission the completed installation under our component sales terms.

The purchaser must engage a qualified marine electrician or another appropriately qualified provider for fixed wiring, battery-bank changes, custom connections and integration of equipment from different sources. The purchaser contracts with and pays that provider directly. The provider must assess the actual vessel and take responsibility for its work, applicable requirements and commissioning under its own agreement.

Use a provider with training and experience relevant to the system voltage, battery chemistry and marine environment, and any licence required for the work. Manufacturer-permitted ordinary user connections may be performed exactly as instructed. Uncertainty, missing instructions or a connection requiring modification means stop and seek qualified assistance.

2. Read the exact instructions before purchase and use

Obtain the installation, operation, storage and transport instructions for every exact model involved. Confirm the intended use and necessary protection features before purchase. Give those documents and this policy to the installer and all operators who need them. Keep the model and serial numbers with the purchase and installation records.

Follow applicable law, binding vessel requirements and manufacturer instructions. The installer should apply the relevant recognized marine electrical standards, including ABYC standards where applicable to the work. This policy does not establish which standard or approval is legally required for a particular vessel or location.

If a manual, product description, proposed connection or safety notice conflicts with another requirement, do not improvise or choose whichever is easiest. Obtain clarification from the relevant manufacturer and qualified installer before connection. Ask M-Oceans to correct an unclear description or provide missing documentation.

3. Confirm compatibility across the complete system

Have the installer verify the complete operating voltage range, maximum charging voltage, continuous and surge loads, charging current, cable and connector ratings, protective devices and intended duty. Include every charging source and load, including equipment already on the vessel or bought elsewhere.

Check battery-management-system (BMS) operation, required data communications, charger and controller behaviour, disconnect sequencing and any manufacturer-required pre-charge arrangements. A connector that fits, similar advertised voltage or adequate amp-hour capacity does not establish compatibility. Products from one brand may also be incompatible with each other.

Do not connect a configuration prohibited by any affected manufacturer. Do not treat an undocumented or untested third-party combination as approved because M-Oceans sells one or more of its parts. Obtain the relevant manufacturer confirmation and a competent system assessment. Do not use improvised adapters or change connector polarity to force a connection.

4. Series, parallel and mixed battery banks

Only use series or parallel configurations permitted for the exact models. Have the installer verify the total voltage, current sharing, fault protection, balancing requirements, interconnections and BMS behaviour for the complete bank. Never infer permission for series connection from a model's permission for parallel connection.

Do not mix chemistries, brands, models, capacities, BMS ratings, materially different ages or states of health, or unequal charge states unless the relevant manufacturers expressly permit the arrangement and the qualified installer validates it. A factory setting or app mode on one battery does not establish acceptance by the other connected equipment.

Adding, replacing or removing one battery can change the behaviour of the whole bank. Obtain a renewed assessment before making the change. Do not try to correct an imbalance or a non-responsive bank by bypassing protection, bridging terminals or applying an improvised charging source.

5. Wiring, protection and physical installation

The installer must select and verify marine-appropriate conductors, connectors, routing, strain relief, terminal protection, mounting, isolation and overcurrent protection for the installation. Fuse or breaker voltage and interrupting ratings must suit the available fault energy and system; a current rating alone is not sufficient.

Use the specified terminal torque and connection method. Loose, corroded, damaged or incorrectly assembled connections can overheat. Do not overtighten terminals, stack connections beyond the manufacturer's limits, omit covers, or allow tools and loose metal to bridge live terminals. A BMS does not replace the required wiring protection or disconnects.

Before work, a qualified person must isolate all energy sources and verify the condition of the circuit. Shore power, solar, alternators, generators and stored energy may remain present even when one switch is off. Battery terminals and parts of a pack can remain live after external loads are disconnected. Do not work on exposed energized equipment without the specific competence and protections required for that work.

AC shore power, inverters and higher-voltage DC require suitable shock protection, grounding/bonding and other safeguards as determined by applicable requirements. Never defeat protective earth, interlocks or residual-current protection, or create an improvised connection capable of backfeeding a supply.

6. Charging and temperature limits

Use charging equipment and settings suitable for the exact chemistry, battery model and bank voltage. Verify all charging sources, including existing lead-acid chargers, solar controllers, alternators, generators, shore chargers and regenerative inputs. Do not use desulphation, equalization, recovery or other special modes unless the battery manufacturer expressly permits them.

Respect model-specific charging, discharging and storage temperature limits. Do not assume every lithium battery has low-temperature charge protection, heating or working temperature sensors. A self-heating feature is not permission to charge outside its documented conditions. Ambient air temperature may differ from the temperature inside the battery.

Alternator charging and regenerative charging need a specific compatibility assessment, including current limits and the effect of a BMS suddenly disconnecting. Have the installer determine any required control or protection. Do not simply substitute lithium for a lead-acid battery and assume the original charging arrangement remains suitable.

Charge portable equipment in a location allowed by its manual, away from combustible materials and escape routes, with the required clearances. Do not cover chargers or place them on bedding or soft furnishings. Do not leave charging unattended unless the manufacturer permits it and the installation has been assessed for that operation. Permanently installed automatic systems require the safeguards, monitoring and inspections specified for their use; automation alone is not proof of safety.

7. Mounting, water, fuel and ventilation

Secure batteries and equipment against vessel motion, impact and terminal strain using the approved mounting method and orientation. Observe weight limits, structural requirements, clearances and ventilation instructions. Keep access to required disconnects and emergency exits unobstructed. Do not drill, crush or modify a battery case.

Confirm suitability for salt spray, condensation, bilge exposure and the intended compartment. An ingress-protection rating applies only to defined conditions and does not mean unrestricted immersion, saltwater resistance or immunity to corrosion. Cable entries and installation changes can affect the original protection.

Equipment in or near spaces where fuel vapour or other flammable gas may accumulate must be suitable for that location, including any required ignition protection. Do not install an ordinary battery, switch or charger there on the assumption that it is safe because it is sold for marine use. Lead-acid and other battery chemistries have their own gas, electrolyte and ventilation hazards; follow their specific instructions.

After flooding or suspected water entry, stop use and obtain an assessment. Do not dry, recharge or return a submerged or suspect battery to service without explicit instructions from the manufacturer and a qualified professional. Saltwater exposure can create continuing hazards after the equipment appears dry.

8. Permitted applications and loss of power

Use each battery only for approved functions. A deep-cycle or trolling battery is not automatically suitable for engine starting, thrusters or propulsion. Confirm the load profile, peak demand, duty cycle and any commercial, rental or continuous-use restrictions for the exact product.

A BMS can disconnect abruptly to protect the battery. The system must be assessed for the consequences of losing propulsion, steering assistance, navigation, communications, bilge pumping or other essential functions. Arrange appropriate independent power, redundancy or contingency measures with a qualified provider where needed.

Maintain an operating reserve and a plan for equipment failure or reduced range. Displayed charge, range and runtime are estimates affected by conditions and settings. Do not depend solely on an app, Bluetooth connection or remote display for emergency control, critical alarms or proof that the system is safe. Required physical controls and protection must remain effective.

9. Commissioning before ordinary operation

Before first energization, have the qualified installer complete and record the inspections and tests appropriate to the work. The record should identify installed models and serial numbers, the permitted configuration, charging settings, relevant protection, the responsible provider and the date. A receipt for components is not a commissioning record.

The provider should verify polarity, connections, protection, alarms, required disconnects and the behaviour of charging sources and loads under controlled conditions. These descriptions are not instructions for an unqualified purchaser to conduct live tests. Do not perform the initial functional check underway or in circumstances where a shutdown could endanger people.

Obtain a handover covering ordinary operation, warning indications, safe shutdown, emergency actions, maintenance and the limits of the installation. Resolve deficiencies before use. Retain the records for servicing and any warranty investigation.

10. Operation, maintenance and storage

Check for visible damage, loose mounting, cable wear, corrosion, abnormal heat and warning indications at the intervals specified by the manufacturer and installer. Have electrical connections and protection inspected as appropriate. Keep equipment dry, clean and unobstructed using only approved methods.

Do not open a pack, bypass a BMS, replace internal cells, disable alarms, modify firmware limits or fit a different-rated fuse merely to stop nuisance trips. Do not repeatedly reset, jump-start or force-charge equipment that has shut down until the cause is identified and the relevant manufacturer procedure is followed safely.

Keep children and untrained persons away from exposed equipment and controls. Operators must have the competence required for the vessel and equipment and must not operate while impaired. Provide instructions to subsequent operators and, on resale, pass on the relevant manuals and known safety notices.

Follow the model-specific storage charge level, inspection and recharge intervals, temperature limits and isolation procedure. Account for small continuous loads that may discharge a stored battery. Before seasonal reuse, arrange the required inspection and check for damage, changed settings and outstanding safety notices. Do not assume all battery brands share the same winter-storage procedure.

11. Stop use when a fault is suspected

Stop charging and operation if there is unusual heat, swelling, a new chemical odour, leakage, damaged insulation, discolouration, melted connections, unexpected repeated shutdowns, impact damage, water ingress or a safety recall affecting the product. Keep others away and obtain instructions from the manufacturer, M-Oceans or a qualified service provider as appropriate.

Use an existing accessible shutdown or isolation control only if it can be operated safely without approaching the affected equipment or exposing anyone to heat, smoke, gas or electricity. Do not remove hot cables, open the battery, make direct measurements or reconnect power for a photograph or warranty test.

Treat a suspect battery as potentially hazardous even after it has cooled or stopped producing symptoms. Do not put it into storage, a vehicle or a return parcel without an appropriate assessment and instructions. If the condition is actively worsening or people may be in danger, use the emergency procedure below rather than waiting for customer support.

12. Fire, smoke, venting or rapid heating

Move people away from the equipment and avoid smoke and vapours. Evacuate the affected area or vessel as safely appropriate and call emergency services, or use the appropriate marine distress procedure. Tell responders that batteries are involved and provide the chemistry, approximate quantity and location only if known without approaching the hazard.

Do not touch, open, carry, move or throw a failing battery overboard. Do not re-enter an affected compartment or attempt to save equipment. Only use a remotely accessible shutdown if it can be operated without exposure and without creating another immediate danger.

Follow trained responders' directions. Firefighting methods depend on the battery chemistry, energized equipment and surrounding conditions; this policy is not firefighting instruction. A normal extinguisher or an apparent end to flames does not establish that the battery is safe. Continued heat and re-ignition can occur.

Do not restart or transport the affected equipment after the event until the responsible emergency authority and qualified specialists have addressed the hazard. Notify M-Oceans when the immediate danger is controlled. Customer support is not an emergency-response service.

13. Transport, returns and disposal

Protect sound batteries against short circuit, movement and damage during handling and transport, using the approved packaging and method. Lithium batteries are regulated dangerous goods; requirements depend on their type, energy rating, condition, packaging and mode of transport. Ask for appropriate instructions before shipment.

Damaged, defective, swollen, overheated, leaking, immersed or recalled batteries may require special packaging, a specialist carrier or restrictions that prohibit the proposed shipment. Obtain a condition assessment and authorized transport instructions. An ordinary return authorization or courier label is not permission to send an unsafe battery. Never conceal damage or misdescribe the contents.

Use an appropriate battery recycling or hazardous-waste service and disclose any damage. Do not place batteries in ordinary garbage or mixed household recycling, abandon them or discharge them into the environment. Follow emergency instructions first where a battery presents an immediate hazard.

14. Safety reports, warranties and contact

Report suspected product safety issues to sales@m-oceans.com or 1-888-988-9934 after addressing the immediate danger. Give the product and order details, circumstances, connected equipment and installer information that are safely available. Preserve records and components only where safe and consistent with emergency, regulatory and insurance instructions.

Follow applicable recalls and manufacturer corrective notices. Do not bypass a safety measure to continue operating. M-Oceans retains its own legal reporting and product-safety obligations; purchasers are not required to investigate the cause before bringing a concern to our attention.

Damage caused by improper installation, incompatible equipment, modification or unsafe use may fall outside the applicable express warranty. The manufacturer or other named warrantor provides its warranty on its stated terms; our dealer assistance does not create an additional manufacturer warranty. Warranty administration and allocation of liability are governed by sections 2, 13, 15, 20 and 21 of the Terms of Sale and Website Use. Retain this policy with the exact product manuals and give them to the installer and subsequent operators.