Battery Loose Fit in Battery Boxes

Submitted: Sunday, May 03, 2009 at 16:20

ThreadID: 68473 Views:2567 Replies:3 FollowUps:3

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PeterInSa

Maybe its old age or maybe I am just getting more picky. Our new van came with a 120ah battery in a battery box 3+ years ago. Putting on solar I was told to replace the existing battery with a new one to match the second battery I needed. ie 2 new 120ah batteries.

Bought a new battery box same type as original, when batteries were placed in situ noticed there was a front to back and left to right gap of around 12mm and these batteries could slide around easily.

I had pulled the original battery out a couple of times and this gap did not bother me... or I did not notice. I ended up placing a piece of 12mm ply at the front and side of the boxes to keep the battery from moving around.

Spoke to a mate about it and he had installed a vehicle type battery clamp in his box/es, which is great but where one of my batteries is located it would take more than my back to get the battery out if I had a similar clamp fitted.

Comments appreciated.

Peter

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Reply By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Sunday, May 03, 2009 at 16:37

Sunday, May 03, 2009 at 16:37

G/Day Peter

The batteries in our van are in the H/D Plastic boxes, they have straps holding each box in place, it's a pain in the arse if you want to take the covers off, you have to release 2 straps per box, but otherwise the boxes can be taken out of the van boot quite easily, and when they are strapped they don't move or shake on rough terrain ect.

Cheers
Daza

AnswerID: 362967

Follow Up By: PeterInSa - Sunday, May 03, 2009 at 16:43

Sunday, May 03, 2009 at 16:43

Daza,
I have the straps on my boxes also, its just that the straps hold the lid of the box down so no metal can arc across the terminals, Inside the boxes my batteries can move around hence the wood packing. We may do up to 300km a year on dirt roads so would prefer the batteries not to move around.

Peter

FollowupID: 630602

Follow Up By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Sunday, May 03, 2009 at 17:21

Sunday, May 03, 2009 at 17:21

Hi Peter

Yeh I see what you are on about, I had a small amount of movement in ours, I fixed that by inserting a section of Rubber floor matting, the type that interlocks, all good now.

FollowupID: 630609

Reply By: Motherhen - Sunday, May 03, 2009 at 16:46

Sunday, May 03, 2009 at 16:46

Hi Peter

If you can get them tight with plywood, that will be sufficient. If they can't move, they won't damage themselves. Between the batteries may be better than on the outside edge of them, or both if there is room.

Motherhen

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AnswerID: 362970

Follow Up By: RV Powerstream P/L - Monday, May 04, 2009 at 08:45

Monday, May 04, 2009 at 08:45

There is a battery box called a Strong Box made in USA that is one size fits all and has a baffle plate that allows you to increase the battery size without buying a new box for the bigger battery.
They take 24 Series up the 31 series batteries no problem.

There is also commercial boxes that bolt down and take 2x6Volt side by side or end to end and an 8d size box that will take a haevy 8d battery.

We use them for Battery Energy Gel Batteries and the 2x6 Volt in the end for end or side by side give 200AH also the 8d will take 3x4V which gives 310AH at 12V plus 2x8d boxes will take 6x2V batteries giving 650AH at 12V which is very serious power.
Similarly the 2 8d boxes will take 6x4Volt giving 310AH at 24Volt.
The commercial boxes have screw on lids.
Regards
Ian

FollowupID: 630732