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Old 07-16-2017, 07:15 PM   #1
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Custom Battery Boxes

What are you guys using for vented battery boxes. I am looking to upgrade my batteries to 4 large 6v batteries and need some help with a box. I am thinking these batteries https://www.batteriesplus.com/productdetails/sli6v370s. They are 11.75L x 7W x 16.5H. I can't seam to find a box large enough to hold 4 of them without having a ton of extra space. I am thinking custom box now and wondering what others have done. Pics would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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Old 07-17-2017, 01:37 AM   #2
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Originally Posted by Mr. Mohon View Post
What are you guys using for vented battery boxes. I am looking to upgrade my batteries to 4 large 6v batteries and need some help with a box. I am thinking these batteries https://www.batteriesplus.com/productdetails/sli6v370s. They are 11.75L x 7W x 16.5H. I can't seam to find a box large enough to hold 4 of them without having a ton of extra space. I am thinking custom box now and wondering what others have done. Pics would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
I stored 6 6v real deep cycle batteries in a large ice chest. Insulated with a lid, a vent pipe out on end and a muffin fan for cooling. This was inside however. Worked for several years in the solar house.
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Old 07-17-2017, 02:36 AM   #3
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I whitewater raft and many of us have had custom made aluminum dry boxes fabricated for our boats. While they are not cheap, anywhere from $200 to $400 per box, they are incredibly sturdy and can be made to your specs. Let me know if you need any info. BTW I do not work for any of these companies.
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Old 07-17-2017, 05:32 AM   #4
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Originally Posted by aguablanco View Post
I whitewater raft and many of us have had custom made aluminum dry boxes fabricated for our boats. While they are not cheap, anywhere from $200 to $400 per box, they are incredibly sturdy and can be made to your specs. Let me know if you need any info. BTW I do not work for any of these companies.
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Thanks Rich. I would love to see some pics of the boxes you are referring to. I am a welder myself so I could build one, I just need some ideas for how to pull it off. Thanks.
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Old 07-18-2017, 08:06 AM   #5
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I found a perfect size box at lowes for four gc2 batts from costco, not sure if the batts you intend to use are the same size or not, but they fit perfect for me.I posted what i did for it and venting in your what batteries for inverter thread a few months ago, Post #9.


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Old 07-18-2017, 09:49 PM   #6
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So I am thinking of just making my own aluminum sealed battery box for the batteries I am wanting. I can't seem to find one that will work.

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I am having part of the front panel come off so that the batteries can be loaded in. If I do not remove the front panel then the box would be too tall to get the batteries through the door and into the box. I also left a 1" gap all the way around the batteries. Now all I need to do is figure out a semi simple way to secure the batteries so they don't move around. I was thinking of some threaded rod that goes through the base of the box and the floor and a bracket that goes across the top of the battery.

What do you guys think?
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Old 07-18-2017, 09:59 PM   #7
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I know that I also need holes for cables and a vent hose. Just haven't drawn that in yet.
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Old 07-19-2017, 12:04 AM   #8
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You could just keep it simple, screw the box to the floor, which I am sure you were planning anyhow, then place a 1x1 piece of wood behind and in front of the batts at the bottom to act as a shim, equal to the width of the box. That would keep them from sliding back and forth, add two more for side to side movement. I see no way they would jump out based on their weight. This still allows breathing room around the batts. You may want to add a drain below the batts through the floor if they ever leak.

Im not sure how much room you need above the batts, but I would keep it as short as possible, perhaps enough for your vent hose on the side? 1.5" to 2" maybe. This will aloow you more space on top of the box for storing other items. Maybe add a rail, or piece of angle alum on top to store more items and keep them from sliding off the top.

Below is a pic of how mine looked after I was done. The box was purchased at lowes for about $10.
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Edited to add pic.

Good luck.
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Old 07-19-2017, 07:15 AM   #9
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Originally Posted by Mr. Mohon View Post
So I am thinking of just making my own aluminum sealed battery box for the batteries I am wanting. I can't seem to find one that will work.

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I am having part of the front panel come off so that the batteries can be loaded in. If I do not remove the front panel then the box would be too tall to get the batteries through the door and into the box. I also left a 1" gap all the way around the batteries. Now all I need to do is figure out a semi simple way to secure the batteries so they don't move around. I was thinking of some threaded rod that goes through the base of the box and the floor and a bracket that goes across the top of the battery.

What do you guys think?
When I made my battery box, I inserted the plastic battery trays in it to set the batteries in so if anything ever leaked, the trays would contain it.
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Old 07-22-2017, 12:03 AM   #10
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I cleaned up my battery area today. Tub came from Walmart $10. Holds (4) 6 volt batteries perfectly. Drain hole in the bottom and vent on the top. Snap tite lid.
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Old 07-25-2017, 06:55 PM   #11
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Nicely done.

I'm currently boondocking in a tiny trailer with no room for permanent install of a battery bank like that. But I'm guessing I could build something that goes in the bed of the truck and have some kind of heavy duty cable\connector that could extend a few feet and plug in somehow?



I know in a datacenter there are UPS systems that allow you to "stack" similar banks of batteries to expand the total supply of offline power.



Sound feasible to any of you 12V boondocking geniuses?
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Old 07-25-2017, 07:03 PM   #12
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Similar to this maybe?



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Old 07-25-2017, 07:22 PM   #13
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CK out this website. Lots of goodies: Jump Start Kits | AW Direct
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Old 07-25-2017, 08:15 PM   #14
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Thanks Tom. I'm betting I can get anything I need from that source. So that takes care of that.

But I'm betting there are some "best practices" to apply to deploying such a system.

Let's assume I build a nice box with the 4 6V batteries and I follow all the suggestions of "matched brand\model\age".
I arrive at camp and disconnect the Toy Hauler from the trucks trailer harness. At that point the RV is running off the OEM single 12V battery.
Would it be possible (and ok) to just add the power of the 4-battery bank to the onboard single battery? Or would it be better to just disconnect from the oem battery and connect to the 4-battery bank?

While I'm typing the question, for some reason I'm convinced it would be better to just switch FROM 1 and TO the other, rather than messing with combing them.

And just to address the second issue that might arise, is there a simple method of connecting the 4-battery bank to the tow vehicle while traveling so that the bank will be getting a charge at the same time the OEM battery is? Or is this yet again introducing potential problems where the OEM battery and 4-bank might not play nice together?

Remember, the only challenge I'm really wanting to overcome is having the 12V boondocking prowess you Big Guys have with your basement full of battery power, without actually permanently mounting the batteries to\in\on the RV.

Thanks again for the help.
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Old 07-25-2017, 08:49 PM   #15
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I really can't answer that question. My cents, for what it's worth, is to use the 4 battery bank. Having said that, we loaded the 4 6V batteries into the tub I pictured.......then 3 of us could not lift it. So we had to get a motorcycle ramp and slide it up and into the camper. If I ever need to change batteries I will need to pull them out one at a time. I'm sure someone on here can tell you how to connect them to your TV for charging but remember, when you leave camp your taking your power with you. Good luck.
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Old 07-25-2017, 09:00 PM   #16
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Excellent point! I hadn't thought about having the truck anchored to the campsite. Duh

Ok, additional design parameter. Battery Bank Box must be on wheels like a 3000+ generator.

You know, there IS a perfect spot on each side of the toy hauler, just inside the ramp door. (Ramp is not full width)
If it were possible to stack the bank 4 batteries high, or 2 each side for better weight balance.

Just brainstorming. Best to ignore me during this phase.

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Old 01-12-2018, 10:53 PM   #17
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I purchased the Century Plastics 4-battery box with lid; believe this is the one:
https://allbatterysalesandservice.co...atteries-gcq-g

Lid is notched to match case so you can run all of your cables out. Lid is solid which works well for AGM or you can easily drill one or more vent holes.
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Old 01-12-2018, 11:13 PM   #18
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Why do batteries need to be in a sealed, vented box? Batteries are not in boxes in motorhomes. Open the compartment door and they are in a tray but no sealed box. Just wondering.
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Old 01-13-2018, 11:00 AM   #19
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I've thought about that as well. The only reason I keep the lids on my boxes is in case of a boil over or explosion of some type. Why motorcaoches are not in boxes is beyond me.
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Old 01-14-2018, 10:01 AM   #20
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I've thought about that as well. The only reason I keep the lids on my boxes is in case of a boil over or explosion of some type. Why motorcaoches are not in boxes is beyond me.
Rusty
Aren't the coach battery compartments sealed from other compartments and vented. I only have experience with one MH and it was limited, but the compartment was sealed from others and vented.
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