stuffing a battery box

F

flightconn

Member
exMember
Joined
Sep 3, 2010
RO Number
32312
Messages
141
Hope the subject gets some attention

I have a battery box that could probably hold 2 8D batteries (except I could never get them in or out) so with my 2 31's inside there is a lot of free space. I would like to stuff something in to keep the batteries in place. I was thinking foam but not sure if there is any conflict with foam and any off gasing from the batteries in a closed enviroment.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Mike

PS - the day will come when I can answer a question and not always ask them, but not yet.
 
Make a divider out of starboard (or plywood). Run screws thru the divider from the outside of the box.
 
why not just get 2 size 31 battery boxes and put them side by side?
 
quote:
Originally posted by arks1

Make a divider out of starboard (or plywood). Run screws thru the divider from the outside of the box.

Click to expand...


Probably the best idea
 
quote:
Originally posted by Gregory S

why not just get 2 size 31 battery boxes and put them side by side?

Click to expand...


Because I have a beautiful fiberglass (probably glass over wood) battery box that is built in (at least attached to the boat) and I like the idea of the extra space in case I decide to add an extra battery in the future.

Mike
 
quote:
Originally posted by Capt. Bill1

Why not just add the extra battery/s.

Click to expand...


I am thinking about it, not sure if I have room for a second 31. Anything wrong with a 31 and a 27 or 24?

Cancel question; search led me to believe one should stick with only one size battery.
 
take out the 31 and replace with about 6 golf carts. One can never have too big of a house bank!
 
quote:
Originally posted by Ghost

take out the 31 and replace with about 6 golf carts. One can never have too big of a house bank!

Click to expand...


31's are brand new, just installed today. I need to find a different alternative, at least this year.
 
Mike I noticed you mention you have a 57' boat ubder your profile. If this is true I can't imagine 2 31 series batteries being enough to do much of anything on a 57' boat? What was this battery box and the old batteries in it used to power?
Bill
 
quote:
Originally posted by Billylll

Mike I noticed you mention you have a 57' boat ubder your profile. If this is true I can't imagine 2 31 series batteries being enough to do much of anything on a 57' boat? What was this battery box and the old batteries in it used to power?
Bill

Click to expand...


Yikes, what was I drinking that night? 57 was my age, the boat when I bought it was 42 feet, then when I measured it it became 39.5 if I don't count the bolt on swim platform, then when I checked the water line it is 37 feet. The batteries I took out were 24's, I thought I was making a big move going to 31's.

The boat is mostly used for day trips out to a nearby town or to anchor play music and swim, then as a floating condo, at the dock at night. We do plan a 2 week trip up the west coast of Michigan this year but will only be anchoring out a night or two.

I am now thinking of using the 2 31 deep cycle dual purpose batteries as house power and getting 2 27 inch starting batteries for the engines - thoughts?

I do have a 3rd starting battery for my generator

Thanks,

Mike
 
Wow, my 23' Trophy has two 31's in it. Like Tim "toolman" Taylor used to say "More Power!"
 
Sounds like you could use a bit more battery power. In the mean time buy a couple of battery straps to hold down what you have.
 
I'd put in another 31 if it will fit, then make a removeable spacer out of Starboard. Anything else will either get destroyed by the acid (plywood) or be more hassle than it's worth (fiberglassed plywood).

I wouldn't drill holes in the existing box if I could avoid it.
 
quote:
Originally posted by flightconn

quote:
Originally posted by Capt. Bill1

Why not just add the extra battery/s.

Click to expand...


I am thinking about it, not sure if I have room for a second 31. Anything wrong with a 31 and a 27 or 24?

Cancel question; search led me to believe one should stick with only one size battery.

Click to expand...


I recently upgraded my camper battery system which had a single group 27 battery in a compartment that's not big enuf for anything else and it's certainly inadequate for my needs.

A friend had a new Trojan T1275 that he offered me a good price on. Not sure of which group that is, but too big to fit in the compartment and a single battery isn't sufficient anyway.

There's room for the T1275 elsewhere, but I ran into the same question about compatability as you. Asking on the RV forum gave mixed answers and no agreement, so I called Trojan.

The Trojan tech told me that as long as voltage is the same, (these are both 12 volt) just wire them in parallel and go for it. Each will take what it needs on charge and supply what it can on discharge, so I went ahead with that plan.

That's straight from Trojan.

At the same time, several people recommended I upgrade the alternator charging system on my truck, so, going with the diagrams and descriptions supplied, I upgraded the wiring from the alternator to #4, isolated from engine with a heavy duty solenoid. It works wonderfully well and I'm very pleased.

I was concerned about the heavy charging load boiling my batteries but was assured by all, including Trojan -they actually agreed - that there wouldn't be a problem. Also note that there are commercial chargers that charge at the same rate. My Progressive Dynamics charges at 55 amps.

There's a full description with pictures on my blog page at: http://gogittum.com/blog/?cat=136

Lar.
 
I used a couple of short pieces of large PVC pipe as a spacer. cheap quick and readily available
 
You could put the two 31s into 31-sized battery boxes, put those inside the fiberglass box and shim the empty space with whatever you want. I think Gregory S was alluding to this in his post.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top