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04-03-2010, 09:37 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 41
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battery box upgrade
I currently have a single 12 volt deep cycle battery and am upgrading it to 2 6 volt golf cart batteries. The problem I have is that the current battery is in an enclosed vented battery box that is just big enough to accomadte the current battery. I would like to take the exsisting box out and replace it with a doulbe so I may use the exsisting hole in the bottom of the trailer for spill drainage and the exsisting vent tube for battery gases. Can anyone tell me where I may purchase such a box?
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2010 Cherokee 295U 36 foot 5th Wheel.
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04-03-2010, 02:53 PM
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#2
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CLASS "A" Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Upperco, Maryland
Posts: 3,136
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Here's a link to point you in the right direction. I'm sure there are others out there.
https://www.makariosrv.com/categorie...Battery-Boxes/
Good luck, Charlie
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2007 Georgetown 370TS
aka - RAYNMKR
Driver: Charlie
Navigator: Sheri
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04-04-2010, 09:21 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Prairieville, Louisiana
Posts: 1,923
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04-04-2010, 01:43 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 41
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thanks, i looked at those links. i think i will either get 2 single boxes (cost around $10-$15 each) and some kind of plumbing fitting to combine the vent or make something "homemade". i cant see paying $90 +$15 shipping for a plastic box.
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2010 Cherokee 295U 36 foot 5th Wheel.
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04-04-2010, 03:31 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Prairieville, Louisiana
Posts: 1,923
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rsl
i cant see paying $90 +$15 shipping for a plastic box.
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True, true.
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04-08-2010, 01:28 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 41
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ok so I installed 2 6 volt interstate batteries last night, 232 amp/hours. The battery part was easy, the fun part was the battery box. I ended up finding a box that would sort of work at wallyworld. I found one of the heavy duty black rubbermaid boxes with the red handles in the automotive department. I had to cut the inside 2nd layer of plastic out of the lid for the batteies to fit. I screwed it down, cut the vent hole in the bottom, used some creative plumbing parts to make the drain, drill a couple of holes in the side for the wires to pass through, cut a hole in the top and used a plumbing fitting to attach the vent tube. I will get some pictures and post them. Couple of hours of work but the box and plumbing parts was less then $25 as oppesed to ordering one for $125.
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2010 Cherokee 295U 36 foot 5th Wheel.
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04-08-2010, 02:47 PM
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#7
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CLASS "A" Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Upperco, Maryland
Posts: 3,136
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rsl
ok so I installed 2 6 volt interstate batteries last night, 232 amp/hours. The battery part was easy, the fun part was the battery box. I ended up finding a box that would sort of work at wallyworld. I found one of the heavy duty black rubbermaid boxes with the red handles in the automotive department. I had to cut the inside 2nd layer of plastic out of the lid for the batteies to fit. I screwed it down, cut the vent hole in the bottom, used some creative plumbing parts to make the drain, drill a couple of holes in the side for the wires to pass through, cut a hole in the top and used a plumbing fitting to attach the vent tube. I will get some pictures and post them. Couple of hours of work but the box and plumbing parts was less then $25 as oppesed to ordering one for $125.
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Good deal, glad to hear it worked out for you. $100 saved can buy some other goodies. Congrats, looking forward to the pictures.
__________________
2007 Georgetown 370TS
aka - RAYNMKR
Driver: Charlie
Navigator: Sheri
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04-08-2010, 09:41 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 41
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Two questions.....
1. How well does the battery box need to be sealed (excluding the bottom and top vents), does it just need to be reasonably enclosed with a little gap around hole for wires or does it need to be airtight with the exception of the box vents?
2. What kind of water do I use to top off the batteries, regular bottled water, or what?
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2010 Cherokee 295U 36 foot 5th Wheel.
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04-09-2010, 05:59 AM
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#9
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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Everything I have read says distilled water ONLY.
As to the battery box (in my opinion), it should be vented to the outside to ensure airflow through the box to the outside. This will purge the hydrogen generated by the charging process does not accumulate and reach a dangerous level. This is normally done with a vent at the bottom and another at the top since Hydrogen is lighter than air. There are plenty of drafts in most battery compartments, but you want to be sure, so vent it. As to how tight, I think it is not so important as long as there is a place to the Hydrogen to GO (UP). The "replacement air" can come in the sides, bottom, etc.
I am in the process of making a double box from two plastic kitchen sink dish washer tubs. I will be using the existing upper vent tube and drilling a drain hole to match up with the existing hole in the bottom of the compartment. Wires will exit through the side where the top and bottom tubs mate. Will photo the whole thing when done.
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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04-09-2010, 11:15 AM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 41
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I have both the bottom and top vents installed and vented to the outside. I was just trying to figure out if I had to silcone any wire holes on the side of the box.
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2010 Cherokee 295U 36 foot 5th Wheel.
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04-10-2010, 06:32 AM
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#11
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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I was not planning to. You never know when I might want to rearrange things. Replacing the batteries would be a chore if the wires were siliconed in.
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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04-14-2010, 12:46 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 41
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Here are the PIcs as promised. If anyone has any questions I will be happy to answer them
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2010 Cherokee 295U 36 foot 5th Wheel.
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04-14-2010, 12:48 PM
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#13
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
Posts: 9,280
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Nice lookn' job.
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Chap , DW Joy, and Fur Baby Sango
2017 F350 Lariat CCSB, SRW, 4x4, 6.7 PS
2017 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
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04-14-2010, 12:49 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Enumclaw, WA
Posts: 2,615
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Wow, nicely done RSL. Good thinking with the tote too.
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04-14-2010, 01:07 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Colorado
Posts: 322
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nicely done!
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Ron Hanson
2009 Georgetown 350TS (bunks)
400W solar, 440AH 6V GC2
2009 Ford Edge AWD Ltd towed
2011 Honda Fit Sport towed
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04-15-2010, 06:53 AM
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#16
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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GREAT job and thanks for the shunt photo.
I am in the throes of this mod myself. I am building a battery compartment out of my wide open basement in the Flagstaff.
I am using two dish washing tubs, one inverted. I will post the photos as I get going. I just put the back wall in yesterday. I am using 2 12VDC batterys in parallel and I am also installing a the Trimetric monitor and Inverter.
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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05-12-2010, 07:59 PM
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#17
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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05-18-2010, 02:10 PM
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#18
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lafayette, Colorado
Posts: 98
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Battery vent tube?
I have a question about your battery compartment upgrade (nice job by the way). I see in picture, 100_0438.jpg that you have what looks like a vent tube going out the top of the box. If that is a vent tube, where does it exhaust? Did you make an opening in the side of your camper?
I'd love to do something like this to my battery compartment but I'm not sure what I'd do with the vent tube. From what I've read, the vent tube *must* exit through the top (since the hydrogen gas rises). My battery "compartment" is steel support brackets that holds the battery tray and hangs from the RV accessed by a door.
Thanks.
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05-19-2010, 06:18 AM
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#19
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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Mike, Our batteries are in an enclosed space (the 5th wheel "basement" storage area) and must be exhausted outside. The hose in my unit, and in RSL's I am sure, are routed through the existing exhaust port in the wall.
Not sure what rig you have but it sounds like a Class A. If the space around where your batteries are to be located is "outside" the living space, and not enclosed, then a vent in the top of the battery box to allow the gas to disapate would be all that is required.
You could use a piece of polyester furnace filter to cover the hole in the box (from the inside) to keep dirt out and still let out the gas.
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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05-19-2010, 09:32 AM
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#20
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lafayette, Colorado
Posts: 98
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That is exactly what I was looking for. Since my battery compartment is not within the living space, it will only require a direct vent at the top. The furnace filter is a great idea--never would have thought of that.
Thanks!
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