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Old 08-18-2017, 12:48 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Savannah, GA
Posts: 45
Year: 1997
Coachwork: International
Chassis: 3000
Engine: 7.6 L / DT466
Rated Cap: 72 Pass.
Battery Box Design??

Hey guys!

I am curious how you all attached your batteries? I was thinking of installing them under the bus with a steel/plywood/rubber platform then rods to hold it up. Should I weld a box instead? Which is better - inside or outside installation?
(I have 4 AGM batteries and plan to travel in light snow and moderate temperatures)

Thanks!

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Old 08-18-2017, 12:50 PM   #2
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Location: Massachusetts
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Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
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I haven't done it yet, but plan on using marine plywood as a base and angle steel with straps to keep the batteries upright and inline.
If I was going to suspend them I would reinforce the plywood with steel tubing and hang them with either threaded rod or unistrut.

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Old 08-18-2017, 03:30 PM   #3
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Year: 1992
Coachwork: Eldorado National
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I use 1.5-2" angle and weld up a rectangle the battery(ies) will fit in and weld a piece of allthread on both ends where each battery will set and a hold down strap made of flat plate or angle with wing nuts to hold it down the you can mount that anywhere you want by brackets or hang using larger longer all thread at the corners. I would say browse Google for semi truck battery holddown's or battery boxes and get an idea of how different mounting styles work if you can weld you can make pretty much anything
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Old 08-18-2017, 10:25 PM   #4
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Year: 1990
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You need to think about access to the batteries at the back, if only for checking their cable connections (AGMs won't need watering or checking SG). Some sort of pull-out tray or box will make life much easier for you. For each of my two house battery banks of four golfcart batteries each, I have a tray that uses 1/2" x 1-1/8" bearings running on 1"square tubing - it opens about 3/4 of the way, sufficient to easily access the rear batteries. The trays are open to the ground to allow plenty of air to flow around the batteries, plus I added louvered vents in the top of the door to allow any hydrogen to escape.

John
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Old 08-19-2017, 11:10 AM   #5
Almost There
 
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Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Wauchula, Florida
Posts: 85
Year: 1993
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: International
Engine: DT360
I'm personally building a battery box just like my bus's existing battery box and putting them right next to each other. I also got a door and battery tray off a graveyard bus to apply to the new box. Each box holds 3 batteries, including the vehicular battery, so I'll have room for 5 house batteries.
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Old 08-19-2017, 11:58 AM   #6
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Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
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My battery box is half in & half out through the floor but access is from the interior. Did it in part to try and stabilize temperature a bit (the box is insulated).

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