Need steel thickness advice: battery base
I need to mount our house batteries on a metal plate, which will be supported only on 2 opposing edges (its 3" over the access panel for our tranny, so no support from underneath.). The batteries will pretty much cover the entire panel with the exception of the 2 mounting edges. The size of the panel will be the footprint of the batteries, which is 14.5" x 24", plus 2" on the two ends where it will mount, so 19.5" x 24" total. The batteries total 170lbs. Obviously I need this strong enough to not flex at all, and to secure the batteries in the event of a collision.
I'm thinking 1/4" steel, but honestly, this is just a gut-feel analysis. It anyone thinks I'm off here let me know. I don't want it to weigh any more than it has to, but I'd rather err on the side of strength.
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