Help mounting battery/storage boxes

[MambaJack]

Just bit the bullet and cut into the skirt of my bus for a toolbox to hold batteries, also ordered another to put beside it. Looking for some advise on how to mount and support the weight of 4 to 8 batteries

 

[PNW_Steve]

Knowing the weight of the batteries would be helpful when it comes to suggesting support options.

 

[MambaJack]

sure thing, they are 64 lbs each, so
256 for 4 batteries, 512 for 8

 

[BlackJohn]

That is going to look good there and with another beside it too.



You have a piece of frame there to work with for bracket building.
You also have the open webs across the bus width.


Ok this per box



3 pcs of 2inch flat bar with a curl on one end that will go over the beam and extend to the approx front of the box, or wherever you want for length.


In the curled end, short side, drill and tap for a 1/2" bolt that will tighten up against the inner frame from underneath. They won't go anywhere then with the weight in the box.


This just seemed easier than welding or drilling brackets off the frame. Slide these in, tighten, done. Except for the actual bolting of the box to these 3 pcs. Two pieces spaced evenly might work but 3 will definitely make you feel better about the mount.


John

 

[Iceni John]

Don't forget to vent the boxes if you have FLA batteries being charged in them. Charging produces hydrogen (lighter than air), so some louvers high on the doors or ends and some lower vents to allow air circulation will help.

Cables can use pass-through terminals such as those made by VTE to go through the box's wall - I use the smaller ones for my charge controllers' 2 AWG outputs to the batteries, and a 1/2" power stud for the batteries' 2/0 AWG outputs to the load center.

When deciding how many bolts to use on something critical like this, I always use the "what if one bolt breaks?" rule. Imagine one bolt or hanger not being there - would everything still remain safely in place without it?

John