Extra battery compartment at back (1 Viewer)

[carken]

Hi. We've installed a centre chest of drawers at the rear of our van and other half asks if anyone has ever put a battery compartment in the back of their van as he wants to put one in the bottom underneath it.
He wants to install extra battery/ies and thinks this might be a good place.
Any thoughts anyone?

 

[pappajohn]

apart from the extra weight behind the axle and difficulty venting the battery to outside, its a reasonable idea.
the battery MUST be vented to outside air or explosive gasses could build up under the drawers.

you will need heavy cables though, due to volt drop and the distance between batteries.

 

[DP+JAY]

I have an extra battery at the back but I kept it as close to the axle as possible.

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[hilldweller]

MUST be vented to outside air or explosive gasses could build up under the drawers..

Happens to me every day.

 

[carken]

He means to install it properly in a battery locker accessible from the back of the van and vent it properly too. It should be alright then, shouldn't it?

 

[hilldweller]

He means to install it properly in a battery locker accessible from the back of the van and vent it properly too. It should be alright then, shouldn't it?

Remember the overhang. If it's below the floor make sure it can't ground out when on the ramp of a ship or whatever.

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[pappajohn]

He means to install it properly in a battery locker accessible from the back of the van and vent it properly too. It should be alright then, shouldn't it?

if you mean build a box under the chest and fit a new external locker door in the rear panel, then that is extreme and probably very difficult as the rear panel may be ABS/plastic and moulded...ie: not flat.

all it will need is a plastic battery box & lid and a small hole drilled through the floor for the vent tube.
a good coating of none hardening sealer around the tube will seal the hole from moisture..