SAFE - Battery location

Topic: SAFE - Battery location (Read 969 times) previous topic - next topic

SAFE - Battery location

July 15, 2017, 08:20:34 pm

I'm looking around the coach for a possible alternate house battery location.
I want to install 4 to 6 L-16 batteries and the current location will only allow this if I place the AGM batteries on there sides. I would only be able to install 4 batteries in this compartment.

I have space if I go to the other side of the partition were the Fuel and Propane tank are located.
My concern, Having the battery's (ignition source) in the same bay as the fuel and propane.
I could build a housing for the batteries to fit into in that compartment but don't know if this would be enough.

What are your thoughts?

Re: SAFE - Battery location

Reply #1 – July 16, 2017, 08:16:22 am

Since no one else has chimed in, I will. Several years ago when I was purchasing new house batteries, I worked with Lifeline people in California. They assured me that their AGM's could be oriented in any direction. I worked out how I could pack larger batteries if I laid a couple of them on their side. Again they assured me that that would work fine. In the end I chickened out and went with the normal size (all oriented upright) with a little less storage capacity.

Re: SAFE - Battery location

Reply #2 – July 16, 2017, 09:30:23 am

I would not put batteries in the propane bay. One would also be mindful of weight distribution with respect to the floor structure.

Re: SAFE - Battery location

Reply #3 – July 16, 2017, 10:22:18 am

Brother Geoff may see this posting and mention that he has the AGM coach batteries on a sliding tray on their sides because of space issues. They are Odyssey make and all seems to be working fine. They are behind the rear wheels on the GV so he also has a heavyplastic cover to keep road crap off.
JohnH

Re: SAFE - Battery location

Reply #4 – July 16, 2017, 10:29:18 am

Ted H. has 4 L-16 batteries in his coach in the compartment where his original 8D's were. I saw his set up while in CA and again at Quartzite. It worked very well for him with the 4 wet cell batteries.................FYI

Re: SAFE - Battery location

Reply #5 – July 16, 2017, 12:37:16 pm

Quote from: Lon and Cheryl – July 15, 2017, 08:20:34 pm

I'm looking around the coach for a possible alternate house battery location.
I want to install 4 to 6 L-16 batteries and the current location will only allow this if I place the AGM batteries on there sides. I would only be able to install 4 batteries in this compartment.
I have space if I go to the other side of the partition were the Fuel and Propane tank are located.
My concern, Having the battery's (ignition source) in the same bay as the fuel and propane.
I could build a housing for the batteries to fit into in that compartment but don't know if this would be enough.
What are your thoughts?

AGMs should be fine in any position except inverted. Don't think I would put the house batteries in with the propane and diesel. In an accident, the batteries could act like a welder.

Pierce

Re: SAFE - Battery location

Reply #6 – July 16, 2017, 04:23:34 pm

After some thought, I think I will forget the propane fuel compartment for batteries, common sense ringing in my ear.
I will build a new vented compartment in the first storage compartment so the batteries can sit upright and I can easily put 6 - L16's in.
I might then consider the Trojan L-16H - that has 435ah@20, Its a wet cell.
I can use the old battery compartment and its drawer for a tool box.

Re: SAFE - Battery location

Reply #7 – July 16, 2017, 04:44:06 pm

As ready mentioned, you will need to verify that the compartment structure in the new location is adequate for 6 times 120 pounds.

Said another way, if not originally designed for that huge weight, it would be very unlikely that the compartment would have been "over-built" enough to handle an extra 720 pounds.

Re: SAFE - Battery location

Reply #8 – July 16, 2017, 05:00:34 pm

Plus you will have a hydrogen gas source in the compartment. Lots of maintenance with the outgassing

Not a flooded cell fan. Trojan makes a AGM at a slightly reduced capacity.

2000 amp hours of capacity can use 400 amps of alternator at the 1/5th capacity charging rate,

Re: SAFE - Battery location

Reply #9 – July 16, 2017, 06:18:52 pm

Quote from: Lon and Cheryl – July 16, 2017, 04:23:34 pm

I will build a new vented compartment in the first storage compartment so the batteries can sit upright and I can easily put 6 - L16's in.
I might then consider the Trojan L-16H - that has 435ah@20, Its a wet cell.

That is exactly what I had planned before we sold our '91 U300. Wet cells are no problem as long as you understand how to use them (ventilation and periodic water checks).

I would recommend lining the batteries up in a row tight along the vertical wall, where the support is, with no batteries in a second row out in the middle of the bay. I was planning to open up access holes in the vertical wall and supplement the roloks with thru bolts and nuts from the vertical wall bottom beam to the floor beams along the length of the battery bank.

Re: SAFE - Battery location

Reply #10 – July 17, 2017, 03:55:14 am

I will support the floor under the batteries and line them up along the forward wall as suggested. The other side of the wall is the fuel tank and old battery compartment. I would assume (always dangerous) but confirm later, that this area is already re-enforced because of the fuel tank location next door.
After further thought I believe I will use the Full River AGM batteries as Roger did (L16 415ah). I like the warranty, I will have to shop for price now.
Too bad the Battle Born Lithium are too expensive, it would be the perfect chose for weight reduction.

Re: SAFE - Battery location

Reply #11 – July 19, 2017, 12:39:01 am

Battery selection change.
I checked around for the Full River batteries but could not source them locally at a good price.
There is a seller in the area called the Battery Guy, he was able to sell me Lifeline AGM L16 400ah. $479.99 each (6) with $190 S&H direct from Lifeline in CA. no sales tax.
He worked his butt off to get me this sale. I would highly recommend him to any body needing batteries in the Midwest.

Re: SAFE - Battery location

Reply #12 – July 19, 2017, 07:36:03 am

Were the 6 l16's a residential use?

Re: SAFE - Battery location

Reply #13 – July 19, 2017, 11:49:12 am

The reason I asked is that in reading the Concorde AGM battery technical sheet they mention you need to charge their batteries at 1/5 C which is 20% of the amp hours capacity.

Something about the batteries design requires that charge rate for the charging process to work correctly.

6 times 400 is 2,400 amp hours.

480 amp alternator or two 240's and 480 amps worth of inverter/charger.

Both at the battery I think.

Re: SAFE - Battery location

Reply #14 – July 19, 2017, 12:01:59 pm

Quote from: Caflashbob – July 19, 2017, 11:49:12 am

The reason I asked is that in reading the Concorde AGM battery technical sheet they mention you need to charge their batteries at 1/5 C which is 20% of the amp hours capacity.

Something about the batteries design requires that charge rate for the charging process to work correctly.

6 times 400 is 2,400 amp hours.

480 amp alternator or two 240's and 480 amps worth of inverter/charger.

Both at the battery I think.

the 6 batteries are grouped as 3 12 volt batteries so it is 3 times 400

Re: SAFE - Battery location

Reply #15 – July 19, 2017, 05:28:42 pm

I removed the 17 gallon LP tank from my U320. Made a new battery rack for 4 L16 Fullriver 6v batteries that mounts to the two frame members that held the LP tank. Bolts right through the frame members. Added much bigger plates underneath. New busses, new switch, new fuse, all new cables. Put in an 11 lb LP tank (2.5 gal) in a secure mount. Replumbed gas lines, made new vent covers. Drawer fits right back in. Very small part of a much bigger project.

Send me an email if you want more project details.

Re: SAFE - Battery location

Reply #16 – July 19, 2017, 11:12:39 pm

1,200 amphours is much easier to get 20% charging rate to them.

240 amps from the alternator or charger.

There was an alternative low volt charging rate over a few days versus the 240 amps in their technical PDF file.

Re: SAFE - Battery location

Reply #17 – July 19, 2017, 11:23:38 pm

Hi Roger,
Please post more project details
-Mike-

Re: SAFE - Battery location

Reply #18 – July 20, 2017, 12:43:18 am

Hi All,
Only 4 days late responding to John's mention of my coach battery install! Busy days!!
last year I installed two Odyssey Extreme 31-PC2150 batteries on their side ( see attachments ) . These are working great, I do not really do any dry camping but they work for me. This April/May I left my coach with John when we went to the UK for a vacation and he mounted my battery solar panels on my roof along with a new roof paint job and a multitude of other repair / upgrades. A special brother for sure.

Re: SAFE - Battery location

Reply #19 – July 20, 2017, 11:06:08 am

Roger- I am curious as to why you have your batteries mounted in the same compartment with your smaller propane tank. After just having my propane regulator go out ( yours looks just like my old one) and dump about 20 gal of propane, I would be concerned about having electrical connections in the same area- 1 spark combined with a leak.

I am not being critical, just wondering why.

Be safe

Re: SAFE - Battery location

Reply #20 – July 20, 2017, 08:03:58 pm

I switched to a different tank connection (the kind you would use on a 20lb tank and a grill). These have an automatic shutoff if the flow rate exceeds some flow rate. I thought about this for a while and checked with a few knowledgable sources. Risk is minimal. I enhanced the bay venting. Nothing in the battery setup that would spark unless there is a short. Fuses are flame proof type.

I have a spare tank located above the water pump. Plumbing the cooktop to that location would be quite easy if you wanted to separate the batteries from the LP. But I have switches, fuses, solar charge controller and lots more in that space as well.

We are turning off the LP while traveling for now. The 11 lb tank is easy in and out and down to the gas station for a refill. Lot easier than driving the coach somewhere for a fill. One tank should come close to lasting our normal 6-7 months travel each year.

It is what we chose to do. It makes us happy.

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