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Extra — Battery lock
DIY Travel Trailer Battery Lock - How to build
Source: DIY Travel Trailer Battery Lock - How to build · 2019-05-03 · 11:39
What Joe did
- Made a steel tray that bolts inside the battery box and added side tabs.
- Modified a hinge and built a locking top strap to hold the battery down during travel.
- Added a middle tab and self-tapping bolts into the trailer frame so removing outer bolts alone does not release the holder.
- Used rubber gaskets between the steel holder and aluminum battery box.
Numbers
| What | Value | Where in the video |
|---|---|---|
| Brief clip | 5 or 10 seconds | probably added a 5 or 10 second clip |
| Frame fasteners | two self-tapping bolts | I used two self-tapping bolts |
| Battery capacity | 100 amp hours | rated for a hundred amp hours |
| Expected battery life | 10 to 15 years | generally have a very long life 10 to 15 years |
| Depth of discharge | 80% | depth of discharge which is 80% |
| Joe’s expected use | 40% | probably only maybe discharge it maybe 40% |
Materials and parts
| Item | Detail as Joe says it |
|---|---|
| Battery | Relion lithium battery, 100 amp hours |
| Holder | steel tray, tabs, top strap, and hinge |
| Fasteners | carriage bolts and self-tapping bolts |
| Isolation | rubber gaskets |
| Battery enclosure | aluminum battery box |
Tools Joe used
- Metal-cutting tool
- Welder
- Angle grinder
Tips and mistakes
- He added the center tab after the main holder so outer carriage bolts would not be the only restraint.
- He separated the holder from the aluminum box with rubber gaskets.
For my build
- Nathan: Treat battery mounting as both a travel-restraint and layout task; leave access for wiring and service.
- Nathan: Joe’s capacity and life comments are his experience, not a sizing plan for Nathan’s different loads and solar setup.
- Nathan: Put welding-dependent battery hardware later in the project or buy a purpose-made restraint.