Ryan Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Good evening one and all. Recently, thanks to the marvellous Fridge Freezer, I have had fitted a second battery and split charge thingy. However, I now have a bit of a problem in retaining both batteries. Currently, the existing system - two threaded rods through angled piece of metal - has been bodged to hold one of the batteries in. Originally I was going to get another of the same style for the second battery, but it's going to be a bit of faff if I have to take both batteries out - what with cables and suchlike getting in the way. In my mind, I can visualise what I want but I'm not sure my description will be clear: What I'm after for both batteries is some kind of strap arrangement. One strap would be mounted behind the battery in line with the top, and the second in front of the battery by the front edge. The straps would then come together in some kind of buckle arrangement - something that is quick to attach and release. There would be a set of straps for each battery. Just in case someone was about to ask, both are mounted in the passenger side seat box. So, can someone decipher my description and offer a solution? Thanks in advance. Ryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landmannnn Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Sounds quite a good idea. Have you thought of a small ratchet strap for each battery? You could attach an eye bolt to the floor in battery compartment and run the straps over the battery. My only concern might be that the small amount of acid around might deteriorate the strap. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted July 25, 2008 Author Share Posted July 25, 2008 Sounds quite a good idea. Have you thought of a small ratchet strap for each battery? You could attach an eye bolt to the floor in battery compartment and run the straps over the battery. My only concern might be that the small amount of acid around might deteriorate the strap. Mike Hi Mike, I think they're both sealed batteries (I know the new one is) so there shouldn't be acid about (crossed-fingers, touch wood, etc). I had thought about the ratchet strap idea, just don't know if could get small enough ratchet bits. However, I really wanted something that would a 'one-action' deal - one action to lock, one to unlock - rather than the usual ratchet strap deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest diesel_jim Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 How often will you really be removing the batteries? that often? I've got an ex wolf battery tray in my 110, bolts right in, and holds two optima sized batteries. has 3 upright threaded bars (one either end and one in the middle) and a piece of bar across the top, with 3 wingnuts. I saw some at Billing last week, for not much money. Mine: And fitted in a wolf (hence the matt green paint): Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted July 25, 2008 Author Share Posted July 25, 2008 How often will you really be removing the batteries? that often? I hope not, but anything that makes my life easier is always a bonus I've got an ex wolf battery tray in my 110, bolts right in, and holds two optima sized batteries.has 3 upright threaded bars (one either end and one in the middle) and a piece of bar across the top, with 3 wingnuts. The only way that would fit would be to replace the batteries with two Optima-sized ones...the new one is a truck battery and the starter battery is slightly longer than the OE battery. As such, the batteries are mounted in a sort of L arrangement - the truck battery against and parallel with the front of the seat box, and the starter battery against the side of the seat box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headhunter Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Ryan I use a ratchet strap. It passes under a battery tray that was fitted under a pair of exide optimas now changed for an Odyssey. Otherwise as suggested a pair of eye bolts make good lower anchor points to which you can fit a strap or a top bar with two long threaded bolts with a U at the bottom (roofers use them) hooked into the eyes, with wingnuts on the top holding the bar down. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landmannnn Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Ryan, I have got some straps with a cam buckle. Have a look at this site for some ideas. ace supplies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 I made 2 alloy straps covered wiith heatshrink & 4 threaded rods to secure my 2 big odyssesy batts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 I use a ratchet strap fitted in the same way as headhunters. Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
white90 Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 two 096 batteries with winch cabling using standard set up when it turned over earlier this year both remained in place there are 4 isolators on the front of the battery box aswell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 I dodn't want anything over the top of the battery covering the access to caps. Here's how I did it making my own battery box. Notice the high Numax that doesn't fit into the standard box. The first two pictures shew the battery box on the bench. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted July 26, 2008 Author Share Posted July 26, 2008 I have got some straps with a cam buckle.Have a look at this site for some ideas. ace supplies Mike, That's probably close to what I want, but there are no photos. I tried going back via the home page but I kept getting a server error. I made 2 alloy straps covered wiith heatshrink & 4 threaded rods to secure my 2 big odyssesy batts. Ralph, Close, but I want to do without the threaded rods. I can't use one bar for both, as the truck battery is quite a bit taller than the starter battery I dodn't want anything over the top of the battery covering the access to caps.Here's how I did it making my own battery box. Notice the high Numax that doesn't fit into the standard box. Now that's just getting silly . Seriously, that's too technical for me. Everything fits in the seat box, it's just the retention that needs sorting. I'm thinking a combination of Ralph's rubber-coated ally strips, and probably Mike's buckles might fit the bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landmannnn Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 The link was supposed to show something like this Not as strong as a ratchet......... The link was to this company, if you click to strapline products you will see more. Machine mart do them too. http://www.acesupplies.co.uk/index.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted July 26, 2008 Author Share Posted July 26, 2008 Cheers Mike, I think we're almost there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishbosh Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 I don't think a "single action" type buckle will work - you really need to make sure the batteries are well secured and the force required to snap a buckle together would be pretty large IMHO to generate enough clamping force on the batteries. I cannot see why you think you'll be taking the batteries out a lot. I would recommend a robust method that is secure first and "easy access" a distant second. You could easily adapt Tony's simple and secure method and make up a spacer to sit on top of the smaller battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted July 27, 2008 Author Share Posted July 27, 2008 I never said I would be taking the batteries out a lot, just that if I had to, I wanted an easy life. I can't go for Tony's idea because the truck battery only fits where it is now. If I were to move it to a point where I could get the clamp across the top of both batteries, the terminals and battery top will sit above the line of the seat box cover which then won't fit. The way around this would then be a different battery box á la mmgemini so that the big battery sat lower, but I'm not prepared to start hacking around at metalwork in a big way. The truck battery would probably fit into the trough at the bottom of the battery box, but the starter battery would not get a look in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted July 27, 2008 Author Share Posted July 27, 2008 Actually, I've just realised the sort of buckle I'm thinking about has been on the Defender all this time - not quite the same design as I have in my head, but close: The latch that holds the seat box cover in place - it would be mounted on the bottom strap, with a d-ring or something similar on the top strap. Hook one into t'other and the action of closing the latch would tension the straps and then lock into place...wouldn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandyManLuke Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 You're talking about 'over-centre latches' - they come in loads of different flavours, including sprung-tension versions, and versions designed to be fixed to the end of steel banding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted July 27, 2008 Author Share Posted July 27, 2008 You're talking about 'over-centre latches' - they come in loads of different flavours, including sprung-tension versions, and versions designed to be fixed to the end of steel banding. Give that man a cigar Cheers Luke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 Towsure sell 'em, if you need a bit of steel I've got a few bits kicking about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardAllen Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I have been struggling with this having an original lead/acid and an additional Odyssey which are different in every dimension, fitted into a battery box with various different levels in the base. The short term fix is a pair of fabricated buffers to stop fore/aft battery movement and a strap to stop side to side and vertical movement. The long term fix is a new flat base to the battery box. Before hacking the box about, does anyone know why a 300 TDi battery box does not have a flat base ? Since flat is easier to make, I am concerned that there is some Land Rover design thinking I need to take into account (battery spillage, ventilation etc ?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I have been struggling with this having an original lead/acid and an additional Odyssey which are different in every dimension, fitted into a battery box with various different levels in the base. The short term fix is a pair of fabricated buffers to stop fore/aft battery movement and a strap to stop side to side and vertical movement.The long term fix is a new flat base to the battery box. Before hacking the box about, does anyone know why a 300 TDi battery box does not have a flat base ? Since flat is easier to make, I am concerned that there is some Land Rover design thinking I need to take into account (battery spillage, ventilation etc ?) Richard. I have no idea. The problem of getting a deeper battery box is the chassis. That's why I made the one I did and posted elswhere shewing all dimensions. mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardAllen Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 Mike, Which model Defender did you put the box into ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted July 28, 2008 Author Share Posted July 28, 2008 Towsure sell 'em, if you need a bit of steel I've got a few bits kicking about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 Richard it went into my 110 station wagon. I don't think the boxes are any different though. Have a look here. http://www.landroveraddict.com/smf/index.php?topic=369337.0 There seems to be a lot of room. Until you fit the batteries and fuse boxes. HTH mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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