Dean Grannes wrote: >> My only complaint with the Optima case... was the removal of the >> rounded cutouts in the top case on the long edge between the cells. >> [They allowed access to the bolts that bolted the battery down. >> _________ _________ >> / \/ \ >> | || | >> ) ( ) ( >> | BATT #1 || BATT #2 | >> | || | >> ) ( ) ( >> | || | >> \_________/\_________/
Yes, I liked that feature, too. It was removed years ago. But, there is nothing in that area of the cover; the seal between cover and case follows the cell wall. On the batteries I have, you could drill a hole right through that area of the cover and not hit anything or cause a leak. A long bolt could go thru these holes and into the bottom of the battery box to secure them. Note: this is only true for models without side posts; the side posts prevent drilling into this area on one side. Joe Smalley wrote: > I think the best way to tie them down would be in the intercell area > where your fingers go when picking up a six pack. > ________ ________ > / \/ \ > | || | > ) <> ( ) <> ( > | BATT 1 || BATT 2 | > | || | > ) <> ( ) <> ( > | || | > \________/\________/ (I.e. the <> in Joe's drawing above) But, there is no hole in these locations. The <> near the positive terminal can be drilled and used. But the one near the negative terminal has an inter-cell jumper going through it -- you can't drill there! > If the battery were tied down with two half inch through bolts with > large washers or plates from above... the battery could sustain many > more Gs of crash impact without coming loose This reminds me of another concern. Suppose you have a battery box full of Optimas. The battery hold-downs mainly apply vertical clamping force, i.e. the batteries can slide horizontally a little bit if forced. And suppose you slam on the brakes or corner very hard, so as to generate a substantial horizontal force. The yellow lid is less than 1/2" thick. The entire side load is being borne by that narrow edge. If the cornering or braking force is (let's say) 1G, and there are 6 batteries in a row, then that edge is seeing 6 x 45 lbs = 270 lbs. But that top is pretty thin. The top I have removed will buckle in half with even half that load. That means such a load will put tremendous force on the seal, as the lid tries to buckle and pop off. So... do you need to securely mount every battery, so it can't slide into its neighbor? Or do you put some kind of spacer between batteries, so the load is spread across the entire sides? -- Lee A. Hart Ring the bells that still can ring 814 8th Ave. N. Forget your perfect offering Sartell, MN 56377 USA There is a crack in everything leeahart_at_earthlink.net That's how the light gets in - Leonard Cohen
