Battery box needed

[dcrogers11]

Does anyone have a battery box they could sell?  I pulled mine during my panel work and its got a hole in the bottom that I would prefer not to reuse. 

 

Thanks,

Don

[47U]

Lasar sold me a bottom for the battery box. It was about 25% of a new box, still not cheap though at just under .2 AMU. Dan threw in a handful of rivets for free which was nice of him. It doesn't come with the bottom drain tube installed, so I trimmed the drain tube out of the old box and riveted it in wet with acid proof paint. It turned out real good. When the Gill flooded battery died a year later I put in a Concorde glass mat battery and four years later it's still going strong.

[NotarPilot]

Or you could just fabricate your own...

http://www.avweb.com/news/savvyaviator/savvy_aviator_54_is_repair_a_lost_art_197316-1.html

[Aron Peterson]

I was on ebay the other day and noticed a battery box for sale. Check it out.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[cliffy]

I have heard that some homebuilt plane people use that low temp aluminum solder stuff that they find at the local PMA tool isle at HD to fix holes in aluminum boxes. I guess they feel that if it gets hot enough to melt the solder then they have bigger issues to deal with than a hole in an aluminum box. From what I hear they lay the patch on, solder the edges tight and paint it black and move on. 

 

I do know that I once went to get approval to use rubber grommets to replace the hard bearings in a carb heat box on a Cessna 140 and the Feds asked what would happen if I had a fire there. I said that they put rubber grommets on the firewall don't they? I got the approval. 

[M20C]

I am replacing my Battery with a smaller Odyssey battery...hows $50 sound?

[bonal]

I tried going with a smaller bat so I could remove it without having to remove all 3 cowlings. Used a Gill G25 and you only have to remove the left cowl. Guess what. That G25 had a real hard time pushing through and if I had a short run like taxi to fuel it was unable to recover well enough to give me a second start. Good luck with the 50.00 bat. An O360 has big f.ing pistons and a lot of compression to push. I learned my lesson bought a Concord 35s and enjoy real fast starts every time.

[carusoam]

Might want to state which starter you are using to better represent your situation...

Cold weather and other things like multiple starts (going to the gas pump) can drain the battery.

Smaller, less expensive and works the same, may be too good to be true?

Has the technology changed?

Best regards,

-a-

[bonal]

I have a Skytech starter but also have a generator that needs at least 1500rpm to start making good voltage it works fine but when it fails I will convert to an alternator. My Concord 35 is working fine hot or cold I get fast starts every time. Battery tech has advanced in many applications other than aviation. Look at the numbers on automotive batteries compared to aircraft. Over twice the power for less than half the price. They are heavy but I think that could be addressed if the manufacturers wanted to do so. And again that brings us to the certified vs experimental debate.

[carusoam]

Do you have a modern voltage regulator to go with that?

Aka Zeftronics...

Low cost, modern technology and helpful to the charging process. Plus has warning lights for various failure modes.

Best regards,

-a-

[bonal]

Zeftronics, yes. No problems at all since using the correct battery. Tried to get clever to avoid having to remove all 3 cowlings but that was before I got into a hangar and have power and needed to remove the battery to keep it on a tender during winter. The smaller 25 series can be installed with just a left cowl removal but it don't have the strength needed for the 360.

[Guest]

I am replacing my Battery with a smaller Odyssey battery...hows $50 sound?

The odyssey PC 680 should crank your Lycoming just fine. I've had one in my 320 powered RV4 for years, as well as one in a Pitts S2B with a souped up 540.

Clarence

[bonal]

Is it legal for certified?

[Alan Fox]

Post a pic , I have a Box from a beech that may be Identical....

[Guest]

The RV4 and Pitts are not in the certified category.

Clarence

[bonal]

This I know, I was referring to using an Oddyssey in a certified did not think that was legal.

[Andy95W]

This I know, I was referring to using an Oddyssey in a certified did not think that was legal.

Although it is a great battery, I am 95% sure it is not legal for certified aircraft.

I think it falls into the category that if it WERE legal, everyone would be using it, and since nobody else is, it probably ain't.

[JaredDavis]

Odyssey does make at least one approved battery. None for Mooney as far as I could tell.

 

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/elpages/odysseydry7.php

"Note: The Odyssey SBSJ-16 Battery FAA-PMA certified sealed aircraft battery is for Piper models PA18 and PA19 aircraft. It can be used on other makes of aircraft, but will require local FAA field approval certification"

[bonal]

No thank you ! ! !

[wmlantz]

Anyone interested in a battery box out of a M20C let me know!  Currently I am working on the field approval for the Odyssey SBS J-16 battery.  Also, I am curious to see if there is an interest out there if I come up with an STC for a Mooney battery box design for the Odyssey battery?  Would there be buyers?

[carusoam]

Hey WM,

Welcome aboard.

Do you have a website or pictures that can point towards what you are talking about?

The battery boxes in our planes have seen a lot of wear and acid leaks. It may be helpful to a few people here.

Of course, there may not be much of an advantage to those with sealed batteries?

Best regards,

-a-

[wmlantz]

Hi -a-,

I don't have a web site, but I also have owned a cub and a 180 that used these batteries.  They have superior cold starting and are lighter by 12 lbs., fast recharge time, and no need to worry about shipping hazardous material....just some advantages.  Ill show some pics when I start the modification.