Battery Box

[Doc Sprocket]

We've touched on this a few times recently, I thought I'd show you what I've set up. The battery is a gel cell, 7.5AH, 12V. This is the exact battery I have in my computer UPS. They're sealed so they won't bleed acid even with heavy jostling or inversion. It fits in the surplus ammo can with room to spare, so I've got pieces of foam glued into the box to make it a snug fit in there. I welded together a basic tray from angle iron attached to the kart frame, a cam-buckle strap holds the box on. I have bullet connectors just outside the box, so I can just clip my battery charger on without removing the battery from the box. If I want, I can take the whole box off the kart and bring it in for charging. It even has a convenient carry handle!
I love these ammo cans. they'll take a s**tkicking, and come back for more. I have several in various sizes as toolboxes.
This is the safest battery arrangement I could dream up. The abolute worst thing that could happen in a rollover or crash is the strap failing, in which case the bullet connectors would let go, and the box would bounce away, safely containing the battery, protecting it from damage, and me from acid, which is a gel so it wouldn't "splash" anyhow.

 

[anderkart]

Nice job man, I really like Ammo boxes and own several sizes too.

The only little improvements I can think of would be installing an in-line fuse in case of a short (or is there already one inside the box?) and maybe installing the battery box spun around the other direction so the switch and wiring would be better protected from damage.

If your kart ever seems like it needs a bit more steering ability, Installing the battery as far forward as possible would transfer a little more weight to the front tires for more grip.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

There's a 15A fuse inside the box. I could put it around the other way, but with no reverse, there's not much chance of me backing into anything.
Kart steers quite well for a live axle, and any understeer's easily overcome with a blip of the throttle. Thanks!

 

[freakboy]

can i get a picture of the acctual battery itself? cause i need to get a cheep SMALL battery for my racing mower soon.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Sure. Gimme some time.

 

[freakboy]

alright thanks tyler!

 

[anderkart]

There's a 15A fuse inside the box. I could put it around the other way, but with no reverse, there's not much chance of me backing into anything.
Kart steers quite well for a live axle, and any understeer's easily overcome with a blip of the throttle. Thanks!

10-4 on the fuse After a couple decades as an auto electrician and seeing all kinds of weird things happen, I was probably just being overly paranoid. I was just considering the possibility if you ever hauled it in a pickup/trailer and the back of the kart was up against the tailgate, or if you ever ride with other karts and they slammed into your back bumper.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Okay, I lied. It's a 7.2Ah

 

[freakboy]

alright thanks.. not sure if it will have enough power to crank my motor over tho.