Battery Tray - which one?

BSwayze · Post by **BSwayze** » Sat Sep 22, 2012 2:23 pm

I have a question about installing your battery. My kit came with a battery tray part from Vans: F-877A-1 It's a solid piece, but just the bottom of a tray that you fabricate and install. My fuselage kit came with drawing number 31, that shows this tray mounted on the left side of the firewall (in front of the pilot) with some angle braces coming up from underneath to support it.

But looking through a number of builder sites, I see a lot of guys are using a box with lightening holes, mounted on the right side of the firewall. I've looked through all the documentation in the manual, and tried to find info here and on the other forum, and I still don't get it. Which box is that, and where do you get it? Why did you guys go that route? Which method is preferable, and how did you figure all this out?

This is just one of a number of questions I'm coming up with. It feels strange to be finished with the standard kits from Vans, and sort of left on your own. I know I'm not the first one to experience this. Thanks for any comments or help!

Doakes · Post by **Doakes** » Sat Sep 22, 2012 4:51 pm

Bruce,
I think it depends on the battery that you are going to use.

I installed the Odyssey battery. It is small in size and on page 83 of Van's Catalog you will find it, at the top of the page; and the ES PC680 install Kit. It has holes in the box.

The battery on my RV7A goes on the co-pilot side and the instructions show how to make the install.

If you are using the Concorde battery then I hope that someone else will answer your question because I don not know about them.

I hope this is of help.
Dave

bruceh · Post by **bruceh** » Sat Sep 22, 2012 8:16 pm

Yes, it is an "optional" kit, but I think it comes standard in the firewall forward kits. Definitely nicer than the stock plans with all of the angles and bent tabs. Go ahead and order this along with the starter and battery contactors, and some copper bar stock. I'm slowly buying the firewall forward kit one order at a time.

BSwayze · Post by **BSwayze** » Sat Sep 22, 2012 8:45 pm

Excellent info. Thanks Dave, and Bruce! I knew I could count on you guys for some help. I'm probably going to do like you, Bruce, and just pick up some FWF stuff a little at a time. Seems like there's so much to learn at this point!

JOHN TIPTON · Post by **JOHN TIPTON** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 3:56 pm

My friends RV9a QB fuselage had the tray for the Concorde battery (left side firewall) included, when he had the finishing kit arrive it had the kit for the Odyssey battery (right side of firewall)

BSwayze · Post by **BSwayze** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 5:34 am

In case anyone else is wondering, I found the information on both batteries on Van's new website:

http://www.vansaircraft.com/cgi-bin/sto ... =batteries

It's interesting, the Concorde battery is about twice the size, nearly twice the weight, nearly twice the price, and doesn't look like as good of a battery as the Odyssey. Seems like a no-brainer to me. I'm going to return this battery tray (it's a $17.00 part!) and get the box for the Oddysey like everyone else is doing.

Thanks again, guys.