My Bread Box Battery Case

[mst3kpimp]

I got a 48v 15ah Ping & found it was too big for my bag so I went hunting for a suitable case.

Got some ideas at Wal-mart but I was strolling through Big Lots when I spotted a bread box in the tupperware isle.

Kinda silly but it really had the right dimensions, the plastic seemed durable and for $3 c'mon! At home I was kinda freaked at just how perfectly the Ping fell into place.

Cut slots for wires & ventilation and painted with krylon plastic. Bolted the base to my rack and lined with foam.

I even rigged up an XLR jack so I don't have to open it to charge.

Finally I put in four screws to lock the top to the base and some nylon straps for extra security.

I'm pretty pleased with the results. It's cheap, lite & gives a nice shell of protection. Thanks Big Lots!

 

[ohzee]

I like your color scheme looks nice man great work.

 

[neptronix]

Cool! don't you just love it when things fall into place like that? after 9 months of hunting for the right container and trying to find my own for my lipos.... it was like i had arrived when i found the 30 cal ammo box & falconEV bag.
The breadbox should work good and keep the water / elements out fairly well.

I'm a fan of your color co-ordination as well.

 

[wineboyrider]

I like it. It looks like my old 36 12ah ping though with the black duct tape? I had a similar box, but my original was a plastic shoe box from Walmart.

 

[amberwolf]

I like it...but I have one suggestion: If you ever have to redo it for any reason, and are using a clear box, paint it from the *inside*, so the paint cant' get scratched off by straps/scrapes/etc.

Plus, if you start seeing paint wear on the inside, you'll know something is shifting around in there or vibrating, and needs to be tied down better.

 

[Spacey]

Use it as a mould for a fiberglass type cover, or just re enforce it with fiberglass. I don't think cheap plastic will hold up well.

 

[dogman dan]

It will work for awhile, and looks great. Keep hunting though, for the metal equivilant in a toolbox or tacklebox.

 

[wineboyrider]

Yeah! Thanks Dogman that blue metal tool box protects my ping great! Thanks..
:lol: :lol:

 

[mst3kpimp]

I really don't see this giving me a prob anytime soon. The plastic is rather durable and resisted my attempts to crack. The bolts and straps keep it snug & my bike isn't doing anything more than cruising. We'll see.

 

[Samd]

Awesome. Have been soldering together a few hundred old mobile phone batteries and have been struggling to find a case. This is FTW!

 

[dogman dan]

Depends on how long your rides are. The paint is a great idea, since polyethylene degrades really fast in the sun. I've ridden my metal boxes so many miles they cracked from the vibration and needed replacement. It's 16 pounds you are holding back there, not a loaf of bread. I've used plastic boxes too, but for the most part they tended to crack wherever the pressure was. Like the bolt holes, or just where the straps tie them down.

The ideal metal toolbox is very hard to find, they were all made and sold years ago. Just don't pass one up if you do see one at the neighbors garage sale. The ones you can find nowdays are either too short, or way too big.

 

[amberwolf]

I used to have a stainless steel wall-mountable breadbox; I wish I still had it--disappeared in the move to this place. Would've been perfect for a battery case.

 

[DAND214]

BREADBOX! That will help you keep your Ping FRESH!

Great idea. Hope it holds up.

Dan

 

[chisixer6]

I too, was looking for container to hold my 8 3s2p battery packs. I bought many thinking it was the right one...wrong..not wide enough. so I now measure my packs, needing something like 7"x 7.5", I was in the dollar store looking, I saw these metal cake pans at $1.00 each, 8x8, ok, got the width but not high enough, somehow, I put one upside down over the other, VIOLA! , this might work. I drilled a hole on each lip for a bolt to hold the 2 halves together. cut some windows for the wires to come out. it will sit on my rear rack, previously held 3 SLA lead batteries. Now this battery packs will not go real far, hoping to do 16 miles one way with pedaling, recharge before coming home.