A battery box stores or houses a battery, typically a lead acid battery. Battery boxes are typically constructed in two parts, a base and a lid. The base serves as a containment reservoir to prevent the batteries from shifting during transportation and to collect spilled electrolyte from wet cell lea-acid batteries. The lid allows for access to the batteries for performing battery maintenance (i.e. cleaning battery terminals) or altering the battery cable configuration, and protects batteries from environmental elements such as sunlight (UV), rain, salt water, dirt, oil, and gasoline. Battery boxes are commonly used in applications where batteries need to left in an outside environment or where the batteries could be subject to water or other elements. The most common application for battery boxes is on cars, boats and RVs.

Materials

Battery boxes are commonly fabricated from three materials, plastic, steel and aluminum.

• Plastic is the most common material selection for battery boxes because of its chemical and physical properties. The two most common used plastics for battery boxes are polypropylene and polyethylene.

• Steel battery boxes are used primarily in automotive applications. This type of battery box is often built into the frame of the vehicle. The steel selection often depends of the application and use.

• Aluminum battery boxes are used for high-performance vehicles because aluminum offers substantial weight differential against steel battery boxes. Owners of high-performance vehicles prefer lighter-weight components. The grades of aluminum used differ among manufacturers, but these battery boxes often feature a high, mirror finish.

Manufacturing

The three most common methods of manufacturing battery boxes are injection molding, rotational molding and metal fabrication.

• Injection Molding is the most common method of making battery boxes. Typically, used for high-volume production.
• Rotational molding for battery boxes is used for smaller-volume production or industrial designs that make the part difficult to use the injection molding process.
• Metal fabrication is used for low-volume and low-cost requirements.

Agencies

Some applications for battery boxes need to meet certain codes and regulations, especially for the marine industry. Some of these codes and regulations are defined by the United States Coast Guard or American Boat and Yacht Council.

See also

• Car battery

ro:Baterie de acumulatoare