Battle Born Batteries in Parallel - How do you make it look good?

[Cate&Rob]

Dang it--why couldn't I find that? Thanks, Rob. (Price for that PowerBar reflects the capability, doesn't it. Wow....)

"Price for that PowerBar" has nothing to do with it's capability . . . it is a "boat part" . . . these are always three times more expensive than they should be .

Rob

[2825Matheny]

Hi Howard,

Here is a 600A four post bussbar. https://www.bluesea.com/products/210...3_8in-16_Studs.

Rob

That's a heavy duty looking buss bar. Had I had it to do over, this looks like a better choice than what I used. I would get the optional cover to protect from accidental terminal contact.

[SolarPoweredRV]

The posts on the Battle Born battery are not standard battery posts. In addition, their connectors are recessed so it is impossible to connect a lug at a 90 degree angle. The best that can be done is about a 45.

Battle Born makes a terminal adapter that for six of the eight connections (four batteries x 2 terminals = 8 connections) will work. But I'd have to replace the connector lugs on all the wires I've built with battery cable connectors.

Attachment 19464

For the last two connections the problem is I need to tie together four lugs. Three are 2/0 lugs from the other batteries and one is the 4/0 lub (cable) going to the inverter. I can use a Battle Born terminal adapter and then a mil-spec battery terminal kit, but there's now THREE connections between the lugs and the actual battery connection.

First, here's the mil-spec battery connector:

Attachment 19465

Here's what I mean by three connections:

Attachment 19466

In contrast to the three connections as shown above, the current setup has one connection per lug. In other words, the lug is connected right to the Battle Born battery's connector. The issue is the two connections (one positive and one negative) with the multiple lugs is *ugly* and very hard to put together.

So here's the options as I see them (chime in if there are more):

Option 1: Stop your crying, Howard. Don't worry that it doesn't look good and once the multiple lugs are connected it's done, right? Pros: Nothing needed. Cons: Looks bad, no protection for terminal covers, hard to remove or install the multiple-connected batteries if needed.

Option 2: Buy all the bits and pieces including the Battle Born Terminal Adapters and Fastronix Military Spec Battery Terminal Top Post Kit. Pros: Will look good when completed, terminals are covered, easy to remove or install connections. Cons: $$, added weight, multiple-points of contact between 2/0 and 4/0 wiring to the battery terminal (possible points of corrosion, resistance, etc).

Option 3: Buy Fastronix 3/8" Stainless Steel Single Stud Power and Ground Junction Blocks, Red and Black. Leave the single lug-to-battery terminal connections as they are. Connect the multiple-lug connections to the Fastronix blocks (which will require another cable from the battery to the lug). Pros: Easy to install and remove cables, not too expensive Cons: Two (one red, one black) small components that I'll have to figure out where to install in the small space I'm using. I may have to remake a few of the 2/0 cables.

Attachment 19467

Truly appreciate some feedback or pictures of how you've wired your Battle Born batteries in parallel.

I'd go with option 3... It is a cleaner install and it involves fewer additional parts.

The large cable sizes required is one of the drawbacks of sticking with a 12 volt system with such a large Inverter (I assume you are using a 3000 watt inverter). Sometimes it is better to use a 24 volt battery bank and use a simple DC to DC converter to supply the coach with 12 volt power.