Infinityedge
New Member
So I need to build a battery box to run a 12v winch.
The winch manual puts max amp draw at 430A.
I’m using headway cells from batteryhookup super beast pack converted to 12v. I’ve previously made a motorcycle battery out of these headway cells and was impressed with amp output and ease of build.
I have two 300A BMSs to run two 12v packs in parallel and give a bit of headroom for amp draw. Plan on mounting it in a dewalt tstak box along with a 30A solar controller and maybe a 120VAC->24VDC power supply if it fits. For outputs, battey lugs for the winch, a couple lower amp 12v outputs, and USB out & solar in because PGE sucks enough to need every solar generator I can get.
Now to the questions:
Fusing? Should I fuse the main feed or let the BMS handle it? Fuse on each bank or a single one for the output? Fused at 600A (or 2x 300A) or higher than the BMS rating? Should I individually fuse all the 12v outputs? How about the solar input to the charge controller?
Thermal? Given that this will primarily be used in the dirt and dust, it would be nice to keep everything sealed. I can open the top when 120VAC charging, but would rather it be as tight as possible for solar charging and high amp use. Should I just roll with it and monitor temps to see if I should change things? Glue in a big heat sink? Switch to a metal box? Add computer fans with filters?
Any comments or suggestions welcomed.
The winch manual puts max amp draw at 430A.
I’m using headway cells from batteryhookup super beast pack converted to 12v. I’ve previously made a motorcycle battery out of these headway cells and was impressed with amp output and ease of build.
I have two 300A BMSs to run two 12v packs in parallel and give a bit of headroom for amp draw. Plan on mounting it in a dewalt tstak box along with a 30A solar controller and maybe a 120VAC->24VDC power supply if it fits. For outputs, battey lugs for the winch, a couple lower amp 12v outputs, and USB out & solar in because PGE sucks enough to need every solar generator I can get.
Now to the questions:
Fusing? Should I fuse the main feed or let the BMS handle it? Fuse on each bank or a single one for the output? Fused at 600A (or 2x 300A) or higher than the BMS rating? Should I individually fuse all the 12v outputs? How about the solar input to the charge controller?
Thermal? Given that this will primarily be used in the dirt and dust, it would be nice to keep everything sealed. I can open the top when 120VAC charging, but would rather it be as tight as possible for solar charging and high amp use. Should I just roll with it and monitor temps to see if I should change things? Glue in a big heat sink? Switch to a metal box? Add computer fans with filters?
Any comments or suggestions welcomed.