The fit of a EPOCH 300 ah in the battery box

[F250]

Hello all,

I’ve been reading the posts about the Epoch 300Ah battery and the 100Ah LiPro Group 24 batteries.

It seems like the safe bet is to use two Epoch 100Ah Group 24 LiPro batteries (or another brand) in the box, but a better option might be the Epoch 300Ah battery, which some of you have mentioned as your goal or have already installed.

However, I’ve also seen some of you warn that the fit might be too tight once you add the screw on battery posts, wires, and clamps.

My trailer is parked quite a distance from where I live, so it’s hard for me to go out and check the battery box clearance at the top. I don't want to get it wrong because these online batteries aren't returnable.

Could any of you fine folks provide some additional insight on how the 300ah fits? How much clearance is there at the top of the battery box? Is there plenty of room for terminal, cables, etc.?

I’d like to take advantage of the Black Friday sales, but they’ll be over by the time I can get to my trailer.


I have a 2016 27FB.

Thanks so much!

[BikeCamper]

Some of the smaller/older trailers have smaller battery boxes. But I believe if your trailer currently has 2x Grp 24 batteries (or larger) you should have no serious issue fitting a single Epoch 300ah battery.

I carefully measured the battery box on our 2017 19CB Flying Cloud, which currently has 2x Grp24 lead acid batteries. The Epoch 300Ah will fit if I shave about 1/4-3/8” total off the side handles. In other words, the only tight dimension is length. There is zero issue with the 10.5” height.

[F250]

Thank you.

I didn't read the dimensions "with" the handles in the specs at 15.5". I only saw the first "length" number which was 13.75".


Are the handles removable versus shaving the side of the battery?

Do you have a picture of the install?

[BikeCamper]

Originally Posted by F250

Thank you.

I didn't read the dimensions "with" the handles in the specs at 15.5". I only saw the first "length" number which was 13.75".


Are the handles removable versus shaving the side of the battery?

Do you have a picture of the install?

I haven’t purchased this battery yet but it’s on my wish-list.

The handles are molded into the case. But another forum member successfully trimmed them down to make it work, lengthwise. (By “handles” I’m referring to the molded plastic bump out on the sides through which they thread some rope/wooden carry straps.)

[PeterF66]

Originally Posted by BikeCamper

I haven’t purchased this battery yet but it’s on my wish-list.

The handles are molded into the case. But another forum member successfully trimmed them down to make it work, lengthwise. (By “handles” I’m referring to the molded plastic bump out on the sides through which they thread some rope/wooden carry straps.)

Hi - do you remember who that was fitting them in? wanted to check with someone who actually did it. Thanks much!

[waninae39]

best to move the lion inside, that is what most of use do.

it helps to reduce tongue weight , more secure and many other benefits

[kb0zke]

That's what I did with this Reflection. I started out with a pair of LiFePO4 100AH batteries on the tongue, but when I went to the two 24V 200AH batteries I moved them into the pass-through bay under the closet. That put them into a heated space, made wiring easier, and put them out of sight. Since the new batteries weigh 85 pounds each, I suspect that I didn't reduce the tongue weight by much, and probably actually increased it.

[BikeCamper]

Originally Posted by PeterF66

Hi - do you remember who that was fitting them in? wanted to check with someone who actually did it. Thanks much!

Bill Rector is one member who comes to mind.

Originally Posted by billrector

I just put this battery in my Airstream battery box. I did need to file off 1/16 of an inch off the handles to get it to fit. So far, very happy.

We had a long discussion about this Epoch 300 battery in this thread:

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f44...-254686-2.html

[PeterF66]

Originally Posted by BikeCamper

Bill Rector is one member who comes to mind.



We had a long discussion about this Epoch 300 battery in this thread:

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f44...-254686-2.html

Thanks much!

[Rick Scorey]

I have the 300AH Battery. Fits perfectly in the battery box. Plenty of extra room in the box for anything else. I used the cables as supplied from Airstream and no problem. The battery has a bluetooth monitor which connects with a phone app. This eliminated the need to add a shunt. My Airstream is a 2023 so my power converter worked perfectly. I added bluetooth to my Victron solar controller. Some say you should wire an on/off to the battery. Since the unit did not come with one, I just moved the wires to the new battery and may add one at a later time. I have the 12 volt fridge and on the original batteries would only get 1 day before having to recharge the batteries. Now I can go for at least 5 days. I believed that for the price, this is the best option unless you need more than 300AH. I think it is a better solution than 2 batteries. Also, much easier to install. Originally, I thought I would have to trim the handles on the battery but it fit perfectly without any modifications. It was extremely simply to install.

[Merlintiaga]

Originally Posted by Rick Scorey

I have the 300AH Battery. Fits perfectly in the battery box. Plenty of extra room in the box for anything else. I used the cables as supplied from Airstream and no problem. The battery has a bluetooth monitor which connects with a phone app. This eliminated the need to add a shunt. My Airstream is a 2023 so my power converter worked perfectly. I added bluetooth to my Victron solar controller. Some say you should wire an on/off to the battery. Since the unit did not come with one, I just moved the wires to the new battery and may add one at a later time. I have the 12 volt fridge and on the original batteries would only get 1 day before having to recharge the batteries. Now I can go for at least 5 days. I believed that for the price, this is the best option unless you need more than 300AH. I think it is a better solution than 2 batteries. Also, much easier to install. Originally, I thought I would have to trim the handles on the battery but it fit perfectly without any modifications. It was extremely simply to install.

Thanks Rick. that's some good news! Can you take a pic of the inside of your battery box?

[bdavies]

I bought Epoch’s 300 Ah several months ago and was able to fit it in the box by trimming just a bit off of one of the handles, which was very simple.


My battery box measures 15.0” wide by 14” in length, and 12” high.
I drilled holes in the bottom of the box to mount strap-brackets to retain the battery (see photo).



Pushing the battery to the front of the box gave enough room to mount positive and negative terminal blocks, a large battery cut-out switch, Smart Shunt (which probably isn’t needed now that I have a Bluetooth battery) and two switches (to cut power to a TPMS booster and to the Smart Shunt).


As you can see in the photo, I used round magnets to hold everything in place other than the battery itself.



We’ve been full-time for a month now and it’s been working great. We’ve boondocked several times with temperatures in the low 20’s, including last night, where we had to use the tank heaters (~80 watts) for about 9 hours, and watched a 2 hour movie (using the inverter), and left 20-hours later with the battery at 45% charged.

[BikeCamper]

Originally Posted by bdavies

I bought Epoch’s 300 Ah several months ago and was able to fit it in the box by trimming just a bit off of one of the handles, which was very simple.


My battery box measures 15.0” wide by 14” in length, and 12” high.
I drilled holes in the bottom of the box to mount strap-brackets to retain the battery (see photo).



Pushing the battery to the front of the box gave enough room to mount positive and negative terminal blocks, a large battery cut-out switch, Smart Shunt (which probably isn’t needed now that I have a Bluetooth battery) and two switches (to cut power to a TPMS booster and to the Smart Shunt).


As you can see in the photo, I used round magnets to hold everything in place other than the battery itself.



We’ve been full-time for a month now and it’s been working great. We’ve boondocked several times with temperatures in the low 20’s, including last night, where we had to use the tank heaters (~80 watts) for about 9 hours, and watched a 2 hour movie (using the inverter), and left 20-hours later with the battery at 45% charged.

Thanks for that info and photo. Nice work. I like your magnet idea.

One suggestion is to get a cover over that positive terminal on the battery as a safety precaution.

[Bnystrom]

Another option would be the SFK 300HP battery, which isn't as long, but is a bit taller.
https://www.sunfunkits.com/product/5...ations-battery

[BikeCamper]

Originally Posted by Bnystrom

Another option would be the SFK 300HP battery, which isn't as long, but is a bit taller.
https://www.sunfunkits.com/product/5...ations-battery

That looks like an interesting option, at about 25% price premium over the Epoch (comparing current sale prices.) The height of this battery (11.6”) is going to be tricky for those of us with 12”H battery boxes, though. That doesn’t leave much space for terminal connections and cabling.

[JeffKim]

Originally Posted by Rick Scorey

My Airstream is a 2023 so my power converter worked perfectly.

Our 2023 came with the WFCO AD which is supposed to detect lithium batteries and set its charging profile accordingly. If you have this model, I found with our lithium batteries it was difficult to get it to detect them (blue light) and others have found it can revert to lead-acid. I replaced ours with a Victron charger. Anyways, it's probably worth looking into just to be sure yours are charging correctly.

[JeffKim]

Originally Posted by BikeCamper

Thanks for that info and photo. Nice work. I like your magnet idea.

One suggestion is to get a cover over that positive terminal on the battery as a safety precaution.

Looks great! I was wondering too about fusing. It looks like you retained the MRBF fuses? I kept ours for the inverter and batteries when I installed our 400Ah, but a lot of people use a Class-T.

Also, keeping the Victron shunt means you can use the VE.Smart Networking if you have a Victron Smart solar charger or add other Victron equipment in the future.

[Bnystrom]

Originally Posted by JeffKim

Looks great! I was wondering too about fusing. It looks like you retained the MRBF fuses? I kept ours for the inverter and batteries when I installed our 400Ah, but a lot of people use a Class-T.

While Class T fuses may be the best type for the application, they're expensive, can be hard to find, and most important for this installation, they're bulky. I don't see where he could actually fit one, or even an ANL fuse and holder.

[bdavies]

Yeah, the covers that came with my busbars won’t fit with all the various connections coming in at different angles. Haven’t had a chance yet to implement a work-around, but need to.

Regarding fuses, yeah, I just left the MRBF but unfortunately had to move it to the busbar in the short-term. Yes, sounds like a Class-T would be better. When time allows…

[F250]

Originally Posted by F250

Hello all,

I’ve been reading the posts about the Epoch 300Ah battery and the 100Ah LiPro Group 24 batteries.

It seems like the safe bet is to use two Epoch 100Ah Group 24 LiPro batteries (or another brand) in the box, but a better option might be the Epoch 300Ah battery, which some of you have mentioned as your goal or have already installed.

However, I’ve also seen some of you warn that the fit might be too tight once you add the screw on battery posts, wires, and clamps.

My trailer is parked quite a distance from where I live, so it’s hard for me to go out and check the battery box clearance at the top. I don't want to get it wrong because these online batteries aren't returnable.

Could any of you fine folks provide some additional insight on how the 300ah fits? How much clearance is there at the top of the battery box? Is there plenty of room for terminal, cables, etc.?

I’d like to take advantage of the Black Friday sales, but they’ll be over by the time I can get to my trailer.


I have a 2016 27FB.

Thanks so much!

UPDATE ON WHAT I ACTUALLY BOUGHT.

Thanks for all the feedback. I was very helpful. I called Epoch and talked to them. They told me that if I trimmed the sides of the battery to get the 300ah battery in the box, that it would function fine, but would void the warranty.

Also, since I myself am out of warranty and retired, I have learned that sometimes it isn't worth the trouble to overcomplicate things.

So, I bought two Epoch 105 Ah batteries, Group 24, that are the same dimensions as the Interstate and will drop them in with the same connections. It is 90ah less, but still an upgrade from what I have. And it was cheaper. The 105's are $349 each, so two was $698 minus the 15% Black Friday sale was $593 plus tax for the two. And I still get the warranty.

I will also have my 3000 Jackery with 6 solar panels (6 X 200watts). So that will be 5010 Ah total battery capacity for Boon docking. Not sure if that will be enough, but that is what I am going to try out for now. As always, comments are always welcome.