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[macey666]

Evening all.

I am just working out where to put the SLA batteries in my Springer, it would suit me to mount them on their side.  Is it safe and will they still work properly like this or do they have to be mounted upright (upright means with the terminals upwards)?

Regards

Macey

[Colin Bishop]

Mounting and charging gel cells on their side is fine. Just remember that the weight of the battery is not evenly distributed, the top is lighter than the bottom so mounting them centrally on their side may cause the model to list!

Colin

[Aeronut4]

Most SLA's can be mounted and used in any orientation, even upside down.  If you want to be 100% sure, then check the manufacturer's spec sheet on their website.

[Peter Fitness]

Just remember that the weight of the battery is not evenly distributed, the top is lighter than the bottom so mounting them centrally on their side may cause the model to list!
Colin

Very good advice, Colin. I found this out early in my boat modelling career, and if it's necessary to mount them transversely and on their side, I add a small amount of ballast (lead) to compensate.

Peter.

[macey666]

Just remember that the weight of the battery is not evenly distributed, the top is lighter than the bottom so mounting them centrally on their side may cause the model to list!

Colin

Very good advice, Colin. I found this out early in my boat modelling career, and if it's necessary to mount them transversely and on their side, I add a small amount of ballast (lead) to compensate.

Peter.

Yes, a good point and one that I hadn't thought of although in the case of the Springer I intend to use two batteries, one each side similarly mounted, so shouldn't be a problem here.

Thanks to all who replied,

Macey

[CGAux26]

The two 6 VDC, 4.5 Ah SLA's in my Springer are mounted on their sides, short side down, and up against the sides of the hull.  The are on plywood platforms right at the belly of the hull, and are held in place by 2" squares of Velcro.  In 3 years of running the boat the batteries have never shifted, even though I use the "Springer toss" method of launching every time.  The platforms are long enough to allow 2 inches of fore-and-aft adjustment, to balance the boat fore and aft.  A number of my Springer friends use a similar arrangement.

Welcome to Springerville.   

[macey666]

The two 6 VDC, 4.5 Ah SLA's in my Springer are mounted on their sides, short side down, and up against the sides of the hull.  The are on plywood platforms right at the belly of the hull, and are held in place by 2" squares of Velcro.  In 3 years of running the boat the batteries have never shifted, even though I use the "Springer toss" method of launching every time.  The platforms are long enough to allow 2 inches of fore-and-aft adjustment, to balance the boat fore and aft.  A number of my Springer friends use a similar arrangement.

Welcome to Springerville.   

Very similar to what I had in mind 

Macey

[wombat]

The only orientation they shouldn't be installed in is inverted - OK for running , but don't charge them inverted

Wom