Anyone else have the Odyssey PC680? The PC680 and box are bigger than stock and I'm curious how the rest of you mounted yours. In the same position (top of firewall, starboard side) it covers up a firewall pass through, no big deal, I can drill another. But mounting it with clamps seems troublesome. The box has brackets on the side I could easily match drill for screws and anchor nuts. Flush rivet the anchor nuts to the cabin side of the fuselage and screw the box through the firewall to those. It would have 6 screws and be resting on a piece of the engine mount. Sturdy enough? Or does it have to be clamped to fuselage tubing?
I've attached a couple quick photos. You seen in one pic where it would rest, basically the same position as stock except wider. The other pic you can see the through hole I would be covering up and see the mounting holes in the box's brackets. Three down each side.
I have no prior experience with the AGM batteries, so I can't speak against them. All I can say I have high praise for the Odyssey batteries. They seem to be the go to replacement for everything I've ever had that needed a battery. Figure I'd just make the switch right up front and save the hassle of a swap-out in the future.
Looking at the tensile and shear strength of the rivets and screws I'd be using it seems I'm more than covered with mounting it on the firewall. Any "g" forces strong enough to damage the battery box or firewall and those things would probably be the least of my worries.
Passing along a couple thoughts in the form of photos. Our aircraft has 2 of the PC 680 Odyssey batteries - one in the engine compartment and the other behind the seat.
These are slipped into builder fabricated aluminum boxes.
The one in the engine compartment - you can only see the top of it; however, the aluminum fabricated box is secured with the same hardware that the poly motorcycle battery box was that came with my kit (different than the box you have) meaning that cushion clamps are used on the sides and bottom and a SS band goes around the battery with securement above the battery to the firewall.
The one behind the pilot seat is the same kind of aluminum box secured with cushion clamps. Please ignore the two fuel filters in the feed lines from the wing tanks - they are gone now......
Your battery location setup looks great. I assume GA aircraft have theirs in the same "firewall" location for a reason, strength and CG. I have just purchased a V and the previous owner was installing the battery in the tail. Is the tail an acceptable location for a Kitfox battery? Was the tail location a consideration for your plane? Thanks, Dave
the only reason why I could think of anyone putting the battery in the tail ,..they were planning on a larger/heavier engine ,..I personally still would not put the battery in the tail though,..that means longer leads ..more wire,..if they were light duty wires and a hard start was to take place ..those wires get hot ..
not only that but the way electronics progress,.including batteries ..not all batteries weigh the same ..if it ever had to be replaced,..the different weights of battteries would have a big effect on CG.
was he going to have a trap door underneath the tail to get to the battery?