Exploring Battery Boxes: Features and Different Types Explained

 Every component in the engine bay that sits outside the engine has its own place but not every single one has a compartment it sits in. The battery is one of the few such components and that has nothing to do with hierarchy at all. What it has to do with is keeping the battery safe from the heat of the engine and environmental factors. 

Called battery boxes, they are more than just a place for your battery to sit, they are the encasement that affects their lifespan and determines how well they'll work during it. A battery box also protects you and your vehicle, especially when traversing challenging terrain.

What to Consider

source: hardkorr.com

Size

The most notable and one of the most important factors of a battery box is its size. The larger the box the bigger the battery it can accommodate but that doesn't mean you should buy large battery boxes if your battery is small. The size of the box should be the exact fit of the battery your vehicle uses.

Material

What you get more to choose from is the material a battery box is made of. The most popular material is HDPE or high-density polyethylene plastic as it's lightweight and durable while being corrosion-resistant.

A metal battery box can also be placed but know that either aluminium or steel won't be as good at fending off corrosion as HDPE. But steel and aluminium boxes are better than HDPE ones when it comes to impact resistance and strength. Aluminium boxes are lighter than steel ones and are more corrosion-resistant but steel boxes are stronger.

Ventilation

Since electricity runs through the battery it can heat up. Although that doesn't happen as often as you might expect, when it does you should have a battery box that will help the heat escape more easily. A battery box with vents is the perfect solution as it provides an opening for the excess heat and gas buildup to escape without compromising structural integrity. 

Design

The design of a 4x4 battery box matters as much as the material it's made of. Depending on the type of paths you take when out in the bush, you should look for a battery box design that will provide protection from the hazards you face the most. The design can be waterproof and dustproof or one that is more open for ventilation, but no matter what, a battery box should have handles to make transporting the battery easy.

Mechanisms

Although car battery theft isn't something common, it can still happen which is why you should buy battery boxes with locking mechanisms. Alongside being an anti-theft solution, a locking mechanism will also keep the battery from moving as much. Meaning no matter the terrain you go over, the battery will stay in place, as long as it has the mechanism locked up properly.

Maintenance

Regular maintenance is also key to battery longevity and a battery box that makes it easy to keep an eye on it is always a welcomed solution. But not every 4x4 battery box makes maintenance easy. Ones that do though come with removable lids and external battery terminals.

Types of Battery Boxes

Standard

The basic battery box that only provides a protected area for your battery is the most affordable one and also one with the least number of features. These boxes do come with lids and built-in handles but that's not the case with all of them as they are still the simplest option.

Pre-Wired

For more serious adventures, you should consider a pre-wired battery box which is a portable box that makes it easy to connect 12V accessories. These are usually made out of industrial-grade HDPE which has no joints and therefore no weak points. The amount of heat pre-wired boxes can withstand is much higher than what standard ones can.

Advanced

An advanced battery box is one that can work with any type of battery and withstand the rigours of any off-road adventure. Advanced battery boxes come with multiple input and output ports as well as an Anderson-style outlet that lets you jump-start your car more easily. Because of this, advanced boxes are much more expensive as they also show the voltage and charge on a display.

Power Box

With a battery power box, you can expect to make your battery work like a power hub. What this means is that you can connect up to 10 accessories to it and it even comes with a 240V AC socket that works on pure sine wave power. A battery power box also usually comes with a USB port, a cigarette lighter and a 50A-rated heavy-duty merit socket. The name sure suits it.

Conclusion

The same reason more and more manufacturers bury the batteries out of reach is the same reason why you should consider getting a 4x4 battery box. Except this way instead of having the battery in an unaccessible spot, you have it close by yet protected.