What is this battery piece?

[float5]

Who can say what that piece is at the top of the battery on the right?

 

[Greg A]

Talking about the inline fuse? Probably a 30a.

 

[float5]

Thanks. Didn't remember seeing it on our previous batteries.

 

[Greg A]

Just remember it's there if you lose 12v power. One of the fuses you want to check.

 

[vermilye]

If you are describing the rectangular "thing" going between the large red wire & the + terminal on the battery, it is a 200 amp fuse, probably for your inverter. As Greg pointed out, the other one is an inline fuse holder...

 

[Brian B-P]

The oddly shaped black rubbery part with a red wire coming out each side appears to be a blade-style fuse (probably ATO or ATC type) in an inline holder (complete with a cover on a little "leash") which supplies a circuit separate from the main 12V power supply to the distribution panel. That main circuit has its own 200-amp fuse - the smaller black box which says "200A" on it. This style of separate smaller circuit is usually used to that one circuit stays active when the main circuit is turned off (such as with an Escape's shutoff switch) or when the main fuse is blown.

If you have solar panels, it may be how the power from the solar power controller gets to the battery even when the shutoff switch is off for storage.

 

[float5]

Yes, I am looking at the big rubbery part above the right side cells. Yes, we have an inverter and also have solar, neither of which we had last time, so that is why we didn't have that before. Thank you for the explanation. I see the one labeled 200 A.

 

[fudge_brownie]

Thanks for the questions Cathy. Not only do the answers solve your needs but they are a good source of information for others. I certainly have learned about some little seen areas.

One thing I note from your photo is that Escape has started using a different battery box for the dual six volt. The orientation is now butt to butt versus side by side. It does make things easier to work on with the available space around the box but you do loose some storage area. It appears your box needs much more of the sticky putty, I count three locations where it is filling in holes. I have but one.

 

[float5]

I look at it as gaining storage area because ours have been moved to the back. They are not under the passenger side dinette next to stove. That area is now all open. The batteries are with the inverter, electric and EMS across the back.

 

[float5]

The area next to the stove is now all empty (except for our stuff we have filled it with!). Not sure where your batteries are but batteries used to be in this area even with a U dinette.

 

[Brian B-P]

Venting?

In both cases - Cathy's 2015 and Paul's 2014 - all of the wiring is run through a single hole in the box (sealed around the cables with putty). Cathy's long and narrow box has two extra holes, which are filled with putty. Neither of them has a vent hose attached anywhere around the sides, at not visible at the top of the box.

The idea of a sealed box is to separate the batteries from the trailer interior, but it also needs to be vented to outside to be effective - otherwise the gases would endlessly build up, and they can't do that. Is there a vent hose mounted lower (out of sight), or in the lid?

 

[float5]

In both cases - Cathy's 2015 and Paul's 2014 - all of the wiring is run through a single hole in the box (sealed around the cables with putty). Cathy's long and narrow box has two extra holes, which are filled with putty. Neither of them has a vent hose attached anywhere around the sides, at not visible at the top of the box.

The idea of a sealed box is to separate the batteries from the trailer interior, but it also needs to be vented to outside to be effective - otherwise the gases would endlessly build up, and they can't do that. Is there a vent hose mounted lower (out of sight), or in the lid?

They are vented. Ours have two vent hoses. You cannot see them as they are just out of view. They vent to the passenger side. I can see one of Paul's.

 

[Brian B-P]

They are vented. Ours have two vent hoses. You cannot see them as they are just out of view. They vent to the passenger side. I can see one of Paul's.

Excellent - thanks!
I see Paul's hose - top of the photo, and apparently attached low on that side of the box.