Battery support

[simicrintz]

I am getting ready to cut out the old, rotted angle battery supports and replace before I buy new batteries. I am currently in San Diego and will be moving to the southwest portion of Utah (dry) one day, so my cart will seldom, if ever, see rain. My personal preference would be a solid panel of aluminum to set the batteries on (as I have seen some others do) but I thought I would ask before I do so.

Did CC use angle material to save weight/cost or is there some other reason that a solid piece is not a good idea? I'd rather not make a mistake if I am about to do something stupid! All comments are appreciated!

[R&TBabich]

[QUOTE=simicrintz;1743904] .... Did CC use angle material to save weight/cost or is there some other reason that a solid piece is not a good idea? .... /QUOTE]

I suspect CC used angle aluminum that was thicker than sheet because it was stronger, easier to weld up the frame and would still adequately support the batteries.
Not sure what rain has to do with corrosion of the aluminum frame, the battery acid fumes/spills are much more caustic.
If you use a sheet which would work fine definitely drill some drain holes or leave gaps for draining.
The main thing is to keep the batteries from shifting around.
Bought our cart used and it didn't come with hold downs so I 3D printed a set.

[simicrintz]

I'm not concerned with rain and corrosion (guess I should have been clearer-oops!). I guess I was thinking of water beneath the batteries (I was also thinking of drilling weep holes) and maybe trapped heat (although I did not mention that!).

I don't have a 3D printer so that is not an option :( The anal side of me likes the thought of a solid, sturdy platform; I just want to make sure that the practical side of this also makes sense!