Moving Battery to Trunk

[Kor]

I know this has been at least mentioned before but has anyone done it or done it in the past?

I am thinking about either relocating my battery to the trunk this week, or installing 1 or 2 mini-batteries in the trunk instead of my stock battery. I am just wondering how hard it is and what is involved. I would be running the wire under the car I guess. I guess I should use a battery box but how necessary is that really?

My goals would be to make more room in my engine bay, and at the same time to fit with a longer term plan of rebuilding my spare wheel well with a stereo/power setup of some kind.

Using a battery box would probably be pretty bulky/ugly especially if I went with one or two of the mini-batteries, which I would be choosing so that I could hide them easilly.

[Stonewall]

Re: Moving Battery to Trunk

To legally have a battery in the trunk it has to be in a sealed box vented to the outside, due to outgasing and if the battery ever explodes etc. You can get away from venting buy using a sealed gelcell battery (like an optima) but I would still have it on some type of enclosure.

[Simon]

Re: Moving Battery to Trunk

and it has to be fixed down properly too for if you ever track the car. but thats all i know sorry

[R-Audi]

Re: Moving Battery to Trunk

For the track you also need an exterior battery kill switch..

[Cordialtea]

Re: Moving Battery to Trunk

Hey I just learned something new thanks Guys! Good Luck Kor with the Battery stuff.

Cordial

[RobG]

Re: Moving Battery to Trunk

I did it on one of my past projects, to do a nice job of it, it takes some time. Definitely a nice mod to do.

[Kor]

Re: Moving Battery to Trunk

Any suggestions on how I can attach the wire to the bottom of the car? Drill pilot holes and use screws?

[Stonewall]

Re: Moving Battery to Trunk

Any suggestions on how I can attach the wire to the bottom of the car? Drill pilot holes and use screws?

If you do wires under the car they have to be encased in a metal tubing of sorts. Nothing like driving down the highway and having a rcok take out all the power to your car...

[Kor]

Re: Moving Battery to Trunk

If you do wires under the car they have to be encased in a metal tubing of sorts. Nothing like driving down the highway and having a rcok take out all the power to your car...

Do you are saying you RECOMMEND encasing them, not that I HAVE to encase them.

[Tuna]

Re: Moving Battery to Trunk

Do you are saying you RECOMMEND encasing them, not that I HAVE to encase them.

Ok, I have no experience so take this knowing that

I think: welding cable and a gell cell and you're good to go. Brent's probably got a good idea in putting it in a metal tube (conduit would be ideal) but I know you're trying to save weight (conduit wouldn't weigh THAT much though). Anyway, Welding cable (at least when I used to sell it) could be bought by the foot, is high current (duh) and the coating on it (rubberized) was "abrasion" resistant, as well as chemical resistant as it's being used in shop/construction applications. I'm sure you could get away with running it without encasing it as long as it's tucked away, and shouldn't get eaten away by the salt and lime on the road. Also, because the coating is so tough, as long as you strapped it up half decent, you wouldn't have to worry about anything cutting into it (like zip ties for example).

[Bora_4_Me]

Re: Moving Battery to Trunk

I did this years a go with a 4X4 and I used welding cable and never had any troubles with it. I also had frame rails to protect the wires.

[RobG]

Re: Moving Battery to Trunk

You don't need to encase the wire. Look under the car and see if there is any wiring all ready going along the bottom of the car, then use frame clamps and run it with them, I don't think there is anything tho, if thats not possible, you could try grinding the undercoating off, weld a tube to the bottom of the car and recoat it.

[apoh]

Re: Moving Battery to Trunk

i agree that encasing the power cable isn't necessary if it's properly secured to the frame. you may wish to use a split loom to protect it. i did that on my 4x4 and have not have issues.

maybe i'm missing something but why do you want to run the cable outside the car?

[Stonewall]

Re: Moving Battery to Trunk

i agree that encasing the power cable isn't necessary if it's properly secured to the frame. you may wish to use a split loom to protect it. i did that on my 4x4 and have not have issues.

Just courious was your 4x4 about 3inches from the ground?
Ask yourself these questions, if a cable tie brakes and drags the power cable while doing say 120km/h what do you think it will do to the electrical system as well as the car being driven?
What if the wire rubs on the frame, it has what 70+ amps running through it? say goodbye to anything electronic as the arcing will fry them.
Not trying to be negative Kris but I deal with this type of stuff everyday and I think you should do it right the first time rather then it costing you lots in the end. It might also be possible to run multiple 2 or 4ga wires to the trunk from the inside, might end up being easier in the end.

[Kor]

Re: Moving Battery to Trunk

well I'll see no time to go shopping this week until maybe Friday, and by then it might be out of my hands.