Battery Relocate

[The Dude Abides]

I did alittle searching and couldnt find my answer. Thinking about relocating the battery but dont know how great the advantages would be. Since the batterys up front and most water situations end up going nose first i thought maybe relocate the battery to where the spare tire used to be. But im not sure if.........

 

a. its to tall

b. no real advantage

[Loyale 2.7 Turbo]

...

 

a. its to tall

b. no real advantage

 

I Believe that for Both: Yes.

 

I Saw a Thread about Battery Relocation but to the Trunk, like some BMW's ... you just Need to Run a Good Positive Cable well Shielded plus other minorities, but Could I Ask you Why do you want to Relocate the Battery?

See this Thread in Example:http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=88477&highlight=battery+relocation

[eulogious]

Just buy a sealed battery if you are worried about it getting wet. Relocating it would really be just for fun, and have no real purpose I would think. I am going to have to relocate the battery in my MR2 because there isn't enough room for an intercooler AND a turbo in the engine compartment, so I have to relocate it to the front to make room. So unless you are going to be adding something that is too big to fit in the engine compartment, then I would go with a good sealed battery if you are worried about it getting wet while wheeling. That way you would also have a good power source for all those off road lights you will have as well

[mcbrat]

yeah, you're battery should be fine. I never had any issues with it in the stock location....

[brysawn]

In another of my cars, I mounted the battery upside down under the car. This way it's out of the car, which helps it look even cleaner. I drilled some holes in a part of the frame (kind of the frame) and put some threaded rod through it with my angle iron brackets. It worked really well, never had one issue with it. Except - putting a trickle charger on, or changing a battery would be tough.

 

Oh, and I used a optima red top, because they are safe to mount in any position.

[bheinen74]

Nascar relocates due to excessive heat in the engine compartment, Heat=Bad for battery.

otherwise, its a waste of expensive 2 guage cable for a car, and locating under the car is BAD too, batteries are explosive devices, unless you build a cage around it, the underbody is bad idea, think rocks, debris, and punctures, leaking acid out all over. The trunk is the second best place for relocation, best place is under hood, closest to alternator. remember, longer electircal wires, lose some output voltage due to length. the shorter the run of cable from battery to alternator, the more efficient it can charge (kinda like running a toaster or space heater off 5 household extension cords, fire will result. Or like plugging in 100 christmas tree strings end to end)

Also, take into fact that you are trying to get the battery out of water situation. A battery is somewhat sealed, it has distilled water, and battery acid in the cells, and lead to react with. That water and liquid inside isnt leaking out, and water on the outside isnt getting in. Don't tip a battery unless you have a dry cell.

Edited February 24, 2010 by bheinen74

[The Dude Abides]

The whole purpose was to move it into a higher and further back position in the engine bay then right up front. And to also use up the dead space the spare tire used to be. I agree that the stock location is best due to how its craddled in the engine. But just trying to think up of different custom configurations.

[bheinen74]

moving to the spare tire area is a good choice, but where the spare going?

[The Dude Abides]

In the back with the lama:grin:

[mcbrat]

I have an AGM battery in the spare tire area on my Brat, solely because the old tray area was cut out for tire clearance

 

and I had to make a custom mount hold down system for it, which was apain, plus I had to cut off some of the tray area too. and extending your arms all he way out at max reach with a 60 lb battery to install or remove it, is less than fun....

[The Dude Abides]

Did you have issues witht he hood hitting the top of the battery. I was thinking of putting the battery in a cheep trailer box for alittle added water - mud protection. Dont you have a picture of your setup somewhere.

[edrach]

My '94 Impreza sedan had the battery relocated in the trunk inside a covered battery box by the previous owner. I think the PO used #4 gauge wire to bring the power forward. Only advantage was to even up the weight distribution of the car slightly. Certainly wasn't needed for more room for the EJ18 in front.

[brysawn]

Nascar relocates due to excessive heat in the engine compartment, Heat=Bad for battery.

otherwise, its a waste of expensive 2 guage cable for a car, and locating under the car is BAD too, batteries are explosive devices, unless you build a cage around it, the underbody is bad idea. Don't tip a battery unless you have a dry cell.

 

As I stated, I used an optima red top battery (which is not a typical acid battery). Which is perfectly safe to be mounted in any position, unlike other batteries.

 

And for a fully shaved bay, I didn't want to put it anywhere else. I could put it in the bed, but that looks tacky. And I didn't want it under the passenger seat, because with my corbeau's - there isn't much room.

 

It has been under my truck for almost 3 years now, and I have yet to have an issue. It starts every time, and has yet to fail me. And when I remove the battery for the winter, it is in perfect condition, no dents, dings or scratches. But, I don't ever drive it in rain, so I'm sure there would be an issue there, but I don't face that.

 

To the OP: you said you were looking for different placements of your battery, this is just the way I've done it.

If you really want to get crafty, you could do something like this:

Edited February 24, 2010 by brysawn

[Uberoo]

if you want a measurable effect re locate the battery to trunk.it will help a bit with nosing into the mud.it has been said that moving that 60+ LB chunk of lead to the trunk is the equivilant of moving the engine 9" back-weight balance wise..

[Scoobywagon]

and extending your arms all he way out at max reach with a 60 lb battery to install or remove it, is less than fun....

 

There's this new invention going around. It just came out recently, but you may have heard of it. It's called an "Engine Hoist".

[kingbobdole]

I moved the battery in my XT-6 to the trunk when I did the EZ30. No real reason, but I did want it to effect the handling of the car, which is hard to tell if it did or not. Now I have more room up front for future intercooler piping..

[mcbrat]

Did you have issues witht he hood hitting the top of the battery. I was thinking of putting the battery in a cheep trailer box for alittle added water - mud protection. Dont you have a picture of your setup somewhere.

 

it's laying on it's side (dry cell)... pics would be in my build thread...

I didn't really want to put it there, but I didn't want to go into the bed with it, since I already used up some bed for the fuel cell....