Wiring question???

[GrandAmSSE]

Wasn't sure where to put this one. I'm putting my battery in the trunk of my car. The wire I have is the same size or maybe a little bigger then the stock battery cable. Can this wire still be used. I was thinking it would be ok as long as I made the wire as short as possible. What do you think?

[GrandAmSSE]

:bump:

[tenspeed]

I don't think it would be a problem. There shouldn't be much of a voltage/amperage drop over the fifteen feet of cable.

Make sure you have solid terminations and protect the insulation from any sharp edges.

[GrandAmSSE]

Ok thanks. I just did want to put to much stress on the wire. I'll most likely buy some loom to go over it. I'll post pics when its done.

[tenspeed]

Loom won't help much. Make sure that where ever it passes through metal, there's a grommet, extra tape, hard plastic sleeve, etc. to prevent the metal from digging through the insulation and shorting the wire out to ground.

[GrandAmSSE]

Got you. I'm just going to bolt the old negative to the body most likely where the little lead is that comes off of it and then use this cool steel strap I have to gound it to the floor of the trunk.

[dandragonrage]

I'd use at least 8 gauge... Stock wire is a little small even for people without big systems.

[GrandAmSSE]

Can't figure out where to tie the cable off to on its trip from the front to back.

[dandragonrage]

Alternator (or to a junction with a wire that goes to the alternator)

[GrandAmSSE]

Not I meant like with zip ties. Well its done! I'll be post this and another pic in the appearence forum.

[iceman]

Whoa whoa ... stock is like 10 ga, for the 2 feet it has to go, it's fine. But the starter draws a lot of juice, that looks like 8 gauge, that's not nearly enough.. stick with 0/1 for a battery relocate. Not only for starting but for charging as well

[GrandAmSSE]

I can't be sure but I'm pretty sure its 8. Like I said its just a little bit bigger. Not by that much but bigger. I made the wire as short as possible and I have no amp or anything extra that draw current but the stock stuff. Also before anyone say something about something metal hitting the terminals I have a cover for it.

[iceman]

Yeah, you should be using 4 gauge at least... go read wiring gauge charts vs. distance, like this one
http://www.the12volt.com/info/recwirsz.asp

[GrandAmSSE]

Crap. You think it'll last a couple days till I can get the right stuff? Probably wouldn't have done it if I wasn't told it was ok.

[iceman]

Well, not sure about where the charging wire goes from the alternator in your car.. but I would change that asap.

Did you put that battery in a box and bolt it down???

[GrandAmSSE]

I used a battery strap. I put it on after that pic. I'll probably be able to change it wedsday. What happen if you use to small of wire? Doesn't the alternator power everything once the car starts?

[dandragonrage]

I dunno, while I agree that 4ga is good, I think 8ga should do it given the short amount of time starters run. And starters are what, like 60-70A? I suppose 4ga would be recommended there, but 1/0 is definitely overkill (not that overkill is bad)

8ga will not burn up or anything

[GrandAmSSE]

Ok cool. I'll probably upgrade anyway the next time I have the stuff and time. As long as it'll work till then.

[matts]

well, the altenator CAN run everything after the car is started the battery kind of gives it a cushion. and you have to have a way to charge the battery back after it starts the car. it wont die after you start the car 4 times or anything, but it will eventually go dead if it doesn't get recharged.

im with iceman, i'd go with some 4 gauge. 15ft of 4 ga will run you about $20-$30 for some high quality car audio stuff. probably wont cost you that much if you go to autozone and by battery cable that long.

and just why did you relocate the battery to the trunk? and please dont tell me to help traction :lol:

[GrandAmSSE]

Sure was! No I made a CAI and the battery can't fit where it was anymore so I figured move it to the trunk. Plus if I have the turbo put in that where it would have to go.

[matts]

oh yeah, i think i remember reading that. it will help in weight distribution, but alot of drag cars put it in the trunk to help out on traction. :lol: but i was really hoping you didn't put it in the trunk for the same reason

[GrandAmSSE]

One quick question??? I took the old negative and bolted it to the chassis. and then gounded the negative from the battery to the chassis. Is this ok? I had a scare today cause I went to jump start the battery. Was working in the car and the lights would go out and I'd turn them back on and didn't realize it but was doing this for about 3 hours straight. But anyways was jump starting it and hook the batterys together and it sparked like it shorted out. Turn out the battery cables were messed up and the problem. But before I realized that was the problem thought it was the way I had stuff grounded. Is it ok to leave it that way?

[nineteen88ga]

1. definately don't use anything smaller than 4 gauge for relocating you battery to the trunk.

2. GET A BATTERY BOX!... and secure it down propperly. They're fairly cheap from summit racing. Also that battery your using would need to be vented to the outside of the car. For saftey sake do a little research before you do something like this. All that battery needs to do is slide down into your spare tire well and......happy 4th of july. I'm sure you have it fused too, right?

ok so you bolted the old - battery terminal ground to the chassis? thats not doing anything good or bad. the other end is grounded to the chassis already.

and the battery cables were reversed? wow. if thats the case you need to stay from electonics.

[matts]

yeah, i didnt even think about the battery box. i've got a dry cell for the 2nd battery in the GA. they're sealed and wont let off the fumes like a regular water filled battery will. you definately need to put it in a box and vent it to the outside.

in fact your best bet would be to just buy the kit for relocating the battery, it comes with all the wires, hold downs, and a sealed box. all of which you need anyway

[RocketMan]

Originally posted by tenspeed
I don't think it would be a problem. There shouldn't be much of a voltage/amperage drop over the fifteen feet of cable.


Not sayin you're wrong in this case but you'd be surprised....I know I was.

For example, one year ford decided to change its line resistance to achieve particular electrical properties for one of its power systems. In order to do this they routed extra wire throughout the car. With a few extra feet they increased it from a tenth of an ohm to nearly 2 tenths of an ohm. While both numbers are very small, the difference in current draw is enourmous, if the power system is also of a low resistance.

[GrandAmSSE]

The battery cables were not reversed. They are old and had a bare spot I never saw till I pull them apart. As for a battery box I'm using a battery strap instead.

[inferno]

dude why dont u ever listen. every time i read one of your post i get pissed off. they are telling you to use a box and have it vented to the outside. why dont you listen? are you that stupid that you wanna kill yourself?your battery will leak and it WILL release fumes into your car. STOP ARGUING WITH PPL AND JUST LISTEN!!!!!!! VENT THE DAMN BATTERY AND STICK IT IN A DAMN BOX!!!!

[GrandAmSSE]

Never said I wasn't going to get one. Was just saying to the person who made the 4th of july joke that that would happen. I'm also puttting in a gell cell battery from my boat now that I have the right connectors. The gell cell is guarantee for another 8 years so if I kill it I'll get a new one for free.

[matts]

it's not a matter of the battery lasting or not.....it's a matter of safety. a battery puts of fumes.......flammable, toxic fumes. not that if you breath the fumes you're going to kill over dead instantly, but it can make you sick and over an extended period of time probably could kill you. hell, it might even cause birth defects, i dont know.

and flammable......say they leak up front via the back seat and deck......you light a cigarette or there's an electrical spark somewhere.......BOOM.

but if you put the battery in a box and vent it to the outside then the fumes get outside of the car and released into the atmosphere. not a big deal at that point.

a battery box is just safer than battery strap

[GrandAmSSE]

I thought gell cells were completey sealed and Non-spillable? Also that they didn't put out any fumes.

[inferno]

"its better to be safe then sorry"

[RocketMan]

I "think" gel cells are sealed so technically you'd be fine with one of them....then again, Hydrogen Sulphide fumes will just ruin your day.

[inferno]

well u let me know how everything goes when ur balls falls off

[GrandAmSSE]

??? I called the number on the battery and they said the model I have is 100% sealed off, can't leak, and doesn't vent fumes like a water battery.

[GrandAmSSE]

Hey the gell cell battery has 700 CCA's is this enough? It had discharge and I put it on the charge and was wonder if it was big enough.

[matts]

if all you're running with it is your car then it probably is.

[GrandAmSSE]

Cool I keep wanting to try and start it but I know if I did it'll just kill it again.

[GrandAmSSE]

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR, GD PITA POS Gell cell battery. Where do I get a battery box? Does napa or advanced ricer have one?

[nineteen88ga]

:lol: you don't need a battery box.

www.summitracing.com

[GrandAmSSE]

Damn thing wont hold a charge for shit.

[GrandAmSSE]

Hey the marina sells them. ??? Wonder if there the same?