Battery location and cable upgrade?

Battery location and cable upgrade?

Author
Discussion

caduceus

Original Poster:

6,069 posts

265 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
Whilst the chim is in a state of undress, I thought changing the location of the battery from the footwell to either the boot or behind the passenger seat.
Which one is proving to be most usable and practical to those who have done it? Or is there another better location I'm unaware of?

Also, I need to obviously get some new cable. Is the theory of 'bigger is better' to some degree or just stick with the OE gauge cable?

Thanks in advance
Cad


phillpot

17,105 posts

182 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
Put mine in the boot with a nice big fat cable up to the starter motor smile.................






ClassiChimi

12,424 posts

148 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
phillpot said:
Put mine in the boot with a nice big fat cable up to the starter motor smile.................





hehe

Steve_D

13,737 posts

257 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
phillpot said:
Put mine in the boot with a nice big fat cable up to the starter motor smile.................


All well and good but with that gauge of cable I would expect to see closer spacing of the cable ties.

Steve

ChimpOnGas

9,637 posts

178 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
phillpot said:
Put mine in the boot with a nice big fat cable up to the starter motor smile.................





That's a visionary installation is that, a work of pure Stevie Wonder genius.

Thank God we've still got some people on this forum with a sense of humour, much respect bow

wuckfitracing

990 posts

142 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
Sorry but I have to say before anyone else does, that looks like an excellent route for the fuel lines to also be relocated to.

Deebeezee

276 posts

210 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
Hahaha, that took me far too long.

Steve_D

13,737 posts

257 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
Time to take pity on the OP and answer the question.

No, the OE size will not cut it. It was marginal in size when just going from the footwell.
Bigger is better but as a guide I am putting 50mm2 into the battery/boot install on Rob.

Steve

wuckfitracing

990 posts

142 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
Fitted in boot above fuel tank. Used 75mm cable to starter and fitted new earths. Only disadvantage is I disconnect negative battery lead when its in my garage (to prevent any discharge), Not closed the boot by accident, yet!

caduceus

Original Poster:

6,069 posts

265 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
Thanks for the help Steve/Colin.

Did you source the cable and connectors from eBay? What battery fits best and is there any fabrication needed of will it sit and bolt in straight onto the top of the tank?

Cheers

phillpot

17,105 posts

182 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
wuckfitracing said:
. Used 75mm cable to starter
Yeah, I think that should do it! Must be about 3/4" diameter?


Put battery in boot in both my Chimaera (now gone) and my S3, used 35mm cable, coz I had some, and had no issues but if I was buying would go up to 50mm for a bit of "insurance". They are not exactly huge cars, even in the boot the battery is not exactly "miles away".

It is, after all, all about resistance and one iffy crimp or connection is equal to many metres of cable scratchchin


Edited by phillpot on Wednesday 7th December 23:47

Steve_D

13,737 posts

257 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
I bought my cable on ebay here.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PVC-Hi-Flex-COPPER-BATTE...

Battery choice is probably covered at length on another thread somewhere but yes you will need to fabricate or buy a housing/mount for the battery. If you buy an AGM Odyssey style battery then mounts are sold separately.

Steve

blaze_away

1,502 posts

212 months

Thursday 8th December 2016
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When you have decided what your plan is go to a local canal chandlers or boat builder. They will make up cables of the right length and most importantly put the correct end terminals on and crimp them properly with the right tools all at a sensible price.

caduceus

Original Poster:

6,069 posts

265 months

Thursday 8th December 2016
quotequote all
blaze_away said:
When you have decided what your plan is go to a local canal chandlers or boat builder. They will make up cables of the right length and most importantly put the correct end terminals on and crimp them properly with the right tools all at a sensible price.
Cutting the cable isn't hard with a decent hacksaw, and I was intending to solder/braise the terminals myself. That's it isn't it? Thanks for the idea, but unnecessary I feel.

caduceus

Original Poster:

6,069 posts

265 months

Thursday 8th December 2016
quotequote all
Steve_D said:
I bought my cable on ebay here.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PVC-Hi-Flex-COPPER-BATTE...

Battery choice is probably covered at length on another thread somewhere but yes you will need to fabricate or buy a housing/mount for the battery. If you buy an AGM Odyssey style battery then mounts are sold separately.

Steve
Thanks. I just found some leftover cable from when I did the Cerbera starter. It measures 14.30mm, so roughly 70mm2. It IS substantial, but not too bad, so will probably go for that size and find a route that doesn't have too many acute bends.

The two brown cables that need to go from the fuse box to the new battery location is another matter. Not traced exactly where they come from yet, but I imagine some soldering is involved..?

Steve_D

13,737 posts

257 months

Thursday 8th December 2016
quotequote all
caduceus said:
........The two brown cables that need to go from the fuse box to the new battery location is another matter. Not traced exactly where they come from yet, but I imagine some soldering is involved..?
These would have bolted to the battery terminal along with the heavy(ish) starter cable so just leave them bolted to that cable and leave it in place routed to the starter where it will join your new cable running from the boot.

Steve

blaze_away

1,502 posts

212 months

Thursday 8th December 2016
quotequote all
caduceus said:
blaze_away said:
When you have decided what your plan is go to a local canal chandlers or boat builder. They will make up cables of the right length and most importantly put the correct end terminals on and crimp them properly with the right tools all at a sensible price.
Cutting the cable isn't hard with a decent hacksaw, and I was intending to solder/braise the terminals myself. That's it isn't it? Thanks for the idea, but unnecessary I feel.
Soldering will be good, only issue is that "IF" you get loosening of the soldered connection then it will tend to heat up which could lead to the solder melting so solder and crimp would be best. If you are anywhere near me (Daventry) I have a crimp tool you can borrow.

Braizing needs an awful lot of heat so may burn the insulation by heat conduction up the copper wires if you go that route.

TwinKam

2,938 posts

94 months

Thursday 8th December 2016
quotequote all
caduceus said:
blaze_away said:
When you have decided what your plan is go to a local canal chandlers or boat builder. They will make up cables of the right length and most importantly put the correct end terminals on and crimp them properly with the right tools all at a sensible price.
Cutting the cable isn't hard with a decent hacksaw, and I was intending to solder/braise the terminals myself. That's it isn't it? Thanks for the idea, but unnecessary I feel.
The heat involved to solder the joint will make a mess of the cable insulation; crimping (with the correct dies) makes a far neater job. A short length of heatshrink bridging the join and it'll look almost 'factory'.

caduceus

Original Poster:

6,069 posts

265 months

Thursday 8th December 2016
quotequote all
Ah. Bugger.
I guess I'll have to find a local place that will do it frown

Hedgehopper

1,537 posts

243 months

Thursday 8th December 2016
quotequote all
I was thinking of buying something like this. Other kits available on ebay.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hydraulic-Crimper-Crimpi...