Battery and Fusebox relocation - advice please

[Matthew Poxon]

Evening gents,

I know this has been talked about many times but I am interested to hear either from people who have completed this or those who have looked into it.

I am looking to relocate the battery and fusebox on the Griff, my battery is now 7+ years old and needs replacing so now seems the ideal time. I am also amazed at how little leg room there is in the passenger side footwell of the Griff so would like to expand this a bit.

My original thinking was a Odyssey PC925 but the latest PC1100 seems to have far better specs for a similar footprint (taller but thinner)

Halfords Type 72 Calcium
AH Value 70
CCA 570
Reserver Cap 125
Bench Charge 6.8A
Length 261mm
Depth 175mm
Height 220mm
Weight 18.4 KG

Odyssey PC925
AH Value 28
CCA 330
Reserve Cap 27
Length 168mm
Depth 179mm
Height 148mm
Weight 11.8 KG

Odyssey PC1100
AH Value 39A
CCA 500
Reserve Cap 87
Length 250mm
Depth 97mm
Height 206mm
Weight 12.5KG

I seem to remember Anthony (Qbee) has this fitted in his car and it looks very neat....


Problem solved?... not quite. I have just seen that VT automotive have refurbished a Griff and created a combined fusebox and batter compartment with cut off switch which looks fantastic but uses the PC925 battery.


VT automotive also sell a separate fusebox


What are people's thoughts on the following?

• PC925 vs PC1100
• Leave fuse box where it is or move to the boot?
• Any tips from those who have done it?

[TV8]

Hi Matt, does the Griff have the alcove type space behind the passenger seat? I have seen a couple of Chims where the existing loom is un-taped and the fuse boxed moved to the cubby hole. No extensions required to the fuse box wiring and then move the battery where you want.

[Loubaruch]

Not to the boot, but I moved my fuse panel to the glove box and tidied up the relays in the footwell:

http://www.bertram-hill.com/moving-the-fuse-panel....

This uses the existing loom, moving to the boot would involve a fair bit of extra wiring.

Having seen pics of a Griffiths with a rear end shunt I would not be at all keen on putting the battery in the boot.

[ukdj]

Loubaruch said:

Having seen pics of a Griffiths with a rear end shunt I would not be at all keen on putting the battery in the boot.

Totally agree, never really been comfortable putting the battery in the boot with the lack of any major structure in the rear, in the event of a rear end shunt it wouldn't take much to split the tank/dislodge the battery = sparks & petrol together - you do the maths!

Fusebox to the cubbyhole behind passenger seat & battery to cubbyhole behind drivers seat would be the way I would go.

Have you considered Lithium Ion batteries, much lighter although they are more expensive have a look HERE

Edited by ukdj on Tuesday 2nd August 11:28

[Hedgehopper]

ukdj said:

Totally agree, never really been comfortable putting the battery in the boot with the lack of any major structure in the rear, in the event of a rear end shunt it wouldn't take much to split the tank/dislodge the battery = sparks & petrol together - you do the maths!

I put my PC925 here with the ECU tucked behind it. Other than the battery cables no alteration to wiring needed.

[Matthew Poxon]

TV8 said:

Hi Matt, does the Griff have the alcove type space behind the passenger seat? I have seen a couple of Chims where the existing loom is un-taped and the fuse boxed moved to the cubby hole. No extensions required to the fuse box wiring and then move the battery where you want.

Hi Graham, yes I had considered that before I saw the VT automotive solution. You are right quite a lot of work involved in putting it in the boot I think. I did find this on Google which looks like a neat solution. Only issue for me would be already being fat bd I am not sure I would want more weight on the drivers side of the car.

[Matthew Poxon]

Loubaruch said:

Not to the boot, but I moved my fuse panel to the glove box and tidied up the relays in the footwell:

http://www.bertram-hill.com/moving-the-fuse-panel....

This uses the existing loom, moving to the boot would involve a fair bit of extra wiring.

Having seen pics of a Griffiths with a rear end shunt I would not be at all keen on putting the battery in the boot.

I like that! Very clever and not seen it done before. Thanks for the tip. Great website as well by the way, I will have a proper look through that later

[Matthew Poxon]

ukdj said:

Totally agree, never really been comfortable putting the battery in the boot with the lack of any major structure in the rear, in the event of a rear end shunt it wouldn't take much to split the tank/dislodge the battery = sparks & petrol together - you do the maths!

Fusebox to the cubbyhole behind passenger seat & battery to cubbyhole behind drivers seat would be the way I would go.

Have you considered Lithium Ion batteries, much lighter although they are more expensive have a look HERE

I do hear you on the battery in the boot scenario with a rear end shunt. On the flip side almost any accident scenario is not going to be good news in a Griff.

Those Lithium batteries are eyewateringly expensive, they look really good though. Never knew they existed.

[Matthew Poxon]

Hedgehopper said:

I put my PC925 here with the ECU tucked behind it. Other than the battery cables no alteration to wiring needed.

I like that, nice neat solution. May I ask how you get on with your PC925 battery, any issues? What trickle charger do you use? Did you gain much in the way of footwell leg room?

[ukdj]

Matthew Poxon said:

I do hear you on the battery in the boot scenario with a rear end shunt. On the flip side almost any accident scenario is not going to be good news in a Griff.

Those Lithium batteries are eyewateringly expensive, they look really good though. Never knew they existed.

Agree on the accident front, but would rather not stack the dice in favour of fire & explosion if at all possible.

With a small extension to the loom you could put the fusebox on the drivers side and the battery passenger side.


The Lithium batteries are indeed expensive, but the weight saving will allow you to carry on eating cake!

[Hedgehopper]

I haven't had any issues with the Odyssey battery and it spins the starter motor at least as fast as before. I charge the battery with an ordinary Accumate.

Because I have chosen to put the ECU behind the battery the legroom is as before. However, if the ECU were on top of the battery there would be 2" of extra legroom but access to the fuse box would not be as good.

Because the Odyssey battery is narrower, providing you site it as far to the left as you can, there is room to stuff the birds nest of wiring down the right hand side. I did remove my air con relays to free up space but that was all.

[FlipFlopGriff]

No cubby hole behind the passenger seat in a Griff so it would have to sit in the same area but behind the seat. I guess you could make a box to cover it. I'm sure the wiring will allow you to do this and run the cabling down the side of the transmission tunnel. Not sure you could get the battery there as well or just move the battery.
FFG

[carsy]

I tried to put my fuse box behind the passenger seat but the loom was about 12 inches too short. ( 92 pre cat ).

Rather than cutting and extending every wire I put it back where it came from.

Im not so sure about moving the battery whilst leaving the fuse box in its original place. The battery protects the fuse box from size 11's giving it an accidental kick. With the battery gone I can see the fuse box getting damaged. For my mind if you did move the battery the fuse box would need some sort of protection.

[FlipFlopGriff]

I've seen the cabling on Chimps and its long enough so maybe the later wiring loom on the 500's is longer???? You could use the holes for the battery box to create a protective plate - I know Barreti has a ally checker plate to protect his.
FFG

[phazed]

carsy said:

Im not so sure about moving the battery whilst leaving the fuse box in its original place. The battery protects the fuse box from size 11's giving it an accidental kick. With the battery gone I can see the fuse box getting damaged. For my mind if you did move the battery the fuse box would need some sort of protection.

The chim has a reinforced carpeted upright in front to the battery. After I located the battery to the boot this neatly sits in front to the fuse board.
Sitting in my Elise seats, my feet don't even touch that area and I am 6'3" tall.

[carsy]

Yes good point Peter, i forgot about that kick board thingy. I suppose it would do the job positioned correctly.

[Richieboy3008]

I've got a great suggestion Matt. Wanna hear it?😊

[vaurien]

Enersys .... Odyssey .... datasheet


https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3l0goGWl5mZQzBDc...

Edited by vaurien on Thursday 4th August 15:17

[vaurien]

Hedgehopper said:

ukdj said:

Totally agree, never really been comfortable putting the battery in the boot with the lack of any major structure in the rear, in the event of a rear end shunt it wouldn't take much to split the tank/dislodge the battery = sparks & petrol together - you do the maths!

I put my PC925 here with the ECU tucked behind it. Other than the battery cables no alteration to wiring needed.

[RichB]

vaurien said:

Probably a daft question but if you put a battery cut-out in the boot how do you get the boot open?