Re: Battery Relocation

[John Edward Miller <jem@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> The result was significant benefits to the weight distribution and feel.
> This is probably enhanced as the Tii is so light, that these type of
> weight shifts are more pronounced than you will get with heavier cars.
> Helping jump start someone is more of a pain as the battery is more
> difficult to access.  I believe the battery fluid level is more
> consistent ie does not evaporate as fast.  And, I have not noticed any
> hydrogen or gas odor although I have not tried to detect excess gas in
> the trunk which could be dangerous if there is a significant amount.

Regarding battery relocation:

1) Unless there's some specific reason not to do so (e.g. regs requiring 
metal battery container, running much smaller battery in a track car) I'd 
advise using the Moroso battery box - it's a high-quality plastic unit, 
nothing like the boat battery boxes, with a RUBBER GASKET to seal it and a 
VENT HOSE to vent the box outside the car.  Make sure to mount it securely 
- - in a head-on collision if the battery's not bolted to a solid structure, 
it becomes a missile and can go right through things like back seats, 
people, etc.

2) Depending on the type of car, you can either (A) relocate the starter 
solenoid to the trunk or (B) add a Ford-type relay (asymptotically 
approaching $0 at the junkyard) near the battery in series with the factory 
piece, which (if you then run a separate 6AWG or 8AWG cable and circuit 
breaker for the main power circuit - http://www.aircraft-spruce.com) saves 
you from having a fat, unfused welding cable, hot all the time, running 
through (or under) the car.   If you're careful you can package the Ford 
starter relay and a 60 or 70amp breaker in a Rubbermaid or similar 
snap-closed plastic container on the side of the Moroso battery box.

3) Taylor, for one, makes + and - terminals that can be mounted under the 
hood to allow jump-starting.  Recent Bimmers like our 540i that have 
trunk-mounted batteries have a + terminal mounted in one of the cam covers 
for jump-starting.

3) I'm an Optima yellow-top (deep-cycle) convert - they're sealed, and the 
deep-cycle batteries are much more tolerant of being ignored for a couple 
months if the car's on jackstands getting worked on.  If you put the vent 
in your Moroso box you don't need to use a sealed battery, but I do anyway. 


John.

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