Battery to boot - what do I need?

[-westy-]

Right, I want to move the battery into the boot of my 205, just to free up some space and shift some weight about. A few questions:

• Is it just a case of using a distribution block to extend the battery cables through the bulkhead, under the carpet and into the boot?
• What kind of cable would I need?
• Is there any particular way to run the cables under the carpet? I've got my ICE cables under there too, should they be avoided?
• How do I go about storing the battery in the boot? Sealed plastic box with a breather, then all clamped down?

I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to car electrics to be honest, (not that you could've guessed or anything..)

Thanks

 

[-westy-]

Oh, can it? result. I've got a plate in my engine bay that holds all the earths, What do I do with that? And where do I put the negative lead from my battery?

 

[-westy-]

So I can just run the negative battery cable to an earthing point in the engine bay, and sort myself a proper earth to run from the negative battery terminal in the boot?

Means I can take my amp cabling out too, just run a short one from the amp to the battery - Can the earth from my amp and the battery share an earthing point in the boot?

 

[-westy-]

Use a rear seatbelt mounting point for the battery earth. Thin metal will run the risk of overheating and possibly melting.

My seatbelt mounting points are back under the seats, would this be Ok? I've got my rear beam mounting points around there too, I'm assuming they'd be ok to use?

Use an absolute minimum of 4 gauge cabling and fuse it at the battery end. I'm using a 150 amp fuse and 2 gauge cabling.

What do you mean, at the battery end? In the boot?

I cleaned up and hammerited my battery tray, bolted it through the boot floor and then clamped the battery to that. It ain't going anywhere

I was thinking of mounting a plate to the floor of the boot, then mounting the battery onto that, using metal straps. Would that be ok do you think?

The earth cables that run to the negative terminal on the battery at the moment, just bolt them to another part of the body... mine are bolted to the slam panel.

So I'd be able to bolt them to the inner wing, just drill a hole and use a nut & bolt?


One last question - what kind of connection could I use to extend the positive lead towards the boot? I'm assuming chocolate blocks are out the question.. Could I twist & solder the cables together and heatshrink them?

Sorry for all the questions

 

[-westy-]

Yep Have a fuse as close to the battery as possible. Would you believe it, there are people out there who actually recommend not fusing the cable. Yeah ok, it's not my car that could burn out due to an electrical fire.

So I can get a fuse holder and just crimp that into the battery lead?

Should be fine. Where does the negative lead run from the battery at the moment?

It runs down to an earthing plate mounted on the inner wing, so I might be able to either cut it down and terminate it on there, or just run a lead to somewhere else on the inner wing.

Distribution block Or, connect everything to the starter motor positive terminal using ring connectors.

So i'm assuming I can get a distribution block from a motor factors?

 

[-westy-]

Fingers crossed I just really need to free up some space under the bonnet, its very cramped around that area.

With regards to how its mounted in the boot - am I alright to just have it open, with insulated connections for the battery, or better to put it in a box with a hole to vent?

 

[-westy-]

Another point which hasn't been covered is:

MAKE SURE YOU USE A SECURE AND INSULATED BOLT TO PASS THE CABLE THROUGH THE BULKHEAD!

I think Lopez covered this off in his 205 build thread.

*n

Why would I be using a bolt to go through the bulkhead? I'd be using a rubber grommet to make sure the hole isn't dangerous.

I'm assuming some metal strapping will deem the battery 'secured'? I'd be using 2 - crossed over the top of the battery.

 

[-westy-]

indeedy, it lets me turn the engine over at around 400rpm on the starter.

i don't know what size engine the OPs 205 has though

its a 1905cc XU series PSA engine

 

[-westy-]

No fuse. Box in boot. Earth it in the boot somewhere. Use a GOOD gromet or a bulkhead connector like Penski mentioned.

When you get to the engine bay you need 2 big lives.

1 goes to the "shunt box" (where your loom gets all its power)
http://ukrm.org/lopez/car/28.jpg[img]

The other goes to the starter

This is the connector I used at the bulkhead:

[img]http://ukrm.org/lopez/car/32.jpg

Can I connect one live up to the shunt box, then run a cable in series to the starter? or is that likely to blow stuff up? Would it be easier just to chop the terminal off the positive lead (bay end) and stick on a distribution block, running the cable to the battery in the boot?

Where have you earthed your battery Leon? and Where can I get that bulkhead connector from? Where did you run the lead through the bulkhead?

Apologies again for all the questions

 

[-westy-]

Arse, unfortunately I don't have the luxury of an empty engine bay to work with! Any other suggested points to run a grommet through?