I want to relocate my battery to one of the storage buckets since my battery tray is shot and I want to clean up the engine bay as much as possible for as little money as possible. Only problem is that I'm not sure how to do it. I want the battery to be tied down properly and safely. What size cables should I use? Does anyone have any pics of this? I was thinking of just buying cheap battery box and just bolting the base down. I appreciate any help.

 

Unless you have a sealed battery like an Optima, the battery box will need to be sealed and vented to the outside. There are a couple threads around that show the relocation with oics and specs.

 

Also, don't just bolt the base of the box down, make sure the battery itself gets tied down to something structurally (and not to the box itself!). Otherwise you have a 35-40lb projectile just waiting to be projected.

And like he said, make SURE the box gets sealed and vented. Summit sells one I'm using on another project that's sealed and vented for a fair price.

Also, make sure you fuse the cable within inches of the battery itself. Many many people overlook this....the last thing you want is a short to ground on a thick battery cable running the length of your car.

 

i did this about a year and a half ago to my 7.
Insted of the fusible links i mounted this in the car http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=070-820
Your battery runs straight to your starter as well as your fusible links. So as long as u have the wire from the links and the starter running into the block side of the fuse block u can run a wire from the front of the car to the back.. I used the 4g wire u buy at walmart to put in subs. Routed it back thru the firewall back t the back left compartment.
Get 2 sticks of allthread (roughly 9 inches tio a foot) 2 nuts and a wingnut for each and go to autozone and buy a rubber coated battery hold down. I used the stock plastic tray for the battery to sit on. Driled 2 holes one on the backside of the battery and one on the frontside. Put the allthread thru with a nut on each side tight so it wouldent let the batter move.. and used the holddown. Pretty easy to do just make sure ur using a sealed battery.. as well as one with a good bit of CCA's because of the extra wire your battery's charge wont be as strong at the starter.

Sorri i dont have any pics my cars outside and its dark.. Ill take some 2morro if i remeber

 

I never even thought about the box being sealed and vented or use a sealed battery. I guess this is more involved than I thought. I was thinking about getting an optima anyways so I guess that would save me some work. Pics would be great. Thanks for all the help everyone.

 

well hop on jegs and look up the power xs batteries. they sell a bunch of sizes and there sealed batteries that are fairly cheap.

mounted one of there small ones where my storage bins were. at a whopping 12 lbs for the battery

 

^ what part number battery did you buy?

 

heres those pics.. On the 1st 2 pics u cna c i just basically took off the battery terminal connector and just pluged it straight into the block and thats how my battery is connected to the car. Hope this helps.

 

I'm going to be running a Miata battery... you can get them for 100 bucks on ebay and they're sealed AGM and have 475 CCA.... plus they're half the weight of the stocker.

 

^ Im getting this one. Summit is free shipping i believe. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ODY-PC625/

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...=#ht_500wt_956

for an extra $16 this one has 475 CCA's which is way better than the 265 the odyssey plus the Odyssey needs special terminals.

 

I'm liking the Miata battery. What gauge wire would be best? I was thinking something around 1-2ga. I will definitely be getting rid of the fusible links for a good fuse box and move it inside somewhere. Maybe near the battery. Thanks for the pics. I haven't been able to find anything myself.

 

You can use a 2nd gen fusebox... works really well and Billy@Respeed sells a mounting bracket for it that makes a CLEAN install. As for wires I'd use some standard battery cables or grab some cables from a welding shop... cheap and effective.

 

I like weding cable. The strands are thinner, so it's more flexible. The downside is that those thinner strands are more susceptible to corrosion.

I solder on my terminals and use sealed heatshrink tubing.

 

I'm not sure what I do with Alternator cable ? Do I run to starter then From Starter I run to battery in back of seat >? Im sure I use fuse block but what amps >? I really suck at electrical work.,

 

Here is picture of cable I'm talking can I route this to fuse box to starter ?

 

Yes to fuse box to starter

 

I run a XS power sealed battery with a billet mount designed for it. I made the cables from 2ga and run a 200amp audio breaker (should have gone with 250, but it works).

if you want cheaper, some standardard batteries designed for Buicks (LeSabre and maybe LaCross) have venting ports built in, all you need is some hose routed out of the vehicle.

 

ok Thanks I will run a fuse box I'm guessing a 100 amp fuse for Alternator right ? Then to starter then where THE 4ga cable I bought to battery but before bateery a Fuse box with a 250 amp per 82Streetracer. I was thinking about adding a cut off switch to battery do you think is necesary ? I will be tracking the Car

Well I bought a Red Top Optima for my RX8 and been super happy I may buy another one . Im going to use my Die Hard I got for now until I get some cash for it.
Thanks

 

I prefer a 100amp breaker than a fuse

 

Where can I get a good reliable inexpensive 100amp breaker .

 

Actually I just google and will this work ?

 

You guys do what you want, but I've seen 2 car fires caused by batteries, and I would NOT want a battery INSIDE my passenger compartment for exactly that reason. Plus, battery fires are electrical in nature an very hard to put out once they get started - you have to cut power from the battery terminal to stop the fire, and with it hidden inside a cubby, behind your seat, covered by other stuff - you'll never get to it in time to prevent a Car-B-Que.

I left my battery in the stock location, but bought the smallest, lightest Optima I could find - a yellow-top that's roughly half the weight and size of a standard battery. With the age of most of our cars and the subsequent low compression of our engines, it's not like you need a huge-by-large battery to spin it up to start it. Go small to balance the weight, but I'd leave it where Mazda intended it - for safety reasons, alone. Good luck,

 

Thanks your so Right about that I thought about that . But Im taking precautions on preventing this with cut of switch ,fuses and looking into breakers . I just don't Like it in bay looks so cluttered in the bay with it.
Thanks for heads up .

 

That breaker should work