3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002) 1993-2002 Discussion including performance modifications and Technical Support Sections.
Sponsored by:

battery relocation with pics

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 08:59 PM
  #26  
chrisdrx's Avatar
Full Member
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: ireland dublin
ill be doing this soon enough any tips ?
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 09:14 PM
  #27  
FierceAlien's Avatar
Registered User
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
From: LongIsland, NY
Originally Posted by moconnor
For the lazy: here it is.

Final install looks like this:
Moconnor i used your writeup as well when i did my relocation. It helped wonderfully. Here is some old pictures of my crazy battery. I know mine doesnt compare to yours, but i would like to do some more work on it and clean up alot of things about it. I just havnt gotten there yet. Time or proper tools really.



Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 10:48 PM
  #28  
dblboinger's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 917
Likes: 0
From: DeSoto IL
Here's a couple photos of mine. I used an Optima yellow and came across this Tsunami battery topper online. It has 2 fused 12v outputs, 2 non-fused 12v outputs and 4 ground connections. I ran 1/0 gauge cable to a streetwires fuse under the hood, then to a 400A battery cutout switch.
Attached Thumbnails battery relocation with pics-battery1.jpg   battery relocation with pics-picture-041.jpg  
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 11:26 PM
  #29  
moconnor's Avatar
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,678
Likes: 96
From: Bay Area, CA
Originally Posted by FierceAlien
Moconnor i used your writeup as well when i did my relocation. It helped wonderfully. Here is some old pictures of my crazy battery. I know mine doesnt compare to yours, but i would like to do some more work on it and clean up alot of things about it. I just havnt gotten there yet. Time or proper tools really.
Looks good. If you put some black molding around the edge of that flat panel it would look OEM.

Why didn't you extend the panel the entire length of the bin?
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 11:47 PM
  #30  
FierceAlien's Avatar
Registered User
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
From: LongIsland, NY
Originally Posted by moconnor
Looks good. If you put some black molding around the edge of that flat panel it would look OEM.

Why didn't you extend the panel the entire length of the bin?
To show off the battery and have easier access in there if i needed it. I have thought about making a panel to just cover the whole thing, but just havnt gotten there. In the future i might do this when i dont need to have easy access to the bin. It does not help that my key does not work with the lock All in due time it will be done to a much higher standard.
Reply
Old Sep 24, 2008 | 01:08 AM
  #31  
Brent Dalton's Avatar
Sua Sponte
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (31)
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,125
Likes: 8
From: Germany
Here is a picture of mine before I finished it up. Don't mind the dust, this was taken when I was painting the car/ redoing everything. The plexi glass is a perfect fit(I had it tilted in the picture). It's bolted down now and in a tray. I think I might paint the back side of the plexi glass to clean up the install even more. I also used the Westco Miata battery and a high quality 4 gauge wire.

Reply
Old Sep 24, 2008 | 05:37 AM
  #32  
Crispy Beef's Avatar
Crispy Beef
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: UK
I've always been interested in relocating my battery in one of the bins but have always been a little paranoid by some things I've read. Here is one specifically...

A highly explosive oxyhydrogen gas mixture occurs when charging lead-acid batteries. Therefore, sparks, naked flames, and smoking are prohibited. Avoid causing sparks when dealing with cables and electrical equipment, and beware of electrostatic discharges. Avoid short-circuits.
Other places I've read similar things say the mixture is only produced when the battery is being overcharged, however it's always put me off starting the project.

I think I'd like to clear this up once and for all. Are any gases produced under normal operation?
Reply
Old Sep 24, 2008 | 07:42 AM
  #33  
FierceAlien's Avatar
Registered User
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
From: LongIsland, NY
Originally Posted by Crispy Beef
I've always been interested in relocating my battery in one of the bins but have always been a little paranoid by some things I've read. Here is one specifically...



Other places I've read similar things say the mixture is only produced when the battery is being overcharged, however it's always put me off starting the project.

I think I'd like to clear this up once and for all. Are any gases produced under normal operation?
Also Crispy some batteries need to be vented. This is why certain closed batteries are chosen. The optima red/yellow is a common choice, Westco Sealed battery odyssey, or my giant lithium ion battery (not cheap). Even with the battery in your engine bay, these risks are there. The relocation is simply moving it with a longer power wire running to the same positive position in the front of the car, or the alternator is an alternate. If your car is in good healthy running order electrically, then overcharging or discharged too low to damage the battery, then there should not be any issues.
Reply
Old Sep 24, 2008 | 08:54 AM
  #34  
Prophet7000's Avatar
VV That's mine VV
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 583
Likes: 0
From: Chapel Hill, NC
Originally Posted by moconnor
That's a race car so exposed items hanging out in the cabin would be the norm. While there is no technical reason that a properly secured battery can't work in the hatch area, it just looks desperately amateurish in a street car - IMHO.
Thank goodness mine isn't a street car then.
Reply
Old Sep 24, 2008 | 09:54 AM
  #35  
fd3spr0's Avatar
Full Member
Tenured Member: 15 Years
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: ATL
Other places I've read similar things say the mixture is only produced when the battery is being overcharged, however it's always put me off starting the project.

I think I'd like to clear this up once and for all. Are any gases produced under normal operation?
It is never safe to have a spark or an open flame near a battery, but I don't see how this would effect battery relocation?
Reply
Old Sep 24, 2008 | 10:32 AM
  #36  
Crispy Beef's Avatar
Crispy Beef
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: UK
Originally Posted by FierceAlien
Also Crispy some batteries need to be vented. This is why certain closed batteries are chosen. The optima red/yellow is a common choice, Westco Sealed battery odyssey, or my giant lithium ion battery (not cheap) .... If your car is in good healthy running order electrically, then overcharging or discharged too low to damage the battery, then there should not be any issues.
Ok, that sounds a lot better and has put my mind at rest. I had nightmare visions of batteries exploding behind the seats. The yellow top battery looks to be in my price range too.

Could well be a winter project.

Thanks.
Reply
Old Sep 24, 2008 | 12:15 PM
  #37  
moconnor's Avatar
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,678
Likes: 96
From: Bay Area, CA
Originally Posted by Crispy Beef
The yellow top battery looks to be in my price range too.
Unless you have a high watt audio system I would get the Westco battery instead. It is cheaper, lighter, and fits in the bins without destroying them.
Reply
Old Sep 24, 2008 | 03:09 PM
  #38  
FierceAlien's Avatar
Registered User
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
From: LongIsland, NY
Originally Posted by moconnor
Unless you have a high watt audio system I would get the Westco battery instead. It is cheaper, lighter, and fits in the bins without destroying them.
The westco battery was indeed nice. It was amongst the top of my choice list until i found my current battery from Volt Phreaks (link). That is a link to a comparable battery to when i bought mine. Very nice, light and strong. But as i stated before expensive. I have a small system in my car and have no issues with it what so ever. You can also install mine with out hacking up the bin, perhaps even less. I opted to cut out the bottom to make a nice secure mounting bracket which is welded onto the floor pan for that extra piece of mind. From my above pic, you wouldnt know it

I do appreciate that write up again Moconnor
Reply
Old Sep 24, 2008 | 04:20 PM
  #39  
RLaoFD's Avatar
Brappable not Unflappable
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,392
Likes: 8
From: Bay Area
^umm... WOW.
Reply
Old Sep 24, 2008 | 09:31 PM
  #40  
dblboinger's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 917
Likes: 0
From: DeSoto IL
1800 watts of Alpine baby!!!!!


Originally Posted by moconnor
Unless you have a high watt audio system I would get the Westco battery instead. It is cheaper, lighter, and fits in the bins without destroying them.
Reply
Old Sep 25, 2008 | 03:50 AM
  #41  
Crispy Beef's Avatar
Crispy Beef
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: UK
Originally Posted by FierceAlien
... i found my current battery from Volt Phreaks (link). That is a link to a comparable battery to when i bought mine. Very nice, light and strong. But as i stated before expensive ...
You weren't joking about it being expensive then, haha. Think I'll wait for my lottery win on that one, I'm due for one soon ... in theory...
Reply
Old Sep 25, 2008 | 04:06 AM
  #42  
Crispy Beef's Avatar
Crispy Beef
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: UK
Originally Posted by moconnor
Unless you have a high watt audio system I would get the Westco battery instead. It is cheaper, lighter, and fits in the bins without destroying them.
I've had a look at the WestCo website and the only car battery listed is for the MX-5 (Miata). Is that the one you're talking about? Here's the link.
Reply
Old Sep 25, 2008 | 04:36 AM
  #43  
scratchjunkie's Avatar
sexy no jutsu
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,578
Likes: 0
From: planet arium
Originally Posted by Crispy Beef
I've had a look at the WestCo website and the only car battery listed is for the MX-5 (Miata). Is that the one you're talking about? Here's the link.
thats the one! good battery for the price.
Reply
Old Sep 25, 2008 | 10:45 AM
  #44  
Eggie's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 859
Likes: 0
From: 15143
Originally Posted by howard coleman
lower CG, faster FD.
Mounting in the hatch could be better for drag-only use.
Reply
Old Sep 25, 2008 | 12:10 PM
  #45  
Brent Dalton's Avatar
Sua Sponte
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (31)
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,125
Likes: 8
From: Germany
Wow Gordon, that is one helluva set up!! I completely forgot about that. Whatever happened to that car? Didn't some kid wreck it shortly after you sold it?
Reply
Old Sep 25, 2008 | 01:52 PM
  #46  
Viking War Hammer's Avatar
*** Bless The USA
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,140
Likes: 0
From: Saint Louis / Illinois
integrity and reform...................... well, he'll fit in well with the other crooked politicians. Still love the look of your old gauge setup.
Reply
Old Sep 25, 2008 | 02:05 PM
  #47  
hsitko's Avatar
Archdandy
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 550
Likes: 3
From: Predominantly educated metropolitan area
Another good battery to put in the storage bin is an optima yellow top for a honda. They are smaller than the conventional yellow top and arent that expensive. Costco sells them out here. I'm not a big fan of those little racing batteries that barely crank a car for 30 secconds.
Reply
Old Sep 25, 2008 | 05:10 PM
  #48  
moconnor's Avatar
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,678
Likes: 96
From: Bay Area, CA
Originally Posted by hsitko
Another good battery to put in the storage bin is an optima yellow top for a honda. They are smaller than the conventional yellow top and arent that expensive. Costco sells them out here. I'm not a big fan of those little racing batteries that barely crank a car for 30 secconds.
Unless they have changed the size of the 51R battery it will require that the bins are cut to fit. The Westco is not a racing battery and requires no cutting.
Reply
Old Sep 28, 2008 | 10:00 AM
  #49  
Howard Coleman's Avatar
Racing Rotary Since 1983
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,279
Likes: 726
From: Florence, Alabama
here's a pic of my pass side bin circa 2007. at the time i was running the Alkycontrol AI system. since certain parts of the control system were on top of the steering wheel bezel and the alcohol pump is situated near the rear driver's side half shaft i located the relay near the battery so as to have a short primary pump drive wire. i removed my ABS and chose to use the 40 Amp relay from the ABS which you will see at 9 o'clock in pic 1.

other items:

at 7 o'clock is the Alkycontrol pump controller module. at 12 o'clock is the Kenne Bell Boost A Pump (BAP). at 2 o'clock is the BAP voltage control selector... easily reached from the driver's seat.



my driver's side compartment is purposely devoid of anything but my ignition amps to discourage any elec interference. each amp runs one leading spark plug. they are purposely located as far from each other as possible and all signal wires are shielded.

here;s another pic from 07. note the master elec cutoff switch again easily accessable from the driver's seat. i often use it when parking my car in a spot where i want it to be there upon return if you get my drift. also i think it is essential to be able to disable the battery in a flash whether you are working on the car's electrics or have a short. the black module at 9 o'clock is another part of the Alkycontrol AI system.

here's my compartment for 08. i now run a FJO alcohol system and have been able to clean up the compartment a bit. BTW, love my Odyssey battery. i have run it since 1999.



hc
Reply
Old Nov 9, 2008 | 04:05 PM
  #50  
Monkman33's Avatar
Goodfalla Engine Complete
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (28)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,243
Likes: 42
From: Kennewick, Washington
Originally Posted by Laz93RX7
sorry I took so long to reply, I have the tray bolted through the carpet and to the chassis. (thank you all very much for all the comments.) (sarcasm) I didnt put it in the bins because I use the bins to hold my premix,extra oil, and a gallon of water after all it is an rx-7. and dont mind losing the trunk space as I dont use it to do groceries.
Listen up LazY93RX7,

If you want to come on here and get sarcastic about knowledgeable responses as to the downfalls of your setup, then WHY even post at all? (This is a rhetorical question, As I don't care about your uneducated response.)

Your placement has these traits:
1. Worse CG (Center of Gravity) Location
2. Aesthetics (Looks terrible)

Get over yourself.

And to be completely fair: I do like the actual mounting plate you used. That is a nice looking piece, but it doesn't need to be showed off. It is, after all, just a battery tie-down. The rest of the install looks amateur.

Last edited by Monkman33; Nov 9, 2008 at 04:10 PM.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:21 AM.