Battery Placement...New location

Ask and give advice here
Post Reply
User avatar
Eugene
Carburettor
Posts: 1794
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2007 9:30 am
What model do you have?: 2 many 2 mention :-)
Location: Brackenfell
Has thanked: 59 times
Been thanked: 65 times
South Africa

Battery Placement...New location

Post by Eugene »

Hi Guys
I am thinking of moving the 57s battery to the front under the bonnet. It's all still 6v and the run of the mill 6v batteries just do not last. I have purchased a "standby UPS battery", which is lower than the standard battery but slightly wider. The problem is that due to the width, it does not sit flat on the pan and is also rubbing against the heater channel :evil:
The heater is fully operational and I will not modify or cut the pipe/channel. (The attached is for illustrative purposes only....it is not my car)
I am thinking of rather moving the battery to the "boot under the bonnet". Any suggestions as to the routing of the new, thicker cable?

Image


You can never have enough Garages :-(
User avatar
John Alves
Crankshaft
Posts: 791
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:06 pm
What model do you have?: 58Ghia 68bug68buggy
Location: Cape Town
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 48 times
South Africa

Re: Battery Placement...New location

Post by John Alves »

I did this with my Ghia for weight distribution, routed cable through heater channel (non functional) but found that the car became very hard to start.
An Electrician told me the cable needs to be thicker because of the increased distance, I moved the battery back to its original position and didn't investigate further, before you do all the re-routing, check that all works fine before going to all the trouble installing etc.
No sense being pessimistic. It wouldn't work anyway.

1958 1600 TP Karmann Ghia
1968 1600 TP Beamish buggy
1968 1500 SP Beetle
User avatar
fig
Bus Driver
Posts: 12214
Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2006 10:08 pm
What model do you have?: Type 2
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/258896479219/
Location: Where life is cheap and death is free
Has thanked: 287 times
Been thanked: 321 times
Contact:
South Africa

Re: Battery Placement...New location

Post by fig »

Yes, you want your battery as close as possible to the starter motor.
fig
Kaapse Kombi Kult

"Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right." -- Henry Ford
User avatar
Eugene
Carburettor
Posts: 1794
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2007 9:30 am
What model do you have?: 2 many 2 mention :-)
Location: Brackenfell
Has thanked: 59 times
Been thanked: 65 times
South Africa

Re: Battery Placement...New location

Post by Eugene »

fig wrote: Mon May 11, 2020 2:53 pm Yes, you want your battery as close as possible to the starter motor.
I am well aware....or are you suggesting I move the engine to the front? :twisted:
You can never have enough Garages :-(
User avatar
retrovan
Donor
Donor
Posts: 8709
Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2011 8:51 pm
What model do you have?: 52T1,68FB,72Bay,75FL
Location: Eich! no, in Jefferys Bay
Has thanked: 421 times
Been thanked: 539 times
Contact:
Netherlands

Re: Battery Placement...New location

Post by retrovan »

No ...Just the starter motor ..... :roll:

Herman

:lol:
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
User avatar
Eugene
Carburettor
Posts: 1794
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2007 9:30 am
What model do you have?: 2 many 2 mention :-)
Location: Brackenfell
Has thanked: 59 times
Been thanked: 65 times
South Africa

Re: Battery Placement...New location

Post by Eugene »

:roll: I wish Dawie was here....he would have told me where to mount, hiw and the required thickness of cable
You can never have enough Garages :-(
User avatar
retrovan
Donor
Donor
Posts: 8709
Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2011 8:51 pm
What model do you have?: 52T1,68FB,72Bay,75FL
Location: Eich! no, in Jefferys Bay
Has thanked: 421 times
Been thanked: 539 times
Contact:
Netherlands

Re: Battery Placement...New location

Post by retrovan »

All jokes aside, you would need to split your powder supply up into two.

Direct supply to your fuse box and ignition, and the other straight to your starter.

The starter wire would have to be a multi strand weld cable rated at between 350 and 500 amp.

The thinner the individual strands the better current it will carry.

You will get it at your local welding supply shop

Negative to earth straight down to body as near as possible to battery

Hope it helps

Herman
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
User avatar
Riaan.N
Oil Seal
Posts: 421
Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2015 1:23 pm
What model do you have?: 1975 1600 TP Beetle
Location: Pretoria
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 37 times
South Africa

Re: Battery Placement...New location

Post by Riaan.N »

Is the battery a high cycle, deep cycle...

I think the cranking amps might not be such a problem if its a deep cycle....depending on how frequently the car is started and for how long it runs.
User avatar
V6 Capri
Oil Stain
Posts: 195
Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2018 9:06 pm
What model do you have?: 1972
Location: East Rand
Has thanked: 7 times
Been thanked: 29 times
South Africa

Re: Battery Placement...New location

Post by V6 Capri »

retrovan wrote: Tue May 12, 2020 10:23 amThe thinner the individual strands the better current it will carry.
Now see... you can learn something new every day :P
1964 Ford Anglia 997cc
1972 Ford Capri 3L GT
1994 Escort Cosworth (replica)
1996 Escort 2L Zetec

2016 VW Touran 1.6TDi
1971 Baywindow project
Dawie
Fuel Injection
Posts: 2110
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2006 10:25 pm
What model do you have?: Aircooled, various
Location: Kaapstadt
Has thanked: 42 times
Been thanked: 207 times
South Africa

Re: Battery Placement...New location

Post by Dawie »

Computer died a while ago. Now using cellphone. Frustrations as i just accidentally touch somewhere at edge of screen then something unwanted happens, loosing what i have typed the past 15 minutes.
6V half the voltage twice the current. Four times as sensitive to volt drop unless you double size of cable. In which care it will still be twice as sensitive to volt drop.
Moving battery to front can work if 12v and thicker cable.
If 6v better to first explore other options.
If you didnt already have a wide battery one could fit two smaller ones in parrallel. One each side. Porsche did that in front with earlyc911's.

Your back seat, is the bottom flat with strips on which the springs sit? Or is it the version which have space underneath when nobody sits there. If so you could make a wooden base for battery to sit higher. Then make a box from marine ply which fits over the battery. The upside down box then fits over the battery. Sides of box same hight as battery. This then protrudes upwards into cavity of rear seat. Although the person trying to sit there will find it sort of an uncomfortable and hard experience.
Plek vir skoonma om te sit?
Or get a spare "heat silencer" thingy, keep your original one and modify the spare one to make more space for battery.
Other option. If you dont often have 4 people in car, mount battery on floor directly behind drivers seat.
Staying Aircooled is so much nicer.
Do'nt assume anything- (While doing fault-finding).
Dawie
Fuel Injection
Posts: 2110
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2006 10:25 pm
What model do you have?: Aircooled, various
Location: Kaapstadt
Has thanked: 42 times
Been thanked: 207 times
South Africa

Re: Battery Placement...New location

Post by Dawie »

As emergency option, one could do the crankhandle conversion. Think it was a factory option for some years. Once knew a guy who had that on his kombi.
Staying Aircooled is so much nicer.
Do'nt assume anything- (While doing fault-finding).
User avatar
Eugene
Carburettor
Posts: 1794
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2007 9:30 am
What model do you have?: 2 many 2 mention :-)
Location: Brackenfell
Has thanked: 59 times
Been thanked: 65 times
South Africa

Re: Battery Placement...New location

Post by Eugene »

Dawie wrote: Wed May 13, 2020 2:08 pm Or get a spare "heat silencer" thingy, keep your original one and modify the spare one to make more space for battery.
Other option. If you dont often have 4 people in car, mount battery on floor directly behind drivers seat.
Thanks Dawie...this is what I was thinking as well but as I said, don't want to cut it. I will have a word with my local exhaust specialist and see if he can make a plan :wink:
You can never have enough Garages :-(
User avatar
Donovan D
Donor
Donor
Posts: 2229
Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2008 6:27 pm
What model do you have?: 67 Panel
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=536371512
Location: Brackenfell
Has thanked: 148 times
Been thanked: 73 times
South Africa

Re: Battery Placement...New location

Post by Donovan D »

I dont think the local exhaust specialist is a fan of beetles.
Just give the car to me and it will solve your battery placement headache.
---------- 67 Panelvan -----------
---------- 56 Oval ----------
User avatar
Eugene
Carburettor
Posts: 1794
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2007 9:30 am
What model do you have?: 2 many 2 mention :-)
Location: Brackenfell
Has thanked: 59 times
Been thanked: 65 times
South Africa

Re: Battery Placement...New location

Post by Eugene »

Donovan D wrote: Tue May 19, 2020 7:41 am I dont think the local exhaust specialist is a fan of beetles.
:lol: :lol:
But he is a closet Type 4 fan....that I know for a fact
You can never have enough Garages :-(
User avatar
sean
Transmission
Posts: 2400
Joined: Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:51 pm
What model do you have?: Bays & Splits
Location: Somerset West
Has thanked: 63 times
Been thanked: 227 times
South Africa

Re: Battery Placement...New location

Post by sean »

Eugene wrote: Tue May 19, 2020 10:53 am
Donovan D wrote: Tue May 19, 2020 7:41 am I dont think the local exhaust specialist is a fan of beetles.
:lol: :lol:
But he is a closet Type 4 fan....that I know for a fact
I’m not a fan of grinders, but I do have a oxygen & acetylene torch we can use? :twisted:
Post Reply