Jcrow Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 If so what gauge wire did you use? How did you do the ground? Did you notice any differences when you were done(starting, high power loads) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topless94style Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 I have not done it yet, but will be soon. My car is sitting in storage with no motor, and the battery is going to the trunk once i get all the parts cleared out of there. I think its 1 or 2 gauge wire maybe? I ordered it from summit racing, and ill ground it in the trunk somewhere. Some have noticed a drop in charge, espcially when running subs or any other gadgets that take up alot of electricity. There shouldnt be much of a loss though. You can always find a way to upgrade your alt and buy a red/yellow top battery to keep the charge up too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 http://www.w-body.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=23047&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=battery+relocation you're welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patgizz Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 thats a decent write-up with the exception of the guy who did it not understanding voltage/current drop and why you need a bigger gauge cable to run a longer distance to keep the same amount of current at the end, and proceeded to feed people BS advice on the cable size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcrow Posted February 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 I have seen this thread, I wanted to hear if there were any final results. Like, if someone did use 4 gauge wire, are they having any problems? Or is 2 gauge wire good enough, or should I just go with 1 gauge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 the bigger the wire, the better...IMHO, of course... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tru2Chevy Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 The best way to do it is to use 1ga, and ground it back at the block...a ground in the trunk will never be as good. - Justin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 The best way to do it is to use 1ga, and ground it back at the block...a ground in the trunk will never be as good. - Justin I always thought that the ground should be as short as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonyman87 Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 I have seen this thread, I wanted to hear if there were any final results. Like, if someone did use 4 gauge wire, are they having any problems? Or is 2 gauge wire good enough, or should I just go with 1 gauge? 4ga in my setup and still running even in sub zero weather.. only problems i have are mechanical.. and even those are minor thats a decent write-up with the exception of the guy who did it not understanding voltage/current drop and why you need a bigger gauge cable to run a longer distance to keep the same amount of current at the end, and proceeded to feed people BS advice on the cable size. i dont take any offence of being called a moron and i dont not wish to call you names in return. we are not starting deisle motors here just a small/midsize v6 and unless your running resistor wire, since when is 12 feet a huge distance? i can understand 100feet or a 1000feet or more but even 12foot jumper cables use 8guage but look like 4ga with all the extra insulation. sorry to dig up old shit but i still dont understand why you think 4ga wouldnt be enough for our cars. look here is a chart of resistance for 1000 feet of copper wire http://www.paigewire.com/copperAWG.htm ga resistance over 1000feet (ohms) 18 6.385 16 4.016 14 2.525 14/12* 2.057 14/10* 1.762 12 1.588 10 0.999 8 0.628 6 0.395 4 0.249 2 0.156 1/0 0.098 2/0 0.078 for humor lets say we take 8ga rististance over 12 feet .628/1000 * 12 = .007536 * voltage 14volts = .105 loss.. i loose 1 tenth of a volt in 12feet of 8ga wire.. now for the ampers the wire can handle were people would have issues. but not everyone realizes 8ga can handle peak 800watts at 12volts at 12 feet ~66amps. Ok i see how 8ga can seem a bit small for the work of the car. stock altinator puts down 105amps so 66amp wire is out of the question.. now lets look at 4ga cable at 17feet can handle peak 1800watts again at 12 volts ~150amps! since the altinator only puts down 105amps.. i think this wire will do more then enough over 45amp buffer for pinched or twisted wire. Plus over 12 feet, the voltage loss is only at .04 volts! vertualy nothing. Again alot of this will depend on the type of wire you use make sure its low resistance copper wire. im basing my information on copper wire for amp kits. i seen an 8ga Oxygen free kit 20feet power rated at 1600watts ~133amps. so the type of wire makes a big deal. judge for yourself here is the site where i got my wire power rattings http://www.webzone.us/audio/customer/home.php?cat=259 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patgizz Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 who called you a moron? i may think it but didnt say it outloud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carotop Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Where can you find a box of some sort to put the battery in? I would think at some parts store but just need some reassurance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GutlessSupreme Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 Where can you find a box of some sort to put the battery in? I would think at some parts store but just need some reassurance I was at pepboys today and saw a few of them.. they looked like cheap POSes though. I'd try Autozone or Napa first, but I'm not sure if they carry them. I just don't like many things from Pepboys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 Try boating stores, they use battery boxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baddflash Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 I put mine in the trunk and used the existing 4ga I had run for my subs, I haven't had any problems except finding a battery box that isn't a cheap plastic POS. As for the ground I bolted mine to the top of the shock tower which is just as good as any ground you'll find on a w. With a good battery you shouldn't notice any change as a 4ga wire is more than sufficient as Sonyman clearly stated. If you haven't actually tried it how can you say it doesn't work :?: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcrow Posted February 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 Yes, I have been looking at battery boxes, I am surprised that hardly any of them are sealed. I thought you wanted it completely sealed and a vent tube going outside. Moroso makes a nice blue sealed box but its $100. Or I could buy an optima battery for $120 - You don't need a box for these. Why would you even use a box if it is not sealed? Hey sonyman - do you have a box for your battery? I have used a grinder next to a charging battery and there was a loud and bright explosion! At first I had no idea where it came from. And then I saw a little puff of smoke from the battery. The battery was still fine. It was just a hydrogen cloud in the air. Scared the crap out of me. Kind of like the time I was grinding near an open container of gun powder mixed with ground up road flare! That time I actually had to use the fire extinguisher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tru2Chevy Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 The best way to do it is to use 1ga, and ground it back at the block...a ground in the trunk will never be as good. - Justin I always thought that the ground should be as short as possible. While a short ground is good, a longer, much better ground (like the block) is better. At least, in all the cars i've seen or helped do battery relos in started and ran better with the ground run back up to the block. This may be overkill for a W, I've never moved a battery in one. I'm used to tossing batteries in the back of high compression SBC F-Bodies..... - Justin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonyman87 Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 Hey sonyman - do you have a box for your battery? at first i thought it was flimsy and wouldnt hold worth a #$%# but after the battery was in place and straped down the thing is a tank! btw its an autozone special like 13bux for car or boat use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 I wonder if it helps keep the battery from getting those really low temps... Does it have a sort of insulation on the inside of it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonyman87 Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 I wonder if it helps keep the battery from getting those really low temps... Does it have a sort of insulation on the inside of it? As far as i can tell temperature has given me no issues all winter long so far. and besides.. its no different then going out to your car been sitting out over night and starting it. im sure its just as cold under that hood as it is in the trunk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 While a short ground is good, a longer, much better ground (like the block) is better. At least, in all the cars i've seen or helped do battery relos in started and ran better with the ground run back up to the block. This may be overkill for a W, I've never moved a battery in one. I'm used to tossing batteries in the back of high compression SBC F-Bodies..... - Justin good stuff.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 I wonder if it helps keep the battery from getting those really low temps... Does it have a sort of insulation on the inside of it? As far as i can tell temperature has given me no issues all winter long so far. and besides.. its no different then going out to your car been sitting out over night and starting it. im sure its just as cold under that hood as it is in the trunk. True, but I'm sure that keeping the battery warmer may help on those really cold mornings when your trying to start up your car(I know on my car, since it is higher compression, it barely wants to crank over sometimes). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 I would assume having it in the trunk has to help somewhat...if putting cardboard in front of your grill overnight helps, then having it in the trunk has to do something for it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 I would assume having it in the trunk has to help somewhat...if putting cardboard in front of your grill overnight helps, then having it in the trunk has to do something for it.... I would assume so, and I think that even a battery box in the engine compartment may help some too(thats until I can relocated it to the trunk). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89GPSE Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 I agree with the statement that a shorter ground is better. Also I would not use anything thinner than 2 gauge. Because As you crank over the wire heats up building resistance. Also Whoever stated that they have a 105 amp Alt. and 150 amp wire, What does this matter when you have a 1000 amp battery and some hot ass wire? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonyman87 Posted February 4, 2005 Report Share Posted February 4, 2005 Also Whoever stated that they have a 105 amp Alt. and 150 amp wire, What does this matter when you have a 1000 amp battery and some hot ass wire? it was me.. and what the fuck are you running thats going to need 1000amps! can we lock this thread.. unless anyone can post a power ratting of a stock starter for our cars over 150AMPS!! i think its like 60amps, 4ga wire will sufice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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