under bonnet 2nd battery wiring question

[AndyRevill]

Hi All,

I've done a bit of a search on wiring up the 2nd battery under the bonnet and came across a post which suggested that for safety you shouldn't take the cable around the front of the car but around the back of the engine bay - has anyone done this and if so what route did you take - it seems to me that going this way takes the cable over the top of the engine?

Any suggestions gratefully received :)

cheers, Andy

[alien]

G'day,
Mine came fitted around the back through the plenem chamber next to Black Betty's plugs.
Earth lead is mounted to bell housing.
I'll go and take some pics 4 ya, give me 5mins.

Cheers.

[Slunnie]

Not as a dual batt setup, but to power the aircompressor. I brought the wires straight back from the main battery and secured them to the firewall where all of the pipes run across.

[alien]

Pics. :)
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=18699&d=1252806318 http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=18700&d=1252806385 18701 18702

Sorry for links as had problems, i'm not good with these things:(

I've pushed conduit to insulate more, if doing it my self I'd go bigger holes and rubber gromits.

Cheers.

[AndyRevill]

G'day,
Mine came fitted around the back through the plenem chamber next to Black Betty's plugs.
Earth lead is mounted to bell housing.
I'll go and take some pics 4 ya, give me 5mins.

Cheers.

Thanks for the pics - I wondered about going through there, but I'd definitely want grommets.

cheers, Andy

[Bundalene]

We took the same path as Slunnie with our dual battery cables - about 200,000kms ago. We used a silicone insullated cable, with no visible deterioration.

Erich

[AndyRevill]

We took the same path as Slunnie with our dual battery cables - about 200,000kms ago. We used a silicone insullated cable, with no visible deterioration.

Erich

Hi Erich,

where did you source the cable, somewhere special or just Repco?

cheers, Andy

[Bundalene]

The cable would have come from an Electrical wholesaler - Electra Cables, I think. Just looked up their website but can't see it. It may be worth giving them a call - Electra Cables Pty Ltd (http://www.electracables.com.au/)

I actually scored it from my brother-in-law, who uses heaps for manufacture of the Honda powered Battery Chargers. I can't ask him for a few weeks as he is away on hols.

Erich

[Blknight.aus]

ask IceFyre for a piccy of his setup. ITs pretty good.

[Redback]

I ran mine across the top just in front of the intercooler where people say not too:angel:

Baz.

[buzz66]

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The cable should run the most practicle direct route to the back of the Alternator output.



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[Redback]

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The cable should run the most practicle direct route to the back of the Alternator output.



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Please explain:confused:


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[Ean Austral]

Gday All,Wonder what the safety reason is ? The battery is at the front of the car.I recon i've seen every battery set-up in our club-(25 cars) when I was looking at doing mine, and all bar a couple of cruisers they all had the cables running across in front of the Radiator.I ran mine across under the cover at the front of the engine bay and up under the ABS,has been there for about 100,000ks without a hitch.
Would think using the right size cable would be more important....
Cheers Ean

[Redback]

Gday All,Wonder what the safety reason is ? The battery is at the front of the car.I recon i've seen every battery set-up in our club-(25 cars) when I was looking at doing mine, and all bar a couple of cruisers they all had the cables running across in front of the Radiator.I ran mine across under the cover at the front of the engine bay and up under the ABS,has been there for about 100,000ks without a hitch.
Would think using the right size cable would be more important....
Cheers Ean

Exactly how mine is, 120,000ks + for mine.

Baz.

[gazk]

I ran mine across the top of the intercooler - heavy duty cable encased in spiral split tubing. I fitted a 100Amp resettable circuit breaker on top of the main battery to isolate the cable to the second battery. The Redarc isolator is on this cable near the second battery. (I figure that if the CB on top of the main trips the redarc will isolate the second battery after a short time when it sees 0 volts from the main.)
I have another 100Amp CB for the other end near the second battery but haven't fitted it yet, bit short on space to mount it easily and need to make up a bracket.


18785

18789

18791

[alien]

Gday All,Wonder what the safety reason is ? The battery is at the front of the car.I recon i've seen every battery set-up in our club-(25 cars) when I was looking at doing mine, and all bar a couple of cruisers they all had the cables running across in front of the Radiator.I ran mine across under the cover at the front of the engine bay and up under the ABS,has been there for about 100,000ks without a hitch.
Would think using the right size cable would be more important....
Cheers Ean

G'day,
Main reason that I can see is if you hade a front impact of some sort, ie. Roo strike/head on accident.
As a former road rescue volunteer my main concern would be the live cable being damaged and causeing arcing, this my lead to a fire in worst case.
The ability too acces ALL batteries for disconecting should IMHO be a factor too.
If fitted in rear how would you isolate the battery if needed?
Would you want power feeding from the rear risking seting of your SRS (airbags ect.) in the case of in accident? (Particualy during a rescue.)

Not trying to scare people but something to think about.
Same fore-thought as placing your fire extinguisher and 1st aid kit, there easy to reach to reach arn't they?

Cheers, Kyle.