12 replies to this topic

[bluemini1979]

Hi. I'm intending running my battery cable inside the car as I have moved my battery to under the back seat like on the estate. How have other people ran the battery cable I was thinking down the tunnel under the carpet. Can anyone see any problem with doing so?

[ChopperHarris]

Often do this on lowered minis , passenger side, beside the tunnel, p clipped and grommeted. Sometimes the brake and fuel pipe as well.

[rally1380]

Keep it drivers side as that is where it will naturally want to be as the battery and starter solenoid are on that side too.  

 

Through rear firewall, under seat, through seat base then along exhaust tunnel (P clipped as mentioned) then up front bulkhead and i used a special bulkhead fitting available from Demon tweeks up behind my speedo. then to the starter.

 

like this.......

 

http://www.longacrer...tery Thru Panel

 

 

Or just run the cable through the bulkhead using a nice big rubber grommet!

[ChopperHarris]

oops , converted my mini to LHD!

[Cooperman]

If the battery is inside the car it should be in a sealed box.
If you drive on rough tracks it is wise to run battery, brake & petrol lines inside.

[MRA]

I would make sure all pipe work within the car have insulating anti chafe coverings.

[bluemini1979]

If the battery is inside the car it should be in a sealed box.
If you drive on rough tracks it is wise to run battery, brake & petrol lines inside.

Battery is in a fibreglass box

[Cooperman]

That's ideal. Well done.

[MRA]

 

If the battery is inside the car it should be in a sealed box.
If you drive on rough tracks it is wise to run battery, brake & petrol lines inside.

Battery is in a fibreglass box

 

Is it sealed ?

[bluemini1979]

Yes it has a lid that is held on with 2 peices of stud and 2 cutouts for the cables to come out of

[tiger99]

I suggest running the cable in some additional insulating and protective material such as flexible conduit, because very bad things can happen if the cable ever is abraded and shorts to the shell. (I  speak from experience, fortunately it was under the floor, not inside.) Bad enough losing all lights, possibly at speed in the dark, engine cutting out, and frying the battery, which will liberate lots of acid inside your battery box. That is what happens when it is under the floor, but when it is inside the car you also get a nice dose of the decomposition products of PVC, including hydrochloric acid, which attacks the lungs, throat and eyes, and just about every other body part. Not forgetting the smoke and possible fire.....

 

And yes, running the cable inside the car is a good idea, just do it well, with no possibility of shorting even if something goes wrong. Be very careful where it passes through the bulkhead.

[WiredbyWilson]

Agree with all of the above - but don't make out that there is more chance of the cabling being damaged when inside the car.

 

How many cables melt against the exhaust manifold?

How many cables get shorted through being too low on speed bumps etc?

 

With all that considered always using rubber covered metal p clips on batter cables - insulated and less likely to snap like the plastic ones. And if when passing through the bulkhead ensure the grommet is suitable (heavy duty and at least 10mm of solid grommet either side of the cable) or use a bulkhead transfer kit as above - http://www.longacrer...spx?prodID=7588.

 

No need to always be doom and gloom i find :)

[Cooperman]

Whenever I run a battery cable through a bulkhead or through the central cross member I run it through a piece of heater hose which I bond in with Tiger Seal and put a cable tie at each end of the hose on the cable to prevent it all moving. That works well and is very safe. The motor-sport scrutineers love it like that.