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Relocating battery to footwell
Banana - 7/1/17 at 04:03 PM

Has anyone else relocated the battery to the passenger footwell?
With an access hatch from the engine bay where it currently sits.

Benefits i see -
Tidier engine bay
Lower COG
Will be covered by foot rest/kickplate in foot well, so out of sight.


Any potential downsides I've missed?

[Edited on 7/1/17 by Banana]

02GF74 - 7/1/17 at 04:37 PM

yes, all of the above.

another item to the list is plan some way to connect a battery charger - I didn't get round to it so need to remove bonnet then connect positive lead to solenoid terminal; a pair of connectors inside the car would have been a more convenient option.

CosKev3 - 7/1/17 at 05:12 PM

Leg room for passengers is a possible downside

rusty nuts - 7/1/17 at 07:06 PM

Just make sure any acid is contained in the event of an accident. TVR put the battery in the passengers footwell on some models

gremlin1234 - 7/1/17 at 07:16 PM

a more expensive solution maybe a lithium battery, (smaller and lighter) either in the engine bay or footwell.

40inches - 7/1/17 at 07:22 PM

A smallish car battery fits fine, and only takes up the space the pedals do, on the other side
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coozer - 7/1/17 at 08:49 PM

Yes, i put mine there from the start..



What you see there is a red top 25 sitting on a piece of foam with the remains of a stainless deep fat frier holding it in place.

I ran the cables through the bulkhead with some plastic bulkhead fittings.

coozer - 7/1/17 at 08:51 PM

Forgot to add, I then bent a piece of ali to cover the whole lot and stuck it on with velcro.

Banana - 7/1/17 at 09:13 PM

Velcro and deep fat friers - gotta love kit cars.
Looks good though.



[Edited on 7/1/17 by Banana]

[Edited on 9/1/17 by Banana]

gremlin1234 - 7/1/17 at 09:34 PM

quote:
Originally posted by CosKev3
Leg room for passengers is a possible downside
as is the 100mm ball requirement for 'blunted edges' in this part of the passenger compartment. - ie clamps holding it down and its terminals should be blunt, or covered. (as well as the terminals being covered from an electrical pint of view.)

Banana - 8/1/17 at 12:54 AM

It will be walled off, so to speak.
Or a footrest in front.

40inches - 8/1/17 at 11:12 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Banana
It will be walled off, so to speak.
Or a footrest in front.


Ally panel sealed with Sikaflex. A 6ft 4inch friend found it made a nice footrest
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907 - 8/1/17 at 12:28 PM

I would want to be able to quickly disconnect the battery in the event of a mishap.

I believe this is the case at some tracks as well.


Paul G

FuryRebuild - 8/1/17 at 03:34 PM

Bentley learned this one in their first year returning to Le Mans. They had a battery failure and had located the battery right way down in the car for CoG benefits. It took a long time (relatively) to replace and they lost places. Now, the batteries are mounted higher up and further out so they can be reached more easily. For me if I were endurance racing, I'd have the battery connect to the car on a power connector, so it's a 20 second swap.

quote:
Originally posted by 907
I would want to be able to quickly disconnect the battery in the event of a mishap.

I believe this is the case at some tracks as well.


Paul G

Banana - 8/1/17 at 07:12 PM

Im going to fit an inline isolator/key, for both security and safety.

907 - 8/1/17 at 07:13 PM

I have one of those "big red key" switches fitted.


I must confess, the main reason was for when leaving the car unattended at shows.

Those lovely little angels, watched by their parents, play with the switches and leave them on.

Paul G

myke pocock - 8/1/17 at 08:31 PM

I sense another winter mod coming on for me. Dont you just love this Forum for ideas.

Banana - 9/1/17 at 06:34 PM

Talking of those 'big red keys' - are they man enough to take the current to the starter motor?

I was thinking of leaving the starter wired direct to the battery and having everything else via the isolator key.

But ideally, id have everything go through the key. If its up to the job.

gremlin1234 - 9/1/17 at 07:56 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Banana
Talking of those 'big red keys' - are they man enough to take the current to the starter motor?

I was thinking of leaving the starter wired direct to the battery and having everything else via the isolator key.

But ideally, id have everything go through the key. If its up to the job.
usually they will be fine for the starter current
for instance
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/k5c/Car-Battery-Isolator-Cut-Off-Switch-500A/B003DYQYXC
is 500A

Banana - 9/1/17 at 08:12 PM

Cheers Gremlin!

HowardB - 9/1/17 at 08:20 PM

Here's my take on the idea....

Footwell
Footwell

Hth

Banana - 9/1/17 at 09:40 PM

Exactly what i envisaged from the start

Think i might end up with more legroom than yours though..

bi22le - 10/1/17 at 01:05 PM

Mine is in the 'boot' to level the COG out even more so. I didn't do this but its quite neat.

FuryRebuild - 10/1/17 at 01:41 PM

quote:
Originally posted by bi22le
Mine is in the 'boot' to level the COG out even more so. I didn't do this but its quite neat.


Is it inside our outside of the wheelbase? I'm thinking about polar moment of inertia.

907 - 10/1/17 at 01:57 PM

My usual passenger in the car is the Missis.

She says that she is the ideal passenger as she now has a lower centre of gravity.




Paul G