Battery Relocation To Frame

[inlinesix3million]

I currently have 2 very heavy 100 amp AGM batts that I'd like to relocate to passenger side frame rail. To keep from having to redo every stock connection can I instead do the

following? : Mount batteries side to side in new location and connect them in parallel with heavy gauge cables- then run 2 sets of 0 gauge positive and negative to original places

and reconnect to original bundles. Thus,only moving batts and not redoing/rerouting all the cables?? Thanks in advance!

 

[jhenderson]

Sounds fine, but why? Access will be poor at best.

 

[SnoKing]

I took us about 20 minutes to find the engine battery in my friends new to him Freightliner Sprinter Class C MH. It is under the drivers feet. It does have a sealer lid under the floor mat. Mounting batteries with limited access to the terminals on top is not the best plan and given the electrical gremlins that haunt these trucks, extending the battery cables might not be the best plan.

But as Jeff asks, why?

SNOKING

 

[JHumphries]

Don't forget about the temperature sensor that is under the driver's side battery. I don't know if the 4th gens have it, but the 3rd gens do, and it controls the charge rate from the alternator. If that sensor is seeing underhood temps, and not battery temps, it can smoke your batteries in a hurry, which would be ugly under the cab...

 

[mwilson]

Hoopty's battery is under the rear seat. It has a venting system to take the fumes out under the floorboards. Big Caution sticker warning about the integrity of the vent tubes being maintained as errant fumes can rot the seatbelt anchors off.....But it stays clean and the battery was original to the car until I changed it out two weeks ago.

 

[inlinesix3million]

I would like to relocate the batts cuz they are HEAVY. They weigh as much as 4 stock batts. I was trying to envision the simplest way to solve this wiring-wise. I believe I will be money ahead by

taking almost 200 lbs off of my front suspension. Will also free up underhood real estate for future projects like an air compressor and aux fuse block/wiring kit.

So, an insulated battery box with relocated temp sensor, a side post conversion on batts, 2/0 cables to underhood area, battery shutoff switch, then into a distribution block etc.

I can "clean up" the connections at the 4 original locations and tuck everything off to the sides or down. Probably replace original battery terminals with flat connectors. Will also look for some

kind of flexible armored conduit for the 2/0 running under truck. I'll have to figure out how to route the 2/0 positive and ground so as not to introduce any noise into my stereo system.

 

[SnoKing]

So you spent a bunch or bucks for heavy batteries that are really not required for the normal operation of the truck. Now you want to spend more to relocate them. Gees!

 

[inlinesix3million]

I bought batteries that make my 1950 watt sound system work better

 

[SnoKing]

What did you say, I can not hear you! SNOKING

 

[mwilson]

What did you say, I can not hear you! SNOKING

Ha Ha....:-laf

He may want to get a set of screwdrivers to keep with him as those Dodge screws are gonna' back right out from all of that thumpin'...

 

[SnoKing]

Yes, what a shame, the true music is under the hood! He is probably is going to knock the teeth off the fly wheel hitting the starter when the Cummins is already running.

SNOKING

 

[jelag]

The key to installing and relocating batteries is voltage drop during heat grid operation and when cranking... I'm guessing that the 0 gauge might be small and you might need 00 to work... but only testing would tell you that.... and the temperature sensor under the battery is the KEY to prevent overcharging.... my watching the battery temperature and the outside temperature the ECM uses a matrix to control battery charge.... this is why these batteries last so long.... and you don't need to add water... once you make these changes you defeat the engineering....

I have 2 sets of HD 6V golf cart batteries in my RV... we often will spend several nights on the road between being connected to shore power... and with all I've done I still have issues keeping those batteries about 85% charged... and its all because of the temperature sensor and the way it cuts back on the charging voltage... but I'm aware of the fact... and watch the water level in them....

 

[Prairie Dog]

Seems like your ruining a nice truck.

 

[SnoKing]

Seems like your ruining a nice truck.

What did you say? Can not hear you, the guy over there in the Black RAM has a stereo cranked up!

SNOKING

 

[AEdelheit]

I have helped some friends relocate batteries to under the bed or in the bed, a good high quality 2/0 cable, distribution block and good to go. They have been running for years with no issues and only have 1 cable running from the batteries to distribution block. I would say though that taking 200lbs off the front suspension wont really change much especially since the batteries are right over the coils, its not like a big heavy winch bumper way out infront, but putting all the wight outside of one frame rail isint ideal, I would try to keep the weight even side to side by splitting the batteries up. I have seen much longer cable runs on heavy equipment with far bigger engines and starters, no issues just dont cheap out on wiring!

Im pretty disappointed by some of the reply's, seems like ones you find on other forums but not here.

 

[mwilson]

The point that I tried to make using the car for an example was that maybe it is not such a bad idea for the batteries to be somewhere other than under the hood.
I'm trying to think of a ready made tray that would work right out of the box, there is a plastic two battery frame mount unit that the M2 Freightliners use that is not a lot of money.

Mike.

 

[cerberusiam]

Im pretty disappointed by some of the reply's, seems like ones you find on other forums but not here.

Maybe that is due the myriad of negatives that are associated with reloaction.

There are laready enough problems keeping the batteries functional, charged, etc, with the way the system is designed. The inescapable fact is there is really no good place on the frame to mount the batteries that does not have some serious drawbacks.

Aside from th eobvious rewiring and longs on cables and sensors, its the where that is the problem. Under the hood the batteries are protected from the elements, road debris, water, dirt, snow, ice, etc. Under the hood they are warmer when ambient is cold and cooler when ambient is hot. The temp is critical to battery operation, the connections are critical to function. Placing them in an extreme environment far from the draw and charge source doesn't enhance their survivability. Just designing and building a holder that protects them, allows easy access and doesn't intefere with other things is a job in itself. Do it wrong and nothing but problems ensue.

No idea where the OP is located, what his usage is, what the plans are for the truck. Lacking that info and the problems associated it is hard to see a benefit from reloacting. The ROI is just not there hence the lack of support.

At some point in time reality has to be explained. Encouraging idiotic behaviour in an attempt to be "kinder and gentler" doesn't work, obviously. I would assume the OP wants the good with the bad to be fully informed and make his decision.

 

[AEdelheit]

Seems to me its because he has a nice stereo......

 

[SnoKing]

Seems to me its because he has a nice stereo......

Light up and join us with a bit of a sence of humor.

Soundking

 

[Prairie Dog]

What did you say? Can not hear you, the guy over there in the Black RAM has a stereo cranked up!

SNOKING

Probably wouldn't matter anyway, I have a bad case of CHS (cant hear s#1t).