dangers on running a batt in the trunk?

are there any? im also running my compressor for bags and a 60's mustang tank?

 

None. Just as long as it's bolted down.

 

You MUST vent the battery box to the outside. I had a fireball in the back of my car when the hydrogen bubble from overcharging ignited. It ain't pretty!

 

What about a gel battery? I,ve heard they are much safer.

 

Have very good battery cables, the voltage drop can be a killer!

 

Mine is in the trunk in a marine battery box. Airplane booster cables run to the front courtesy of a friend of mine who,s father was an airplane mechanic. Thicker than arc welding cable!

 

I have gel cells (2 - 6Volt) under the back seat of my '37 Chevy, no problem and never any buildup on the cables. Replaced them after 5 years and they still looked new. Have a gel cell in the trunk of my '31 coupe with welding cable for battery cable, works great. Both bolted in place though.

Vergil

 

I have a battery in the trunk of my '60 pheonix without any problems. I'm also running heavier cable that actually came off an old ryder truck with an electric over hydraulic tailgate.

But I think the question is with your mustang tank. Where is the fill and where is it vented? If either is in the trunk or both in trunk, I say you are waiting for trouble.

 

All Fiat spiders built after 1974 have the battery in the trunk and are pretty much trouble free. One thing you need to do is make a cover so that nothing can roll around and short from the positive terminal to the body of the car. On the Fiats, this was just a molded peice of plastic but you could probably fashion up something cooler.

 

Jumping a car, if it's yours or you are helping someone else out, watch for sparks.
Make sure there is "NO" fuel leakage from the tank (sending unit, filler, vent etc).

 

If it isn't vented properly to the outside ,you will find rust showing up in the strangest places throughout the car! Run a gel cell(Optima etc.)

 

My battery is under the bed and we used a heavy set of jumper cables for the cable to the starter

 

GM puts the battery under the rear seat of several new cars.The battery is vented and has good amp ratings and reserve.They are a little pricey but the venting may help you.

 

im thinking of running a blue top optima

 

I have a red top Optima mounted in the trunk of my Accord and am using 00 guage wiring and vent it just in case of buildup.

Weld a battery holder and cover it as protection and you should be fine. I used a clear Lexan cover just so I could take a look at the battery without having to open the case or worry about possible grounding out. It cost a little more this way but I p*** spec at the track with it and I have peace of mind this way.

 

i would run the optima. you also do not need to vent them.

 

Lead Acid.....Vent
Gell Cell......No vent needed

 

Hell the new Lincoln LS and T Birds run a lead acid battery in the trunk without a box, they just have a special battery with a vent tube routed to the underside of the car

 

Build or buy a bat box.

Gell cell or not - vent the bat box.

Use welding ground cable from the bat's to the starter lug - much less voltage drop.

And ad a cut off switch while your at it.

 

Also using an optima (redtop). I have it in a cheapo black plastic box with an on off switch located nearby and used welding cable to run to the front of the car. I also run a Hitachi High Torque starter which likely eliminates any voltage drop issues. The thing sounds like an import cranking over (until it starts!)

No problems and it works well for me.

 

Late model Chevy trucks use a two-piece vented box, check your local bone yard.

 

Optima batteries are not a gel cell battery. If you can vent them then do it. If not they dont gas nearly as much as other lead acid batteries.

 

thanks Ichottop they are Gl*** mat. they do VENT just not much. try fast charging one and tell me they don't vent. a vent is easy drill i hole in the box that vents out side. but seal the box in side. gel cell is a name that stuck to the optima batteries. that not what they are. be safe guys i see batteries that have blown up all the time at the shop i work at. we sell bats , alts, starters, and take in used batteries for core.

 

Useful things, jumper lugs - would be a handy addition for any car with a remote battery, especially if you leave the lights on during a road trip, when the trunk is full of gear...
As for cable size - BMW uses what looks like 0 gauge cable for the inline six (about 3 liters) 3 series (about 15 feet of cable from the trunk to the starter, if that). I've also seen people try to crank a 10:1 500 through 30+ feet of 4 gauge cable. A good rule is if you can feel the cable get hot in 10 seconds of cranking, with the coil disconnected, the cable is too small. The longer the cable, the bigger it needs to be.

 

I put the starter solenoid in the battery box too. That way, the big cable to the front is only live when cranking. Safer, and a great theft prevention feature.