Is a remote mounted solenoid needed with a trunk mounted battery?

[brownz]

I have my battery mounted in the trunk and was thinking about installing a remote mounted solenoid. Is this needed? I would like to keep the car as simple as I can and not have un-needed electrical systems if I dont have to.

[67rally]

I'm about to move my battery to the trunk as well, and still gathering info. The idea of a remote mounted solenoid is so that a large gauge wire feeding the starter becomes dead after starting, and you only have a smaller gauge wire running live through the interior recharging the battery when the car is running. It does complicate things, but it's a safety issue. However, I look forward to seeing what everyone else has to say.

[BigDawgDavao]

Yes, it is a good idea. It's not really that complicated nor expensive to do. Safety for me was the key. Even though I got my big cable tucked away pretty good, the thought if it wearing through the insulation and arcing directly in a place I can't get to easily was a no brainer for me. With the solenoid, it's only powered during cranking.

It does mean running 2 extra wires, 1 for charging and one for engaging the solenoid from the key. If your car is apart already, it's not a big deal.

[terrydmorgan]

I just ordered a kit from madelectrical.com . Super nice guy who will take the time to explain everything.

[67rally]

I just ordered a kit from madelectrical.com . Super nice guy who will take the time to explain everything.

x2, I ordered a kit from him on Wed. I was on the phone with him for about an hour, and he would have kept talking for another hour if my brain didn't hurt from all the info he gave.

[JustinB]

X3! I received a bunch of stuff today from Mark at Mad Electrical. Pick up his book as well. I learned more about electrical after an hour of reading his book than I have in 15 years of tooling around on cars. Super nice guy and well worth the money if you are looking to run a battery in the trunk. He will get all my business from here on out.

[Skip Fix]

They also help if you are having heat sink starting issues esp with headers.

Just remember though on alot of GM cars there is a hot wire that runs along with the battery to the starter main terminal that you will have to also redo. And some permanent magnet starters like the RobbMc you have to wire differenetly with a remote solenoid.

[gtwiggy]

I just installed my MAD elect. kit tonight. It took me about two hours. I have the solenoid mounted on the trunk support right next to the optima. I ran the 1/0 battery cable out of the trunk and along the frame rail. The 8 guage wires for start and recharge I ran through the cabin along side of the rear harness wires and up to the dash. The main power wire goes through the firewall to the Bus-bar that Mark (MAD elect) suggested I place right next to the firewall half off the fuse box. It feeds the MSD Box and the one wire altenator hook up. Everything is real sanitary and now, god forbid I do something stupid with the big block, I dont have that live battery cable running next to the fuel line. I did have to run a relay for my starter since its a MSD magnetic style.

[tommycomfort]

Another vote for Mark - Mad Electric. We bought the remote battery kit, a bunch of relay kits, butt connectors, blade connectors and the book. It all worked really well and was easy to understand with his instructions. I've made a few orders from Mark while and since wiring our 66 and will definitely have my wife or kids call next time I need something... Great guy with tons of knowledge, but at some point I have to have time to go execute the plan.
Tom

[TheJDMan]

Where do most of you run the power cable through the firewall to the starter on a 1st gen Camaro? I plan to run the cable down the passenger side wire channel to the firewall I'm just unsure were to go through the firewall.

[esenior]

I also ran the wire down the passenger side gutter, then looped it up behind the heater box and brought it through the floor right next to the firewall. It comes up right behind my headers and is a straight shot to the back of the starter.

[67rally]

I also ran the wire down the passenger side gutter, then looped it up behind the heater box and brought it through the floor right next to the firewall. It comes up right behind my headers and is a straight shot to the back of the starter.

I just did mine a few weeks ago and went through the same spot, maybe an inch or two closer to the trans tunnel. Very clean shot behind the headers to the starter.

[sam 74]

its not required per say, but with larger wire there's a good chance of having an arc issue if the solinoid nut loosens up, and believe me they can, i swaped to a remote solinoid to avoid header heat issues and a friend of mine swapped to a remote after his wire arced on the header. i just got a ford solinoid from autozone and wired everything myself, it wasn't difficult at all.

[MonzaRacer]

In my Monza I ran my heavy gauge down the right side of car, and mounted my remote solenoid on firewall and this also allowed me to keep my charging wire shorter. Now I will probably move it to the back nearer to the battery which I will place in the spare tire well. Just remember to have as heavy a charge wire as you can to the battery side of the solenoid. Add in a battery cut off in your battery ground. This will should make the car die when you open it,I did this in my 77 Monza, the yellow one. I did this on that car and with no ground the car died as it lost complete path to maintain running.
ON your charge wire pick up one of the large main fuses from a Ford, they are large like 120amps or larger, this would protect if the alternator charge wire, this will possibly protect your car, also install one in the power feed to all the fuse boxes you have.

[esenior]

I put my starter solenoid in the trunk right next to the battery, but ran a separate 4 gauge wire to a junction point up under my dash where I ran my charge wire to and use as a connection point for everything else (except the ECU which runs direct to the battery).

[steinepstein]

So if I am using a remote solenoid, do I need to bypass the solenoid on the starter? How do I do that? Thanks....

[esenior]

So if I am using a remote solenoid, do I need to bypass the solenoid on the starter? How do I do that? Thanks....

Just run a jumper wire from the battery cable lug to the solenoid (S terminal). If you look at my 2nd picture above, that's what the smaller gauge (12g) wire is there for. When the remote solenoid activates the battery cable, it will provide power to both the starter motor, and the solenoid.

Keep in mind that the solenoid on the starter is still used, but the main battery cable won't be hot unless you are cranking.

[lsxrevival]

Love the setup ! going to tackle this soon also. As I have a decent stereo system. As for a junction on the firewall / inner dash, wouldn't another pass thru panel battery terminal connector from the ALT wire be fine for connecting the relays / aftermarket wires to ? or just connect the remote started solenoid in the dash? to not run so many wires, or just not run a solenoid

I also ran the wire down the passenger side gutter, then looped it up behind the heater box and brought it through the floor right next to the firewall. It comes up right behind my headers and is a straight shot to the back of the starter.