Battery wiring questions...

[formula]

I'm getting ready to relocate my battery to the trunk in my bird, but I'm still very new to electrical work and want to make sure I have all of my details sorted out first.

I've heard its a good idea to go ahead and run a ground back up to somewhere in the engine bay along with the positive. How much truth is there to this?

Also, I'm going to go ahead and get a pretty nice battery. What are the advantages to deep cycle batteries?

How much cable should I order? and what gauge?

Also, a thought I had-- I've already run a positive cable from my engine bay to my trunk for my stereo amplifier. Could I just use this cable to reach the engine bay from the battery, and run new ones for the amp to the battery?

Also, I was contemplating setting up a disconnect switch under the hood, just for convenience. This is no drag car, so mounting location's not really important. Good idea, bad idea?

[HzEmall]

What we do to make sure that battery relocation installs are 100 % (well overkill sometimes) is we make sure that items like the starter and alternator are grounded to the block with their own ground wires. We then run a ground from that point on the block to a solid point on the frame, then from that point on the frame to a solid place on the main body of the car. In the trunk we run a ground from the batter to the body and from the battery to the frame. This way this car is 100% grounded and no matter what your installing or doing your power circuit will be complete.

I always use 1awg simply cause it's not a whole lot more then 4 awg and with something like 1awg you will never have a issue or be in need of an upgrade.

Deep Cycles by the definition are bad (RV and Marine batteries), simply because they will last a while (which is good) but when you run them down it takes more then twice as long to recharge them which puts a harder load on your alternator.

Options like a Exide Orbital (Personal Favorite), Yellow or red top optima (personally think they are evil) or any other battery that has a good cold cranking and reserve rating, and of course a kick ass warranty.

You can put a power stud under your hood (Protect it with a cover to avoid being shorted out by accident) and that way you have a power point in the front of the car.

Hope that helps, if I can help more just ask.

[scogin918]

Look at www.madelectrical.com and click on the New Stuff or Trunk Mount kit in the on-line catalog. I'm trying to order it now, but he's hard to get a hold of.

[BonzoHansen]

Options like a Exide Orbital (Personal Favorite), Yellow or red top optima (personally think they are evil)

I'd be very interested in why you have these thoughts of ‘good and evil’. The optimas seem very trunk friendly.

I was looking at 0/1 ga. multi-strand cable at the local marine place. It is nice & big, and rather flexible.

[HzEmall]

I personally have killed way to many optima's and they never come back properly BUT....that's me....there are lots of people who have good luck with them....