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 Post subject: Battery location
PostPosted: Sat Jul 11, 2015 3:09 pm 
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Joined: Thu Sep 25, 2014 5:05 am
Posts: 163
Location: Pittsburgh,Pa.
There are very few good reasons to mount your battery
in the front of your buggy.
There are lots of reasons to mount the battery behind the
seats.
I did not have room behind my seats because of a large
gas tank, so I mounted it in front of the passenger's feet.
This a bad idea because:
1) The cables to the starter have to travel real far. This
length increases resistance and makes hard starts even
harder. Starters can burn out easier because of this.
2) Batteries mounted up front are vulnerable to puncture
from objects kicked up by the front wheels. I have had
side, top, bottom and front punctures.
3) Lead acid batteries can rupture or explode, which will
spray occupants with acid in a moving buggy.
4) Front mounted batteries get shocked and banged around
more than rear-mounted.
5) Having more weight in the front is undesirable.


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 Post subject: Re: Battery location
PostPosted: Sat Jul 11, 2015 3:45 pm 
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Joined: Mon Oct 14, 2013 2:49 pm
Posts: 143
Location: Fort Worth , TX and Woodward OK
I see your point but I don't think it's 100% accurate, i mounted my battery in the front due to the fact that I have a heavy engine in the back and a large fuel cell. I also want my weight spread out as evenly as i can get it. Also if the battery does explode I want it as far from me as possible. (Tho yes it would spray on you if moving with speed) If you are worried about it blowing up or getting punctured I'd build a box to put it in. i dont want it right behind me if it does blow..As far as long battery leads. I used a 1/0 welding cable and have had 0 problems with start or alternator.
All in all for me it is alot better my buggy Flys pretty even in the air. But everyone's buggys are different

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 Post subject: Re: Battery location
PostPosted: Sat Jul 11, 2015 4:09 pm 
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Joined: Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:55 pm
Posts: 2304
Location: S.W. Pa. Wellsville Water Cooled Chapter
jimp wrote:
There are very few good reasons to mount your battery
in the front of your buggy.
There are lots of reasons to mount the battery behind the
seats.
I did not have room behind my seats because of a large
gas tank, so I mounted it in front of the passenger's feet.
This a bad idea because:
1) The cables to the starter have to travel real far. This
length increases resistance and makes hard starts even
harder. Starters can burn out easier because of this.
Easily fixed, instead of using 2 ga. wire
use 00 welding cable


2) Batteries mounted up front are vulnerable to puncture
from objects kicked up by the front wheels. I have had
side, top, bottom and front punctures.
1/8" thick aluminum box would stop that
real quick also could contain any "spills"


3) Lead acid batteries can rupture or explode, which will
spray occupants with acid in a moving buggy.
A gel cell battery(optima) or a dry cell battery
(odyssey) solves this and the shock issue below.
Also note, a dry cell battery will not corrode, leak, explode or
is susceptible to shock


4) Front mounted batteries get shocked and banged around
more than rear-mounted.

5) Having more weight in the front is undesirable.
Having an extra 30 lb up front is a good thing
for any buggy with good tires and some HP when dealing with
real steep hills


Everything we do with these things seems to be a compromise. One thing we should not compromise on is safety

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 Post subject: Re: Battery location
PostPosted: Sat Jul 11, 2015 7:20 pm 
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Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2011 6:16 pm
Posts: 1003
Location: columbus, OH
Had my battery up front. Found some deep scratches in it. Immediately moved it to back.


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 Post subject: Re: Battery location
PostPosted: Sun Jul 12, 2015 3:21 pm 
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Joined: Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:09 pm
Posts: 1025
Location: batavia ohio 45103
ive had mine up front for 5 years at least. heavy cable to starter, steel floor under battery, battery in a box. keeps the front end down and I bias the weight with a cooler in the front bumper. never had a starting issue or a problem with battery life.

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 Post subject: Re: Battery location
PostPosted: Wed Aug 26, 2015 8:27 pm 
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Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2010 5:23 pm
Posts: 709
Location: UK
You mention not putting the battery up front in case it leaks or explodes but instead PUTTING IT UNDER YOUR ARSE?!

Besides, where my starter and cabling is, that would save me about 2ft of cable at most, never had an issue even using just 2-3AWG cables.

I'll keep mine up front, with a bulkhead seperating it from me, and where it's weight is helping the front end bite...wink:


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 Post subject: Re: Battery location
PostPosted: Wed Aug 26, 2015 9:18 pm 
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Joined: Thu Sep 11, 2014 10:31 pm
Posts: 131
Location: Florence ky
Or you could just get a optima* battery.
They are dry cell and won't explode or leak. At least that's what my Buddy he has a track mustang and that's what he runs

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 Post subject: Re: Battery location
PostPosted: Wed Sep 02, 2015 8:33 am 
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Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2010 5:23 pm
Posts: 709
Location: UK
You'll still know about it if it's under your backside when a rock comes up and smashes it :lol:

I'm switching to lithium this year, dry cell, saves 25lb in one easy swap, occasionally explode if mishandled :shock: :lol:


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