Battery Positions

[Chunksta]

Guys,

I'm about to buy another main battery. My existing one is still good and am going to fit it into my Mk1 Golf.

The current battery location in the bus is behind my driver seat, however, there are two big battery sized gaps in the engine bay that look suitable for batteries.

My thinking was to find a suitably sized battery and fit it in the right hand side hole, right close to the alternator and starter motor to improve on wiring loses.

Has anyone else done this please?

[CovKid]

This has been discussed within last two weeks. Have a search. Most seemed to feel battery better out of engine bay. Shove it in a cupboard - thats what I did. If it sits in engine bay its harder to get at imho.

[Chunksta]

This has been discussed within last two weeks. Have a search. Most seemed to feel battery better out of engine bay. Shove it in a cupboard - thats what I did. If it sits in engine bay its harder to get at imho.

Been looking Covkid, mind you, I can't even find my socks in the airing cupboard!

I've stashed my leisure batteries in the cupboard, made a proper clamp and fuse board out to under the rock n roll bed.

I'll take another look cheers.

[AdrianC]

VW put the starter battery in the engine bay on diesels, of course.

But if your main battery leads are healthy, then the battery shouldn't need the "help" of being close.

[Chunksta]

Thanks Adrian,

The cables are healthy and she starts fabulously from cold. (Gonna talk that one up now!)

Wanted to kill a couple of birds with one stone like tidying up the interior. Not keen on battery behind drivers seat, would prefer storage.

Keeps wiring to a minimum, and losses too. Stuff like that.

Should be a simple conversion.

So it's the longer heavier duty diesel batteries that fit in there then?

[CovKid]

Might help with starting but lot of faff and you'll still have a long run from front to back for everything else. In my case I decided (in the end) the starter battery was in the ideal place in terms of access - piece of cake for jump starts too.

The leisure I moved though, the original space now given over to a basic toolkit. It made more sense to put mine in a cupboard as I could put the leisure fusebox in there and most things running off the leisure are on that side anyway. Plus i was no longer restricted to battery dimensions. Its like all interiors though - what works for one doesn't work for another. Always good to chew things over carefully before diving in as one change invariably impacts on something else.

[kevtherev]

The voids under the vents are rain and water traps, things will get wet there unless you make provision to stop the purpose of the vent.
Where the battery is now means it will never be subjected to extreme temperatures, and wet damp conditions.
I moved my LB into a cupboard

[Chunksta]

Yeah, get what you mean Kev, but what about the diesel owners, how do they get on with batteries in there?

[Oldiebut goodie]

The battery doesn't go completely into the void area - it is on a tray close to the engine. Haven't a picture of one to hand and can't find one in the Bentley.

[kevtherev]

diesel engines are an inline four canted at a very steep angle..creating a space on the left hand side of the engine for a battery on a purpose built shelf.