Starter battery orientation

[Oldyeller]

Perhaps some of you have noted the post in my build thread that the cables from my starter batteries to the starter and solenoid are damaged to the extent that I'll have to replace them.

My neighbor, the mechanic, had enough of some really nice 4/0 red cable to make a cable up for me of a specific length. It might not be long enough if I orient the batteries in the battery box AS THEY WERE with the positive terminals all outboard in the box - but - if I put the positive terminals IN and connect the new cable to the positive cable closest to the solenoid I MIGHT make it. Can anyone think of a reason that the world, as we know it, would end if I changed the orientation of the batteries?

Looking at the picture below if I do what I suggested, the positive cable you see connected to the rearmost positive terminal would, instead, be connected to what would then be the frontmost positive terminal near the inside front of the battery box.

I can't think of any reason NOT to do this.

In fact doing this appeals to me just because it's different - shake things up - be a rebel!

[Oldyeller]

BTW, I find doing these little jobs to be very useful in getting to know my bus. Since I got the bus I've been puzzled about why there were small gauge red and white wires going into the sheathing for the negative battery cable, it didn't make sense to me. When I actually got down to it and pulled the cables off I realized that some mechanic, at some point, had just decided to run those 2 wires, through the negative cable sheath, there was no reason to do it. It would have made more sense to run then in their own sheath or, at worst, in the sheath for the positive cable. I don't know what those small wires do but I'm thinking maybe the ECM leads or something like that which requires a good 12V signal directly from the battery. Maybe I'll check my new wiring diagram provided by EWO1.

[fo4imtippin]

I have a battery shutoff on the side of my box. Perhaps you could add one so you have to buy less 4/0 and can use the free length..

[TheHubbardBus]

So each battery would be flipped 180 degrees from what shown in the pic, right?
So long as the positive terminals can't possibly ground against anything, I don't see why not.
Might also be nice to be able to pull the negatives off the battery without having to extend the tray.
Think it would be easier to accidentally short the batteries with a wrench or whatnot when installing/removing. But shouldn't be a problem if you're paying attention.

[Oldyeller]

Originally Posted by fo4imtippin

I have a battery shutoff on the side of my box. Perhaps you could add one so you have to buy less 4/0 and can use the free length..

Good idea, I've been thinking about adding a cutoff but I was thinking of mounting it inside the bus. I haven't decided what kind/ brand to choose. What do you have?

[Oldyeller]

Originally Posted by TheHubbardBus

So each battery would be flipped 180 degrees from what shown in the pic, right?
So long as the positive terminals can't possibly ground against anything, I don't see why not.
Might also be nice to be able to pull the negatives off the battery without having to extend the tray.
Think it would be easier to accidentally short the batteries with a wrench or whatnot when installing/removing. But shouldn't be a problem if you're paying attention.

If I've got it right in my mind the whole assembly would just spin 180 degrees. No I wouldn't actually try to do that but that's what would happen.

Yes, I'd have to be careful putting on the positive terminals. My old '77 shovelhead has a precarious placement for the battery so I'm kinda used to it.

[fo4imtippin]

Originally Posted by Oldyeller

Good idea, I've been thinking about adding a cutoff but I was thinking of mounting it inside the bus. I haven't decided what kind/ brand to choose. What do you have?

Mine came factory from Bluebird, but it looks something like the below.. it's just a hole drilled in the side of the box and everything connects outside the battery box. Then open the door and the switch is exposed.



Fastronix High Current Double Pole (4-Post) Master Battery Disconnect Switch with Face Plate https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012QNZFKI/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_G7BG71V44NN60JGB2A5C?psc=1

[Oldyeller]

Originally Posted by fo4imtippin

Mine came factory from Bluebird, but it looks something like the below.. it's just a hole drilled in the side of the box and everything connects outside the battery box. Then open the door and the switch is exposed.



Fastronix High Current Double Pole (4-Post) Master Battery Disconnect Switch with Face Plate https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012QNZFKI/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_G7BG71V44NN60JGB2A5C?psc=1

Is your battery box a drawer that you pull out

[fo4imtippin]

Originally Posted by Oldyeller

Is your battery box a drawer that you pull out

It's a sliding tray that holds 2 8d battery's inside of a swinging door.


Looks like this

[Oldyeller]

Originally Posted by fo4imtippin

It's a sliding tray that holds 2 8d battery's inside of a swinging door.


Looks like this

Don't see a link on my phone but it sounds just like mine. Just wondering where the slack is in the cable to allow the drawer to pull out.

[fo4imtippin]

Originally Posted by Oldyeller

Don't see a link on my phone but it sounds just like mine. Just wondering where the slack is in the cable to allow the drawer to pull out.

"This" on the previous post is the link. It basically does a big U from the terminal to back of the box and outside the box to the switch. They have it with a bend in the box before it exits.

[Oldyeller]

Originally Posted by fo4imtippin

"This" on the previous post is the link. It basically does a big U from the terminal to back of the box and outside the box to the switch. They have it with a bend in the box before it exits.

I think I understand, thanks.

[Oldyeller]

I've been thinking about the battery situation. I'm going to do some more crawling around under the bus and poking in the battery compartment but I may just do as fo4imtippin suggested. I mentioned I'd been thinking about a cutoff switch and this is probably the time to do it and it will make the cable situation easier to deal with.

I think I'd prefer to put the switch inside the bus in the driver's area if I can figure out how and where to do that. It makes sense to have a cutoff since I tend to pull the positive lead off any time I know I'm not going to start the bus for a while. Be easier to just turn the switch beside the driver's seat.

If anyone has done this, a cutoff switch beside the driver's seat, I'd be interested to know what switch you used and where you mounted it. In my case I may have to do some surgery on the side console of my bus but, as I said, I need to do some crawling around.

[Dbacks2k4]

We never mount ours with the positive side in - the reason being when the battery tray slides out and tilts down the positive terminals could come in contact with the top of the box and cause a massive fireworks show. Same thing for even swapping batteries in and out, that positive terminal could touch the top of the box.

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

good point.
but my battery tray slides dont tilt and if they did i would raise the same concern.
alright oldyeller?
does your battery tray tilt when pulled out?
that could and would cause concern?
but then again i would question a tilting battery tray with such big batteries.
it would wear the mechanism out if not built heavy.
thats an opinion.

[TheHubbardBus]

That's a really good point, Dbacks. Hadn't even thought of that.
And the consequences could be far, far worse than just fireworks!

[Oldyeller]

Originally Posted by Dbacks2k4

We never mount ours with the positive side in - the reason being when the battery tray slides out and tilts down the positive terminals could come in contact with the top of the box and cause a massive fireworks show. Same thing for even swapping batteries in and out, that positive terminal could touch the top of the box.

That's worth checking but I don't recall that my battery box drawer tilts. Hmmm, maybe it should and needs fixed.

[dbsoundman]

I would consider putting an insulating material (wood or plastic) along the top of the battery enclosure at a minimum. Maybe spray on bed liner or flex seal would work?

[Dbacks2k4]

All my internationals and my old 97 bluebird rust bucket have the battery trays that tilt down a bit when fully extended.

[Oldyeller]

I certainly won't do anything that would risk accidently welding with my batteries. I'll have a good look at the situation and make a decision that is, above all else, safe. It certainly helps to get other folks input. Thanks everyone.