battery relocate help

[OIF1VET]

My understanding of the rule is that the NHRA requires that any vehicle with a relocated battery must have a master disconnect switch installed on the exterior of the vehicle. There are no time requirements.

This is correct... I still don't understand it though.. If my battery is in the stock location and I have an accident where they can't kill the power, what's the difference(as far as where the battery is?)...

[meissen]

The battery is in the passenger compartment instead of behind the firewall.

[Fox Slaughter]

yeah it's pretty plane Jane, cloth int, hard top, no TCS..... Funny thing is, I need to buy a head unit, it has all the speakers and wiring in it still, but I ganked the head unit a year or so back for something else and never got a new one! indeed it has 6 speakers. I wasn't aware that was "special" every F-body i've ever paid close enough attention to had it (my parents 30th TA, and my buddys '96 Z I used to borrow/drive all the time). It is a race car inspired street car In all honesty, people can say what they want, but I did build my car to be a street able car that goes fast and has a lot of "race car" like features. If people wanna gimme shit about it to feel better about their car being slower in the 1/4....I'm alright with it. I built it for me

I have a Pioneer Head Unit for sale.

[JoeliusZ28]

The battery is in the passenger compartment instead of behind the firewall.

and? If there is a fire in the car its still a battery in the passenger compartment kill switch or not. I guess I'm not seeing the point either

[c0ncEpT]

This is correct... I still don't understand it though.. If my battery is in the stock location and I have an accident where they can't kill the power, what's the difference(as far as where the battery is?)...

If its in the factory location they know where it is to cut the cable...

[OIF1VET]

If its in the factory location they know where it is to cut the cable...

Still makes no sense to me.. My stock battery cables are in the stock location.. If that's the logic I should be good, but I know technically I am not..

[Sic96]

Wow, tons of great write-ups here. I really appreciate the pics! I need to start threads like this more often

OIF1VET.. I guess I see the point in having the disconnect being mandatory. I'll put my .02 in here.. If a car wrecks on the track and the track crew comes running, they can go to the back of the car and pull/push the handle and all power is killed. If you don't have a disconnect and lets say you roll it on its roof, they would have a pretty rough time killing the power... even if they knew where the battery was. Basically, that disconnect is the same as the tether I have to wear when I drag my bike. Just makes life a whole lot easier in case of emergencies.
Also, you did a great job with the battery, but what was the black box all about? I couldn't tell its location from the pic. Is that where you are tying the alt. into??

Thanks again for all the helpful info guys!!

[meissen]

and? If there is a fire in the car its still a battery in the passenger compartment kill switch or not. I guess I'm not seeing the point either

I was typing the exact same type of response first and the only REAL difference I could come to is passenger compartment vs behind the firewall. Honestly I'm not sure if that's really any reason, it was just the only thing I could come up with on why they would even care. I agree with you in that I don't really see the difference either - especially considering the 2010+ Camaros come with the battery in the trunk stock.

[OIF1VET]

Hey Justin, That was a bad pic of my distribution block. It sits in the battery tray. I bought it off a guy on tech years ago. Would also like to add, do not use the ground location by the battery shown in my earlier pics.. I ended up drilling a hole below the battery into the frame to get a good ground..

[TB2]

Actually, one of the main reasons for it is during your stage and burnout. One of the track officialls can easily shut you down if they see a problem. I have actually seen them do this more than once at milan. The guy was staging and had a coolant hose blow/come loose and it was spewing under the car and the official ran up and flipped the kill switch on the back of the car shutting him down before before he was able to make more of a mess as well as the possibility of him putting it into the fence if he had launched. Below is the official insert from an IHRA rule book.

Master Disconnect Switch: Whenever a battery is relocated to the trunk, the
vehicle must be equipped with an external disconnect switch. This switch
must be clearly labeled and immediately disconnect the positive side of the
battery. To determine if the switch operates properly a tech inspector will
turn off the switch with the engine running. If this action does not
immediately shut down the engine then the switch is wired improperly and the
vehicle shall fail the inspection. Drivers should ensure the alternator
charge wire is routed to the battery side of the switch. This isolates the
alternator from the rest of the electrical system. Drivers should check with
the switch manufacturer to ensure it is properly installed.

In all cases the master disconnect switch, including an OEM style ignition
switch, must also shut off the electric fuel pump(s) regardless of battery
location.

[OIF1VET]

Actually, one of the main reasons for it is during your stage and burnout. One of the track officialls can easily shut you down if they see a problem. I have actually seen them do this more than once at milan. The guy was staging and had a coolant hose blow/come loose and it was spewing under the car and the official ran up and flipped the kill switch on the back of the car shutting him down before before he was able to make more of a mess as well as the possibility of him putting it into the fence if he had launched. Below is the official insert from an IHRA rule book.

Master Disconnect Switch: Whenever a battery is relocated to the trunk, the
vehicle must be equipped with an external disconnect switch. This switch
must be clearly labeled and immediately disconnect the positive side of the
battery. To determine if the switch operates properly a tech inspector will
turn off the switch with the engine running. If this action does not
immediately shut down the engine then the switch is wired improperly and the
vehicle shall fail the inspection. Drivers should ensure the alternator
charge wire is routed to the battery side of the switch. This isolates the
alternator from the rest of the electrical system. Drivers should check with
the switch manufacturer to ensure it is properly installed.

In all cases the master disconnect switch, including an OEM style ignition
switch, must also shut off the electric fuel pump(s) regardless of battery
location.

I, fully, understand this. But I, still, do not understand why it is required only when the battery is re-located? If my battery is in the stock location and an official see's something unsafe and needs to shut me down he would have to run over and tap my window to tell me to kill the motor.. He has no way to kill my motor externally.. So now, my battery is re-located, why do I now need a kill switch? He could still run over and have me kill power from inside the car... I guess I am missing something..

[OVRKILL]

Definitely going to do this but without a box. Nice write up Larry. Cant believe you remembered all that

FWIW.....I have a new Taylor box if anyone is interested....

[JoeliusZ28]

I, fully, understand this. But I, still, do not understand why it is required only when the battery is re-located? If my battery is in the stock location and an official see's something unsafe and needs to shut me down he would have to run over and tap my window to tell me to kill the motor.. He has no way to kill my motor externally.. So now, my battery is re-located, why do I now need a kill switch? He could still run over and have me kill power from inside the car... I guess I am missing something..

Agreed.

I have better things to do than nit-pick the NHRA, I'll install the switch. But these seem like the kind of pointless rules that encourage street racing.

[Fox Slaughter]

If I am not mistaken you are suppose to run a dry battery if its inside the passenger compartment also, correct?

[OIF1VET]

If I am not mistaken you are suppose to run a dry battery if its inside the passenger compartment also, correct?

Either a bulkhead or a sealed box with a vent tube to the outside of the car..