Would an Optima dry cell battery be safer to relocate than a wet cell battery?

This is from a daily driver safety point of view, not an NHRA tech POV:

I am curious if I could relocate an Optima battery without purchasing a sealed box, installing a kill switch, etc. I’d like a little weight distribution, and I’d also like to clean up the engine bay – eventually pick up a Summit catch can and have a place to mount some coils for the LTCC, or a fuel/ice/alky tank if I ever go that direction. I don’t really have the extra cash to get a nice sealed battery box, but I already have the Optima dry cell.

Would it be safe to relocate the Optima to the back without a sealed box or a kill switch? What’s the difference in having the battery under the hood or under the trunk - why do you have to have a master power switch for the latter? I don’t care about passing tech, because I never bracket race/class race or anything like that – street night is for me .

Question:

Optima mounted securely in the hatch w/o being sealed? Yes or No?

Comments/thoughts/flames?
Ryan

 

If I were you I would put it in the back....and get BMR'S battery relocation tray....I have one not installed but have one....seems good enough for me......I'm not into all that tech stuff either.....

 

In my experience, sanctioned tracks require a box and a vent and external on/off switch regardless if you are bracket/class racing or just going on street nights. Vehicles need to meet all safety requirements for their configuration even if it is just a test and tune or a track rental.

 

It doesn't seem like an on/off switch would make car with the battery mounted in the trunk safer than a car with the battery underhood. What gives?



Ryan

 

Totally unacceptable .

 

The two advantages of the Optima are:

1 - Limited "gassing". No hydrogen gas produced in "normal" use, but when you overcharge it, like any lead-acid battery, it will produce explosive hydrogen gas. A neighbor of mine lost his Infinity Q45 and a good part of his garage when the lead-acid battery in his brand-new Infinity exploded from over-charging. The explosion caused a fire that totally destroyed the car, and part of his house and garage. He was inside the house at the time, reading the owner's manual to find out why the dashboard idiot light was on........

2 - Mountable in any position. This is where the Optima can be useful. I've seen an Optima mounted in the back of a 4th Gen, BELOW the spare tire well, OUTSIDE the car. It was mounted "sideways", with the normal "top" of the battery facing sideways, rather than up.

My own personal experience with the Optima has led me to the conclusion that it really offers no advantage over a properly mounted "conventional" battery.