Installed an Optima Battery, different method

[blue2000s]

I got an optima 34R battery yesterday to replace my failing stock battery. I figured out a way to secure the battery to the tray without having to make the popular adapter plate.

The Boxster's battery tray has 9 holes in it. 5 are down the center of the tray in the long direction, 3 of them are threaded for the locking bracket and two are through holes at the ends of the plate. The 4 others are for mounting the tray to the chassis.

The Optima battery has flanges at the lower short ends for mounting, just like the Porsche part does. The problem is that the Optima battery is too short to match any of the threaded holes in the tray correctly and placing it all the way over to the driver's side like the stock battery makes the positive terminal too far away for the cables to reach. The Optima needs to sit about centered on the battery tray for both cable to reach the terminals.

The Optima comes with some mounting brackets, one of which functions exactly the same way as the stock steel tie-down bracket, it grabs the flanges at the edges of the battery. So now I have two tie down brackets that will grab the flanges of the battery.

Test fitting showed that if I used the Optima tie down in the extra hole on the driver's side, I just needed to extend the tie down on the passenger side to grab the passenger side flange of the battery due to the hole locations. I made a 4" by 2" plate of 1/8" aluminum, turned the hold down around so it would grab the aluminum plate properly, and screwed everything down. The driver's side bracket is held in place with a stainless button head screw, washer and nut.

Everything is very tightly held down, the battery posts are at the same height as stock and it all cost about $1.50 in extra stainless steel hardware.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/bellylint/optima_install/HPIM0609.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/bellylint/optima_install/HPIM0605.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/bellylint/optima_install/HPIM0606.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/bellylint/optima_install/HPIM0607.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/bellylint/optima_install/HPIM0608.jpg

[jci-joe]

Thanks for buying the Optima battery. My JCI (Johnson Controls Inc) stock is over $95 and it's because of good people like you.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by jci-joe

Thanks for buying the Optima battery. My JCI (Johnson Controls Inc) stock is over $95 and it's because of good people like you.

Build a quality product at a reasonable price and they'll come.

[Travis]

OMG! Someone stole your CD changer!!





You should move the thread over to the DIY section, good job!

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by Travis

OMG! Someone stole your CD changer!!





You should move the thread over to the DIY section, good job!

I went the IPOD route instead.

[porsche986spyder]

I keep telling you guys that there is a plastic adaptor tray that is FREE when you purchase the battery. You hust have to ask for it. The place selling the battery will not know if you need it unless you ask for it. I will post some pictures of what it looks like. By the way, the Red Top is great, but the Yellow Top would have been the better choice for our cars. Any car that uses an electric top will benifit more from the Yellow Top.

[porsche986spyder]

I just used a bunch of Zip ties and daisy-chained them under(Boxster battery tray) and over the top of the battery. Holds in place well. It isn't the most attractive, but it's cheap and easy. It all gets covered up by the battery cover/plastic lid anyway. If you ever need to remove it for any reason. Just cut the zip ties and your done.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by porsche986spyder

I just used a bunch of Zip ties and daisy-chained them under(Boxster battery tray) and over the top of the battery. Holds in place well. It isn't the most attractive, but it's cheap and easy. It all gets covered up by the battery cover/plastic lid anyway. If you ever need to remove it for any reason. Just cut the zip ties and your done.

How do you keep it from sliding back and forth on the tray?

I've seen plenty of cable ties snap.

[porsche986spyder]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

How do you keep it from sliding back and forth on the tray?

I've seen plenty of cable ties snap.

It's to dam tight, it doesn't move at all. I used 2 sets(daisy-chained heavy duty zip-ties, 3-4). One on each side, close to each post.

[donv]

Great idea by the OP, much easier than the big plate approach. One note for folks that plan to follow this route: steel + aluminum = galvanic couple... the aluminum is most likely going to corrode at the contact point with the steel clamp. A piece of thick lexan substituted for the aluminum would likely provide the same mounting strength but no corrosion risk.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by donv

Great idea by the OP, much easier than the big plate approach. One note for folks that plan to follow this route: steel + aluminum = galvanic couple... the aluminum is most likely going to corrode at the contact point with the steel clamp. A piece of thick lexan substituted for the aluminum would likely provide the same mounting strength but no corrosion risk.

The steel is chromate plated (that's what gives it the yellow tint), the aluminum is completely compatible, no need to worry about corrosion.

http://www.engineersedge.com/galvanic_capatability.htm