Lightweight batteries, what are people using and why? Advice appreciated...

[EG9]

Thinking to save some weight through swapping my heavy standard battery to a lightweight race style one, looking for suggestions and advice.

Using the car for circuit and hillclimbs and driving to and from events (up to 200km away). Not a dedicated track car but, also, not a daily driver.

Anyway, I was looking at SSB lithium, mainly because they state "SSB PowerSport Lithium Batteries are also one of the only Lithium Ion Batteries that can be charged using normal 12V car battery chargers / alternators." which sounds useful.
http://www.superstart.com.au/tabid/108/bid/15/Products/LithiumBatteries/SSBPowerSportLithium.aspx

Interested to know what others are running and why... thanks!

[bennjamin]

look at DEKA or similar
get something around 6-7kg , they have sufficient CCA's for a daily but remember any of these batteries NEED a trickle charger or constant use to work. I suggest a small OBD port solar cell or similar for constantly maintaining while you park at work etc. Or a kill switch to physically break the circuit , giving longer life.

[Root Beer]

Those ssb ones weigh 1.7kg! Last ages at a time without starting etc. They also havemore cca's then deka

I am about to buy one soon.

[rc_]

I read (can't remember if Ssb or another suppliers website) that they don't recommend them to replace larger conventional lead acid batteries even if the cca rating exceeded your engines requirements.

They only recommend them as the direct replacement application they were made for.
All the listings were for scooters, motorbikes and other powersport equipment - no passenger car applications. Seems to go against what they say on SSB site as being used in race car applications. No reasoning was given as to why they do not recommend them in passenger car use.

[bennjamin]

Those ssb ones weigh 1.7kg! Last ages at a time without starting etc. They also havemore cca's then deka

I am about to buy one soon.


Definitely would not use on a track car or even a daily car....impossible to use any accessories with the engine off , and will drain quick smart when static regardless !

[rc_]

My standard battery just went flat from non use and won't take a full charge anymore. I'm looking into these at the moment.

Will probably get the fullriver, the no name one claims to be 400cca but I don't think it will live up to it for the price. No other manufacturer makes a 400cca in that size and weight AGM battery from what I can see. Doesn't seem legit.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/251839295844

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/321234656223

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/121531262520

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/131451899437

[bennjamin]

I've had DEKA and full river in daily cars , with no issues.

[rc_]

Ended up getting the full river, seems pretty good cranks fine.
Will just need a maintenance charge when sitting for months without use.

[Super-DA9]

For anyone reading this thread in future I'm using an Oddysey PC680 in my DC2.

It weighs 6.6kg (standard battery is about 11.5kg) and it cranks fine and lasts without issues. I sometimes leave it for weeks without driving and do not use a killswitch or trickle charger. No issues so far.

From memory it cost around $260. Hope this info helps anyone looking here in future.

[EG5]

http://www.jdmyard.com/index.php?route=product/product&filter_name=ssb&product_id=56

1.7 kg battery!!!
450cca

We are using it on our Time Attack EG.
Alot better than PC680.

[Super-DA9]

http://www.jdmyard.com/index.php?route=product/product&filter_name=ssb&product_id=56

1.7 kg battery!!!
450cca

We are using it on our Time Attack EG.
Alot better than PC680.

I remember seeing that one, how is it for longetivity with street use?

[bennjamin]

I remember seeing that one, how is it for longetivity with street use?

I would suggest close to useless for a "daily" car. Any draw on the battery would likely kill it in the short term (alarm , gps etc) UNLESS you have a counter-active window or dash solar charger with equal to or greater charge! Just a thought.

But perhaps all this is far too much effort in a mod that essentially makes no difference at all in a daily car!

[Super-DA9]

I would suggest close to useless for a "daily" car. Any draw on the battery would likely kill it in the short term (alarm , gps etc) UNLESS you have a counter-active window or dash solar charger with equal to or greater charge! Just a thought.

But perhaps all this is far too much effort in a mod that essentially makes no difference at all in a daily car!

Glad I got a PC680 then...

[bennjamin]

Glad I got a PC680 then...

Tried and tested. I've been through a few dekas on various cars / bikes wth success too. With all these light weight dry cell batteries I personally have gotten into a habit of tethering a charge dongle on each , for trickle charging here and there. Also looking at a OBD port or direct connect solar charger for a track car. You really need to keep on top of these batteries- one or two flat cycles and they die.

[mocchi]

yh

didnt drive my car for 4 days with alarm system. it went flat and gg, $150 paperweight.
used deka etx15

[AusVTi-R]

Anyone had any experiences with Shorai batteries?
http://shoraipower.com.au/
Usual applications seem to be for motorcycles, watercraft and ATVs but i seen this..
http://store.kcmachine.com/products/nsx-battery-tray-and-shorai-battery

[rc_]

Anyone had any experiences with Shorai batteries?
http://shoraipower.com.au/
Usual applications seem to be for motorcycles, watercraft and ATVs but i seen this..
http://store.kcmachine.com/products/nsx-battery-tray-and-shorai-battery


Just get a full river hc20, $129 online from Sydney. Only couple of kgs more and proven, you'll never notice the weight difference unless you're driving a go kart.

*Edit due to failure to read further before bagging. Advice above still stands though!

[AusVTi-R]

They must be good, they're "lithium iron".

I'd stay away from them if they can't even bother to get the terminology right.

Just get a full river hc20, $129 online from Sydney. Only couple of kgs more and proven, you'll never notice the weight difference unless you're driving a go kart.

Actually i think Lithium IRON is actually a thing..

[rc_]

Actually i think Lithium IRON is actually a thing..

Fail by me.

Hadn't researched further that it was slang for LiFePO 4.

Still think their claims are over the top.

"With this simple modification, you will immediately notice sharper steering response and improved turn in."

????????????

US$399 + shipping (if they will even ship to Aus). Not worth it IMO but if you have money to burn go ahead.

[AusVTi-R]

Fail by me.

Hadn't researched further that it was slang for LiFePO 4.

Still think their claims are over the top.

"With this simple modification, you will immediately notice sharper steering response and improved turn in."

????????????

What are they stinging people for this I wonder.

I think they're referring to the weight reduction effect, 7 pound is approx 3.2Kgs.....pretty light for a battery if you ask me man

[rc_]

I think they're referring to the weight reduction effect, 7 pound is approx 3.2Kgs.....pretty light for a battery if you ask me man

Yes, I agree it is very light for a car battery but that's not my point. You will never ever notice the handling improvement from this mod as they claim.

The weight difference between this battery and others mentioned in this thread is SFA in the scheme of things.

The other advantages you get (ie being able to mount sideways etc for easy relocation) you still get with other much cheaper dry cell batteries like full river/ deka / odyssey.

Above is just my opinion, i chose to get a lightweight battery only because my standard one died and is for a dedicated track car. Price wise was cheaper than getting the equivalent standard battery too so win win.

[AusVTi-R]

Yes, I agree it is very light for a car battery but that's not my point. You will never ever notice the handling improvement from this mod as they claim.

The weight difference between this battery and others mentioned in this thread is SFA in the scheme of things.

The other advantages you get (ie being able to mount sideways etc for easy relocation) you still get with other much cheaper dry cell batteries like full river/ deka / odyssey.

Above is just my opinion, i chose to get a lightweight battery only because my standard one died and is for a dedicated track car. Price wise was cheaper than getting the equivalent standard battery too so win win.

Yeah I respect your opinion man.

I'm not trying to be an advocate for the product.
I merely asked members participating in the thread, whether they had any experiences with the brand.

Forums are all about discussion and learning.

[Super-DA9]

If you're really trying to reduce your cars weight then every bit counts, even if you won't see a difference immediately after removing a couple of kilos it all adds up eventually.

But I wouldn't want to run something that requires charging all the time even if it's lighter.

2c made

[rc_]

Yeah I respect your opinion man.

I'm not trying to be an advocate for the product.
I merely asked members participating in the thread, whether they had any experiences with the brand.

Forums are all about discussion and learning.

You might have to be the guinea pig, lithium car batteries are fairly new tech Prob not much experience here apart from eg5 mentioned earlier in the thread.

[rc_]

If you're really trying to reduce your cars weight then every bit counts, even if you won't see a difference immediately after removing a couple of kilos it all adds up eventually.

But I wouldn't want to run something that requires charging all the time even if it's lighter.

2c made

Can't argue with that, I'm gradually reducing weight on mine for that reason.

But when companies try to claim that just replacing the battery will give you sharper handling and quicker turn in that's pretty ridiculous.

[Super-DA9]

yeah it is a pretty ridiculous claim

[cbauto]

yh

didnt drive my car for 4 days with alarm system. It went flat and gg, $150 paperweight.
Used deka etx15
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suk

[mocchi]

hahaaahhahahaahahaaahhaahahhahahaaahahahahahahahha ahahahhaahahahhaaahaahhaahhahahahaahahaahhahahaahh aahhahaahahhahsahshashahaahhaahahahahahaahahah









suk

http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/customavatars/avatar11984_27.gif

[lolmclol]

lithium car batteries are fairly new tech

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lx9jb1SPMr1qdrpdr.gif

[rc_]

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lx9jb1SPMr1qdrpdr.gif

great post there.

new tech, as in not mainstream use for vehicle starting applications.

think this thread is a lost cause now the spammers are here.

[lolmclol]

great post there.

new tech, as in not mainstream use for vehicle starting applications.

think this thread is a lost cause now the spammers are here.

no, the thread isn't a lost cause because of "the spammers".

and no it wouldn't just be the starting of the vehicle, it would be the management of the battery during operation, the monitoring of the batteries health etc.

[TbM]

Can't argue with that, I'm gradually reducing weight on mine for that reason.

But when companies try to claim that just replacing the battery will give you sharper handling and quicker turn in that's pretty ridiculous.
Ive seen that claim, it was in reference to motorbikes not cars, the weight reduction can be felt a lot more in a sports bike as the battery is a larger percentage of the total weight and usually high up in the frame.

[rc_]

no, the thread isn't a lost cause because of "the spammers".

and no it wouldn't just be the starting of the vehicle, it would be the management of the battery during operation, the monitoring of the batteries health etc.

I don't see your point? My reference to a "starting" battery is because that is how the main application is described as apposed to an auxiliary or deep cycle battery.

My point is that lithium batteries are not widely adopted by automotive manufacturers for good reasons.


Ive seen that claim, it was in reference to motorbikes not cars

I cut and paste the quote directly from their page linked for the nsx application. but yeah in a bike i think you would notice a difference.

[rc_]

Looks like you are making my point for me.

Tesla is not mainstream. Most cars just use lead acid still.

[mocchi]

Looks like you are making my point for me.

Tesla is not mainstream. Most cars just use lead acid still.

what do you mean mainstream, there are no other cars like tesla
theyre pretty much the only viable electric cars.

[rc_]

what do you mean mainstream, there are no other cars like tesla
theyre pretty much the only viable electric cars.

All I mean is most auto manufacturers don't use Li ion batteries. That is all.

Lolmclol mentioned owner of tesla before deleting the comment, I was implying that tesla doesn't represent the majority of the automotive market.

[cbauto]

I declare war with spammers
fine, have it your way

[RenzokukenJ]

If you get odyssey, make sure you don't snap a terminal hehehehe

[3K9]

Can somebody recommend me a Deka lightweight battery? (Deka seems good value for da money) I dunno which model to get, ext12,ext 14, ext 16?

B18C... Sound System delete, no alarm, in a non-daily car.

Thanks