Let's talk batteries

Whatever the massive yellow battery is in Dave Clark's old Celica. It's not an optima, but it did about 10min of cranking at 25deg without slowing down. Rallymech would know the brand.

I had a red top years ago that lasted well, rally car and then in shop truck . Seems to be mixed results from people over the years on all brands. I think it is largely a luck thing.


A side note on terminals, keep the positive protected and that means the dreaded side post terminals also. I see a few of those dual post batteries come thru tech and the little red protector missing from the side post.

Quote
BillyElliot
Why I'm happy that my car runs on 93. Talking with the O'Neil guys hey were talking about how some of the R2's run on race gas while others don't. All dealing with pulling back some timing whether or not it needs race gas. But I think it seems silly that a 1.6L motor would need race gas to make ~170hp when there are factory Honda motors doing 200hp on 1.8L with 91/93.

That's because they only run the maps that Msport sent. Those are shit and so is the rest of the motor package anyways. But in Spain they developed maps for the R2 package that make 190-195hp (depending on altitude) running on ELF Atmo Max. The tarmac championship there is mental.... so every little horsepower counts.

The 1.6 motor doesn't make more power because they didn't develop it further. After all we had the S1600's making 220hp (that required 10000 euro rebuilds every 1000kms)

As for batteries I run a 30 dollar lawnmower battery in my car and its get enough pizzaz.

Okay, I think I may have a winner. I can get a smoking deal on XS Power batteries. Anyone hear anything about them or use them?

Those look like they use the same case as the DynaBatt. No experience with XS personally, but am also looking at going with a small battery on the Evo for next year. Been running a big optima yellow-top for years...but at 45#, its a prime place to start as I put it on a serious diet.

Dave

Quote
DaveK
Those look like they use the same case as the DynaBatt. No experience with XS personally, but am also looking at going with a small battery on the Evo for next year. Been running a big optima yellow-top for years...but at 45#, its a prime place to start as I put it on a serious diet.

I know where you can lose another 45 pounds. :b

---

Grant Hughes

Quote
NoCoast
I know where you can lose another 45 pounds. :b

Replacing the OEM gas tank?

A really common alternative for light weight batteries is Braille, which are actually re-badged Deka batteries.

Deka Powersports PDF

The ETX30L costs about $85, but you will need to have a trickle charger/battery tender on it or it WILL go dead after a few months unless it is constantly being used.

It looks like some subaru guys put all the weights and CCAs into a nice little format for others to view: Nasioc.com

Here's the list, copied over from NASIOC:

By Brand:
Braille**:
Braille B3121 ----------CCA: 550 ---- weight: 21lb ---------------- CA: 742
Braille B2015 ----------CCA: 425 ---- weight: 15lb ---------------- CA: 574
Braille B14115 ---------CCA: 360 ---- weight: 11lb,8oz ------------ CA: 486
Braille B106 -----------CCA: 210 ---- weight: 6lb,6oz ------------- CA: 283
Westco:
Westco Miata ---------CCA: 475 ---- weight: 25lb
Deka:
Deka ETX30 -----------CCA: 370 ---- weight: 21.7lb
Deka ETX20 -----------CCA: 270 ---- weight: 15.5lb
Deka ETX18 -----------CCA: 300 ---- weight: 18lb
Deka ETX16 -----------CCA: 275 ---- weight: 17lb
Deka ETX14 -----------CCA: 200 ---- weight: 12lb
Deka ETX12 -----------CCA: 180 ---- weight: 9.4lb
Deka ETX9 -----------CCA: 120 ---- weight: 6.3lb
Odyssey:
Odyssey PC680 --------CCA: 220 --- weight: 15lb / 16lb For MJT*
Odyssey PC925/MJT ---CCA: 380 --- weight: 24lb / 26lb For MJT*
Optima:
Optima 34&34R --------CCA 800 -----weight: 37.9lb --------------- CA: 1000
Optima 37/78 ----------CCA 800 ---- weight: 38.8lb --------------- CA: 1000
Optima 75/25 ----------CCA 720 ---- weight: 33.1lb --------------- CA: 910
Optima 25&35 ---------CCA 720 ----- weight: 31.7lb --------------- CA: 910
Duralast:
Duralast 8AMU1R ------CCA: 330 ---- weight: 25lb
Marathon:
Marathon MAR-8AMU1R-CCA: 320 ---- weight: 25lb

By CCA:
Optima 34&34R --------CCA 800 -----weight: 37.9lb -------------- CA: 1000
Optima 37/78 ----------CCA 800 ---- weight: 38.8lb -------------- CA: 1000
Optima 75/25 ----------CCA 720 ---- weight: 33.1lb -------------- CA: 910
Optima 25&35 ---------CCA 720 ----- weight: 31.7lb -------------- CA: 910
Braille B3121 ----------CCA: 550 ---- weight: 21lb ---------------- CA: 742
Westco Miata ---------CCA: 475 ---- weight: 25lb
Braille B2015 ----------CCA: 425 ---- weight: 15lb ---------------- CA: 574
Odyssey PC925/MJT ---CCA: 380 ---- weight: 24lb / 26lb For MJT*
Deka ETX30 -----------CCA: 370 ---- weight: 21.7lb
Braille B14115 ---------CCA: 360 ---- weight: 11lb,8oz ------------ CA: 486
Duralast 8AMU1R ------CCA: 330 ---- weight: 25lb
Marathon MAR-8AMU1R-CCA: 320 ---- weight: 25lb
Deka ETX18 -----------CCA: 300 ---- weight: 18lb
Deka ETX16 -----------CCA: 275 ---- weight: 17lb
Deka ETX20 -----------CCA: 270 ---- weight: 15.5lb
Odyssey PC680 --------CCA: 220 ---- weight: 15lb / 16lb For MJT*
Braille B106 -----------CCA: 210 ---- weight: 6lb,6oz ------------- CA: 283
Deka ETX14 -----------CCA: 200 ---- weight: 12lb
Deka ETX12 -----------CCA: 180 ---- weight: 9.4lb
Deka ETX9 -----------CCA: 120 ---- weight: 6.3lb

By Weight:
Optima 37/78 ----------CCA 800 ---- weight: 38.8lb --------------- CA: 1000
Optima 34&34R --------CCA 800 -----weight: 37.9lb --------------- CA: 1000
Optima 75/25 ----------CCA 720 ---- weight: 33.1lb --------------- CA: 910
Optima 25&35 ---------CCA 720 ----- weight: 31.7lb --------------- CA: 910
Westco Miata ---------CCA: 475 ---- weight: 25lb
Duralast 8AMU1R ------CCA: 330 ---- weight: 25lb
Marathon MAR-8AMU1R-CCA: 320 ---- weight: 25lb
Odyssey PC925/MJT ---CCA: 380 --- weight: 24lb / 26lb For MJT*
Deka ETX30 -----------CCA: 370 ---- weight: 21.7lb
Braille B3121 ----------CCA: 550 ---- weight: 21lb ---------------- CA: 742
Braille B14115 ---------CCA: 360 ---- weight: 11lb,8oz ------------ CA: 486
Deka ETX18 -----------CCA: 300 ---- weight: 18lb
Deka ETX16 -----------CCA: 275 ---- weight: 17lb
Deka ETX20 -----------CCA: 270 ---- weight: 15.5lb
Odyssey PC680 --------CCA: 220 --- weight: 15lb / 16lb For MJT*
Braille B2015 ----------CCA: 425 ---- weight: 15lb ---------------- CA: 574
Deka ETX14 -----------CCA: 200 ---- weight: 12lb
Deka ETX12 -----------CCA: 180 ---- weight: 9.4lb
Braille B106 -----------CCA: 210 ---- weight: 6lb,6oz ------------- CA: 283
Deka ETX9 -----------CCA: 120 ---- weight: 6.3lb

More info:
Braile:
Probably Deka rebadged
**no info on website on what Temp the CCA and CA test are done at...
DEKA:
Come with M6 Thread on terminals - you will need adapter to SAE automotive Terminals.
Rebadged as BigCrank, Braille and other brands // BigCrank has cheap price .
(Proved and discussed on the vwvortex there is a whole thread about it.)
Odyssey:
*MJT: Metal Jacket + Terminals.
Also the Odysseys have battery mounting brakets avaible.
Miata Battery:
Duralast rates them at 330CCA, Marathon at 320CCA, Westco at 475CCA,
make what you want of this info but personally I'm not getting a Westco Battery
Made by EastPenn Mfg.
Sold under:
Marathon MAR-8AMU1R (1Year Warranty)
Westco 12V31M (4 Year Warranty)
Duralast 8AMU1R (8Year Warranty - apparently WAS avaible at autozone)

Okay, finally bought a new battery and went with the Odyssey 925, middle of the road in weight and price and people here seem to have good luck with that brand.

I have the dékà ext20 in my car and I haven't had any issues. My car went Down on August 22 and I stared the car for the first time last week in negative temps just to see if it would, and it worked without a hitch and without being on a charger at all in that time.