Lightweight Batteries, Yo.

[Jersey Mike]

My 2000 is still sporting it's stock battery (knock on wood), but after sitting a week or so, the battery didn't fire up. Jumped it & let it idle for 20 minutes, it's been fine since. This is the first time this has happened, but I think it's a good time to change to a new battery.

Anyone running a lightweight battery? I know a LS1Tech sponsor was selling 11-pound batteries ( http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/sponsor-sales-specials/1132018-11-pound-race-battery.html ) and I may pick one up, pending some concerns.

*I'll be running it in the stock location.
*Main appeal of it is the 15-30lb weight savings up front.
*I need to upgrade the battery anyway.
*Worried about reliability in winter months
*This is for a street car.

Post your personal experiences with the ModularTurbo battery, or any other lightweight batteries in the $100 range that you'd recommend.

[qwikz28]

In out of curiosity. I have a cheap parts store battery that doesn't feel like it weighs much but also doesn't feel like it has much more life in it.

[BigAls87Z28]

Little g ran a dry that was crazy light.

[Tru2Chevy]

Little g ran a dry that was crazy light.

Yea, his was a Hawker / Odyssey IIRC. I don't think he ever had any trouble with it unless he ran the EWP too long in the lanes at the track - then we just push started him and all was well.

- Justin

[Savage_Messiah]

It was an Odyssey PC535.

Never deleting PM's FTW

[BonzoHansen]

Never even heard of a ModularTurbo battery. The big boys often use Odyssey and Braille Batteries. Not sure about in a DD that sees fairly cold weather though. Maybe a summer & winter battery with the one in use staying on a battery tender. Do you regularly race this car?

[Jersey Mike]

Never even heard of a ModularTurbo battery. The big boys often use Odyssey and Braille Batteries. Not sure about in a DD that sees fairly cold weather though. Maybe a summer & winter battery with the one in use staying on a battery tender. Do you regularly race this car?

No, this isn't a drag car. Just a car that I use regularly. I need a new battery anyway, and getting an 11.5lb'er for $100-$125 isn't a terrible idea, as long as it'll start the car as often as a regular battery would.
Stock compression, stock Monsoon amp, Projector HIDs in low beams, projector high beams, HID fogs, hardwired radar detector--Nothing that really draws any extra power on start-up.

Here's a post from the maker:
We make it. dimensions are 7 x 6 x 3, CA 680. I have not tested the CA at 0 degrees F, it doesn't get that cold here. I am sure that it is above 300 though. We have never had any cold related issues to date. I have used this battery personally in temps as low as 17 degrees with no issues.

[BonzoHansen]

I'm glad the salesman is convinced! lol

I would not get too caught up in the weight loss game on a DD 100% street car. I prefer 100% rock solid reliability over all in a DD. It might be better to buy a regular battery local for warranty support. Just my $0.02 from experience, do as you like, if you buy it that's cool! :)

[Jersey Mike]

Definitely something to chew on, Bonzo. Great point.

[Mike]

like i said in the pm, with my relocation it wouldnt start my car. that is with the radio deleted, the power locks deleted etc. i dont know if putting it back in the stock location would help that much.

even if it worked i wouldnt feel comfortable using it on a dd without leaving it on a batter tender daily, and having jumper cables with me at all times...

[1QWIKBIRD]

I had an odessy in my car when I first bought it. It did OK. I never really used the car as a DD, though. The few stretches of time when I did use it in that capacity, it performed well. One thing to watch out for is if you have an UD pulley, then things can get a little sketchy under high demand situations. Not a result of the battery, but the lightweight battery won't have the reserve capacity you may need.

My Odessy was mounted in the factory location in a special aluminum mount. When it died I switched to a red top Optima for piece of mind. No issues or worries.

Moving a lightweight battery to the rear in a 100% DD is counter-productive. The weight saved by the battery is almost negated by the added battery cables (assuming you run a good 0 or 00, fine strand welding cable) and battery mount. What little benefit is then offset by the cost (battery, mount and cable) and the work to install it properly.

In a pure 100% DD, I wouldn't do it. I'd just get a nice full size replacement by whatever brand makes you feel warm and fuzzy.

Chris

[Jersey Mike]

Consensus:

After talking to some members here, and hearing straight from the horse's mouth (ModularTurbo), this mini battery doesn't have much reserve time and has a history of not starting in below zero weather--so unless, as Cbrrmike said, you have a battery tender hooked up to it all winter, expect it to be dead. If this was purely a race car, then I'd jump on this. Unfortunately, that's not the case.

Thanks, everyone, for the help.

[sweetbmxrider]

Grab another 7 year ac delco. They are one of the best out there IMO.