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Re: Racers, help me select a battery! [Re: Adobedude] #1360662 12/30/12 03:28 PM 12/30/12 03:28 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,969 Chandler, AZ Duner top fuel
Duner top fuel Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,969 Chandler, AZ	I need all the weight reduction I can get... but I'm not willing to turn it into a race car/truck. Everything I ever do to this thing - only adds weight to it. I need to LOSE weight. I think in my case - a lightweight battery would be a better compromise - as long as it retains the same functionality and starting ability. I'm paying attention because the Optimas in both of my trucks are only retaining a 12.0 v charge and I know I'll be replacing them. Again.

Re: Racers, help me select a battery! [Re: Duner] #1360663 12/30/12 03:31 PM 12/30/12 03:31 PM
Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 3,619 Norwich CT USA Defbob master
Defbob master Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 3,619 Norwich CT USA	http://www.prolitebatteries.com/

Re: Racers, help me select a battery! [Re: Defbob] #1360664 12/30/12 03:35 PM 12/30/12 03:35 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,969 Chandler, AZ Duner top fuel
Duner top fuel Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,969 Chandler, AZ	While those truly look awesome - they are just a bit out of my poor-boy price range. OK. A LOT out of my price range. LOL

Re: Racers, help me select a battery! [Re: emarine01] #1360665 12/30/12 06:46 PM 12/30/12 06:46 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 8,035 Tulsa OK Bad340fish master
Bad340fish master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 8,035 Tulsa OK	Quote: Quote: Quote: I'm weighing the idea of installing a Model 30 battery in the factory location - to lose 20# of weight on the nose - vs moving the 40# battery to the back and adding another 20# worth of cable + cutoff switch + mounting provisions. This looks like a 20# weight loss vs adding 25# more weight and juggling 65# to the rear. I actually thought about moving a lite weight battery back to the stock location to save on the cable weight etc until I had my truck scaled...A big heavy battery on the right rear is a good thing with our trucks. Good point, I mud race a small pick up and had 2 8vdc in series that worked good till they shorted out internally from the violent motion of the truck, So the glass mat batts may work, So are 2 red tops beter than 1 yellow? If you run two batteries in parallel they will have the same voltage and double the reserve capacity. If you run them in series you get the same reserve at double the voltage. I run a single yellow top on my street/strip car. I have electric water pump, fan, and fuel pump with a GM CS130 alternator(110amps I think). It works great, I don't ever sweat the car starting or not even with using the fan and pump when the car is shut down. I did drag week 1500miles in the heat and never had a problem starting with the timing locked at 34 degrees as well. I am happy with the yellow top. The big downside I see with the 16V stuff is availability if you have a problem. I manage an Interstate Batteries distributor. It doesn't happen often but we sometimes get calls from racers panicked and trying to find a 16V battery and short of selling them two 8 volt golf car batteries there is nothing I have that can make 16V. That phone call is usually followed by about 3 or 4 others from our dealers that are getting phone calls from the same guy haha. If I were to ever run a 16V battery I would make sure I could go back to 12v easy enough to do it between rounds if thats even possible. I would also make sure the tray was a common size so you could take a battery out of your truck or go to wal-mart or whatever to stay in action. Just my .02 68 Barracuda Formula S 340

Re: Racers, help me select a battery! [Re: Bad340fish] #1360666 12/30/12 07:07 PM 12/30/12 07:07 PM
Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 9,871 MI, usa dvw master
dvw master Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 9,871 MI, usa	I plan on being able to start the car after quick cool downs. I have a big radiator,dual fans, and 2 Optima red tops. After talking to the guys in the battery Lab at Chrysler CTG I learned this. The majority of spiral wound gel battery failures are charging related. Being charged over 14.5 volts or not being charged long enough. They told me when following Optima's charging procedure that they were able to "bring back" 90% of the Optima's that were sent to them in a failed state. Also every door car I have ever scaled was either light on right rear or heavy on the left front, think driver weight. weight in the right rear has to help balance the car before adding preload. Doug

Re: Racers, help me select a battery! [Re: dvw] #1360667 12/30/12 09:31 PM 12/30/12 09:31 PM
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,008 Sweet Home Alabama M MRMOPAR622 top fuel
MRMOPAR622 top fuel M Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,008 Sweet Home Alabama	Greg,here is the site to the one's I was telling you about to upgrade your MSD 7 box,they claim they can make improvements to a new box. www.techwestracing.com when they done mine it was a $125.00 if nothing needed replacing,they are good at what they do. PS I am going to have to go back to their site when I have a little more time,they have some good tech articles. Last edited by MRMOPAR622; 12/30/12 09:33 PM. "To Be The Man'You Have Got To Beat The Man" "T/D and Pro-Bracket Racer"

Re: Racers, help me select a battery! [Re: Duner] #1360668 12/30/12 11:00 PM 12/30/12 11:00 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,016 Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw... gregsdart OP I Live Here
gregsdart OP I Live Here Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,016 Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...	Quote: I'm weighing the idea of installing a Model 30 battery in the factory location - to lose 20# of weight on the nose - vs moving the 40# battery to the back and adding another 20# worth of cable + cutoff switch + mounting provisions. This looks like a 20# weight loss vs adding 25# more weight and juggling 65# to the rear. that sounds like a great plan for your situation. With out much draw on the battery in a warmer climate, it should work great. My big question, and I plan on calling Odyssey, is just how does the ER30 compare to the 110 reserve of the Optima that is now in the car. They claim the ER 30 will hold higher voltage for more of the reserve, a very important thing. 8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky

Re: Racers, help me select a battery! [Re: gregsdart] #1360669 12/30/12 11:14 PM 12/30/12 11:14 PM
Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,422 Pittsburgh PA Eric top fuel
Eric top fuel Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,422 Pittsburgh PA	I've had good luck with the Autozone Gold batteries. They are made by Johnson Controls...have more plates than most...are inexpensive ...have a three year warranty and are available on every other corner in the country 5.53 @ 125 1/8th on the launch control..more left in her!

Re: Racers, help me select a battery! [Re: gregsdart] #1360670 12/30/12 11:17 PM 12/30/12 11:17 PM
Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,608 Rudolph, Ohio moparguy7074 top fuel
moparguy7074 top fuel Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,608 Rudolph, Ohio	Quote: Quote: I'm weighing the idea of installing a Model 30 battery in the factory location - to lose 20# of weight on the nose - vs moving the 40# battery to the back and adding another 20# worth of cable + cutoff switch + mounting provisions. This looks like a 20# weight loss vs adding 25# more weight and juggling 65# to the rear. that sounds like a great plan for your situation. With out much draw on the battery in a warmer climate, it should work great. My big question, and I plan on calling Odyssey, is just how does the ER30 compare to the 110 reserve of the Optima that is now in the car. They claim the ER 30 will hold higher voltage for more of the reserve, a very important thing. Greg, please post what you find out, I am very interested in the Odessey batteries to lose some weight on my car. I have 2 yellow top optimas now.

Re: Racers, help me select a battery! [Re: moparguy7074] #1360671 12/30/12 11:47 PM 12/30/12 11:47 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,016 Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw... gregsdart OP I Live Here
gregsdart OP I Live Here Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,016 Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...	Will do. 8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky

Re: Racers, help me select a battery! [Re: gregsdart] #1360672 12/31/12 12:08 AM 12/31/12 12:08 AM
Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 9,366 Lehigh Acres, Florida rickstershemi master
rickstershemi master Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 9,366 Lehigh Acres, Florida	Quote: Will do. FYI.....have never used anything more than a std schumacher (spelling?) smart charger on my Odyssey Batteries.....just don't let the charging voltage go over 15-16 volts for an extended period of time Rickster

Re: Racers, help me select a battery! [Re: rickstershemi] #1360673 12/31/12 08:51 AM 12/31/12 08:51 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 8,035 Tulsa OK Bad340fish master
Bad340fish master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 8,035 Tulsa OK	If any of you guys running two batteries are also running an alternator I would ditch the 2nd battery. At least try it for a weekend and have your extra battery with you. Monitor the voltage and see how it acts, if it gets questionable swap the batteries or add it back in. Easy free weight loss right there. 68 Barracuda Formula S 340

Re: Racers, help me select a battery! [Re: Bad340fish] #1360674 01/01/13 03:00 PM 01/01/13 03:00 PM
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,008 Sweet Home Alabama M MRMOPAR622 top fuel
MRMOPAR622 top fuel M Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,008 Sweet Home Alabama	The only down side I have found on the 16 volt battery is,the chargers do not have a fast or slow charge and I think they only charge slow . "To Be The Man'You Have Got To Beat The Man" "T/D and Pro-Bracket Racer"

Re: Racers, help me select a battery! [Re: MRMOPAR622] #1360675 01/01/13 03:10 PM 01/01/13 03:10 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,394 Q Quicktree I Win
Quicktree I Win Q Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,394	been running red top optima's for a while. with an alternator they are tough to beat.

Re: Racers, help me select a battery! [Re: Quicktree] #1360676 01/01/13 05:30 PM 01/01/13 05:30 PM
Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 319 jonestown,pa D dmking enthusiast
dmking enthusiast D Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 319 jonestown,pa	i run a dodge diesel single battery and alternater. no need to recharge between rounds even when the charging system can not keep up with it with the small crank pulley. can run the water pump and fan after 5 rounds for 45 min because i forgot to turn them off and it starts up no issues. sort of heavy but we are mostly et racers so pick a number.

Re: Racers, help me select a battery! [Re: smokinwoody] #1360677 01/01/13 05:55 PM 01/01/13 05:55 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,016 Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw... gregsdart OP I Live Here
gregsdart OP I Live Here Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,016 Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...	Quote: Greg, isn't your battery(s) in the rear??...stick with the Optima's.. I use Interstate's 1,000 amp rated...as long as I kept a trickle on them, they lasted forever with plenty of start power...no bigger than the Optima's..and a lot cheaper! I moved the battery up front to get the chassis calmed down during launch. The move put me at 53 percent up front, but the car likes it and still hammers the wheeliebars pretty hard. Sooo,,,,,, a bit lighter or same weight battery is my objective,and one that will last. When I call the manufacturers tomorrow My questions will be- how does the ER30 compare to an Optima 110 reserve battery, and can I fast charge with the old Schmacher 20/50/200 charger between rounds, then maintain or top off with a smaller AGM charger? Those faster AGM chargers are expensive! 8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky

Re: Racers, help me select a battery! [Re: gregsdart] #1360678 01/01/13 06:34 PM 01/01/13 06:34 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,394 Q Quicktree I Win
Quicktree I Win Q Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,394	Quote: Quote: Greg, isn't your battery(s) in the rear??...stick with the Optima's.. I use Interstate's 1,000 amp rated...as long as I kept a trickle on them, they lasted forever with plenty of start power...no bigger than the Optima's..and a lot cheaper! I moved the battery up front to get the chassis calmed down during launch. The move put me at 53 percent up front, but the car likes it and still hammers the wheeliebars pretty hard. Sooo,,,,,, a bit lighter or same weight battery is my objective,and one that will last. When I call the manufacturers tomorrow My questions will be- how does the ER30 compare to an Optima 110 reserve battery, and can I fast charge with the old Schmacher 20/50/200 charger between rounds, then maintain or top off with a smaller AGM charger? Those faster AGM chargers are expensive! time to invest in an alternator, it's to easy

Re: Racers, help me select a battery! [Re: Quicktree] #1360679 01/03/13 11:32 AM 01/03/13 11:32 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,016 Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw... gregsdart OP I Live Here
gregsdart OP I Live Here Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,016 Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...	Here is what I have found so far Odyssey er30 $280, light but short on reserve time. Odyssey er40 $310, better, but has 87 min reserve at 28 lb Braille B3121 $179 at Summit 75 min reserve, 21 lbs. This is the way I am going to go. A 25 amp charger is supposed to bring this battery back to full charge in 30 minutes. For what I do, it SHOULD work. If it doesn't, then it goes in my daily driver. 8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky

Re: Racers, help me select a battery! [Re: gregsdart] #1360680 01/03/13 11:49 AM 01/03/13 11:49 AM
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,008 Sweet Home Alabama M MRMOPAR622 top fuel
MRMOPAR622 top fuel M Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,008 Sweet Home Alabama	What does the reserve time mean or whats its function? I'm not sure if it means what I think or not. "To Be The Man'You Have Got To Beat The Man" "T/D and Pro-Bracket Racer"

Re: Racers, help me select a battery! [Re: MRMOPAR622] #1360681 01/03/13 07:44 PM 01/03/13 07:44 PM
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,695 nc E emarine01 master
emarine01 master E Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,695 nc	RC is the amount of time a battery can support a 25 amp load

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