drKorf Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 I've seen conflicting info on using lithium type batteries. Anyone using them in the race car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karman1970 Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 3 hours ago, drKorf said: I've seen conflicting info on using lithium type batteries. Anyone using them in the race car? I've got one. I think it's a 12-cell Anti-Gravity. Seems to work fine. Had problems end of day 2 at COTA last year getting it to start. Fired up fine when putting it on the trailer so I think it was the starter heat soaking or something. Had the same issue at Road America the race before with a normal lead-acid. Those are the only two relatively long, clean races we've had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Bill Strong Posted July 2, 2017 Administrators Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 we use a LiPo in the MR2s and the Opel GT. zero issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bremsen Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 No issues with ours in 2 years either. And ours sits for very long periods with almost no self discharge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvumtnbkr Posted July 3, 2017 Report Share Posted July 3, 2017 Can you guys link to the batteries you have? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Technical Advisory Committee Andrew D Johnson Posted July 3, 2017 Technical Advisory Committee Report Share Posted July 3, 2017 I run a deep cycle RV battery in my car. I had the alternator belt fail, and ran the last 3 hours on battery power. 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Infiniti Posted July 3, 2017 Report Share Posted July 3, 2017 9 minutes ago, red0 said: I run a deep cycle RV battery in my car. I had the alternator belt fail, and ran the last 3 hours on battery power. We still run the freebie https://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us/yellowtop-deep-cycle-battery/ds46b24r?gclid=CLO-yYmd7dQCFWoz0wodC34OxQ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvumtnbkr Posted July 3, 2017 Report Share Posted July 3, 2017 Same here. Look8ng to shed some weight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Technical Advisory Committee Andrew D Johnson Posted July 3, 2017 Technical Advisory Committee Report Share Posted July 3, 2017 40 minutes ago, wvumtnbkr said: Same here. Look8ng to shed some weight. This looks pretty small and cheap. I would be worried about it going dead if you had an issue in a pit stop and needed to crank for a while though. https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/autocraft-lawn-garden-12-volt-small-engine-maintenance-free-battery-group-size-u1-160-cca-u1-1/2050099-p?c3ch=PLA&c3nid=2050099-P&c3apidt=21899809013&gclid=CjwKCAjw1ufKBRBYEiwAPI_r4e7ySJXydYOT1IOfi9flzempqk5ZeMqeXeNbZPM5RnYp1aDhkvOASRoCZQIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xph Posted July 3, 2017 Report Share Posted July 3, 2017 We used a 40$ agm battery from walmart... https://www.walmart.com/ip/ATV-Battery-YTX14-BS-for-Honda-TRX-500-420-450-350-300-Rubicon-Foreman-Rancher/197527940 9.8 lbs... We are looking into trying to use one of those sub 100$ jump starter packs, they are around 3lbs... but the problem is the starter plug is direct wired to the batteries, you have to then use a relay to disconnect them once the alternator is up, and only charge them through the balance charger circuitry... I really wouldnt want to overheat or melt a litihum battery during a race due to an alternator failure... Nor would I want to have the car only use a battery for starting, being unable to sustain an alternator belt failure... a voltage cutout relay might work, but also starts to add back to the weight and complexity... it seemed so much easier to go with the AGM and just bolt it in.. Assuming 200amps will get you started, we also try to be very nice to the battery, leaving it disconnected and on a maintainer between races. And you can replace it at walmart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drKorf Posted July 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2017 19 hours ago, Bill Strong said: we use a LiPo in the MR2s and the Opel GT. zero issues. Do you have a specific brand you prefer? Do you do anything special for charging? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronh911 Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 14 hours ago, red0 said: This looks pretty small and cheap. I would be worried about it going dead if you had an issue in a pit stop and needed to crank for a while though. https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/autocraft-lawn-garden-12-volt-small-engine-maintenance-free-battery-group-size-u1-160-cca-u1-1/2050099-p?c3ch=PLA&c3nid=2050099-P&c3apidt=21899809013&gclid=CjwKCAjw1ufKBRBYEiwAPI_r4e7ySJXydYOT1IOfi9flzempqk5ZeMqeXeNbZPM5RnYp1aDhkvOASRoCZQIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds We've been using this one for a year and a half with no problems. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revvhappy Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 I'm interested in charging solutions for the Lithium and the smaller AGM batteries. Will the lawn tractor batteries work with an 80A alternator doing the charging? I'm assuming that the Lithium batteries cannot be charged even with a well-regulated alternator circuit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indysupra Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 Seems that the lipo setups step way out of the "kiss" mindset and complicates things. We just run a tiny Honda Insight battery. Lightweight and simple. If I found a deal on a tiny agm I would do that. I ran a small odyssey battery in my Supra and it was always junk and they were super expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewheelerZ Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 We run a Braille 11lb battery. I think it has something like 300 CCA, but I cant remember. Either way, it has started the car every time so far in the 2 years we have been running it (knock on wood...). Unless the Lithium batteries come way down in price, the additional 8 lbs of weight just wasn't worth the cost in my mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3G Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 2 hours ago, Indysupra said: Seems that the lipo setups step way out of the "kiss" mindset and complicates things. We just run a tiny Honda Insight battery. Lightweight and simple. If I found a deal on a tiny agm I would do that. I ran a small odyssey battery in my Supra and it was always junk and they were super expensive. I have 3 Odyssey style batteries. Not junk! No more expensive than optima and much better. You can get them cheaper by looking for the parent companies industrial batteries. The 1st one I bought is dated 2004 still works great. I even used it for a couple of years on a alternatorless Auto-x car. I used to disconnect then for winter but have gotten lazy, in spring they are still at full charge. They don't self discharge like lead-acid batteries. 10yr storage life holding full charge. The parent company also makes the Braille batteries that everyone loves. IMO These batteries are underrated as far as CCA. One mistake people make is to use maintanence chargers (trickle chargers) this will damage them! Unlike Lithiumn they don't need a special charger, just a regular 10A auto charger works good. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MR2 Biohazard Posted July 5, 2017 Members Report Share Posted July 5, 2017 I use this one and weights 1.76 lbs on a v6 for a year plus. Saved me like 50lbs vs big regular battery. Btw, when taking weight out every 100lbs is asecobf a lap so this alone is like .5 a lap. http://products.batterytender.com/Batteries/240-CCA-Lithium-Engine-Start-Battery.html 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommytipover Posted July 5, 2017 Report Share Posted July 5, 2017 10 minutes ago, MR2 Biohazard said: I use this one and weights 1.76 lbs on a v6 for a year plus. Saved me like 50lbs vs big regular battery. Btw, when taking weight out every 100lbs is asecobf a lap so this alone is like .5 a lap. http://products.batterytender.com/Batteries/240-CCA-Lithium-Engine-Start-Battery.html Holy cow! I think we have a winner. Price and specs are awesome, why use anything else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skierman64 Posted July 5, 2017 Report Share Posted July 5, 2017 21 minutes ago, MR2 Biohazard said: I use this one and weights 1.76 lbs on a v6 for a year plus. Saved me like 50lbs vs big regular battery. Btw, when taking weight out every 100lbs is asecobf a lap so this alone is like .5 a lap. http://products.batterytender.com/Batteries/240-CCA-Lithium-Engine-Start-Battery.html We run the same battery as Troy, no issues after 2 seasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewheelerZ Posted July 5, 2017 Report Share Posted July 5, 2017 25 minutes ago, MR2 Biohazard said: I use this one and weights 1.76 lbs on a v6 for a year plus. Saved me like 50lbs vs big regular battery. Btw, when taking weight out every 100lbs is asecobf a lap so this alone is like .5 a lap. http://products.batterytender.com/Batteries/240-CCA-Lithium-Engine-Start-Battery.html Wow!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommytipover Posted July 5, 2017 Report Share Posted July 5, 2017 Those things are gonna sell out. Troy should ask for a commission. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelPal Posted July 5, 2017 Report Share Posted July 5, 2017 Is any change needed for the the alternator charging toward this style of battery? On 7/4/2017 at 7:45 AM, revvhappy said: I'm interested in charging solutions for the Lithium and the smaller AGM batteries. Will the lawn tractor batteries work with an 80A alternator doing the charging? I'm assuming that the Lithium batteries cannot be charged even with a well-regulated alternator circuit. 1 hour ago, MR2 Biohazard said: I use this one and weights 1.76 lbs on a v6 for a year plus. Saved me like 50lbs vs big regular battery. Btw, when taking weight out every 100lbs is asecobf a lap so this alone is like .5 a lap. http://products.batterytender.com/Batteries/240-CCA-Lithium-Engine-Start-Battery.html 44 minutes ago, skierman64 said: We run the same battery as Troy, no issues after 2 seasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Technical Advisory Committee Andrew D Johnson Posted July 5, 2017 Technical Advisory Committee Report Share Posted July 5, 2017 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skierman64 Posted July 5, 2017 Report Share Posted July 5, 2017 15 minutes ago, MichaelPal said: Is any change needed for the the alternator charging toward this style of battery? No 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skierman64 Posted July 5, 2017 Report Share Posted July 5, 2017 (edited) 14 minutes ago, red0 said: If I'm still in the car at the 11 minute point, it doesn't matter if the battery acts as an accelerant because I have other issues. I plan on being out of the car by the 10 second point. Edited July 5, 2017 by skierman64 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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