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Weight reduction battery?

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VelodromeRacer

VelodromeRacer

Jedi Trainee
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Hey gang,

As more horsepower won't be coming anytime soon and seeing as how my car is overweight anyway...(say heavy rollcage system)

I am wondering about changing batteries...I only have a transponder typical brake lights and Petronix under the dizzy cap.

What should I look for? I have a high torque starter and only race in the warm weather, but I don't run an alternator but I don't know what this runs from my battery. I can go all weekend and not need to charge my interstate battery that has 537 CCA. I am looking at a lightweight battery that runs at 12 amp per hour? It says it has a 20 minute reserve, but I don't think I pull much off of it?

Ideas?

Thanks,

Velo
 
Interesting question, Velo...I also am interested in lightweight batteries.


But a question for you: do you not have an alternator on your car at all?

Or do you have an alternator cutoff switch?
 
Tony,

I have no charging system at all. Saves weight and a little HP from driving the pulley.

I figure that my car with the 948 is at the limit for speed and since I am overweight with the allowable weight, it's time to shed some ballast!

I just don't know what I am drawing from the battery right now, but I do know I can get through an entire Fri-Sun event without having to charge it. I have a generator that I can charge it if I need to though.

You see alot of the "fast" cars on the false grid with tiny batteries and they use a booster battery to start it as we pull away so I figure they are using something even smaller than I propose.

Braille (sp?) makes a series of lightweight batteries around the 6 and 11 lb size where mine now weighs around 40lbs!
 
Since my Spridget runs an occasional enduro, I still have a normal (group 24) battery and alternator.

I have a small Mitsu alternator slowed done by fitting a Lucas air pump pulley to it. My battery is "under" the car, just in front of the right rear damper (kind of a pain...have to jack up the car and pull a wheel to drop the battery). I ran two days of the New Hampshire Vintage with no charge needed (after a short circuit fried the alternator wiring the first day).

A lot my friends that run total-loss electrical (and sprint races only) seem to use the small 12V lawn tractor batteries that you can buy in Home Depot for like $25. They seem to work fine and are pretty light. Probably good for a year or two. I think they're about 225 CCA.
 
Doug, call me old fashion, but I like a battery with alot of CCAs, and none of the small batteries deliver that and the better ones are pretty pricey, I try to take off weight in other areas, and run a Optima red top, although the battery Dave links to, is interesting at 25 lbs, and 475 CCAs.
 
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