Ryan_C

So I think I almost deep cycled my oem battery. It's actually one out of my old 99 Si. (accidently left ignition on for 2-3 days) So it's getting close to the end. I know the day is coming, so I am trying to plan a little ahead. I would like the lightest battery, but if it's going to mean my car won't start because it sat out in the cold for 8-12 hours (normally is garaged) and won't start, then maybe I should look at the Optima.

Does anyone have any thoughts/ideas/comments/warnings/reviews for any of the batteries I am looking at?

Here are the lightweight batteries I am trying to choose from:

<U>Braille Auto Development No-Weight Racing Battery SKU: B14115 </U>
-Braille 1 year warranty!
-Volts: 12 AH: 15
-Pulse Cranking Amps: Over 900!
-Exterior Size L:5.8" W:3.3"H:5.9"
-Weight: 11.5 lb or 5.2kg!

<U>Braille Auto Development No-Weight Racing Battery All Season B2015</U>*
-Ext Size 6.86 x 3.38 x 6.13
-Weight: 15lbs / 6.8 kg
-Service Life: 3-6 yrs
-Cranking Amp Tests:
. . PCA 5 sec1067
. . PCA 10 sec933
. . PCA 20 sec824
. . HCA690
. . CA574
. . CCA425
*Braille Batteries 2015 warranty is a limited 1 year free replacement with the second year being prorated.

<U>Odyssey PC680 (Hawker Energy)</U>
-Voltage: 12V
-Capacity: 16 Ah
-Weight: 15.4 lbs / 7.0 kg
-Dimensions: (L x W x H) 184.7mm x 79.0mm x 169.4mm
7.27'' x 3.11'' x 6.67'' (7.5" with terminals attached)
-CCA - 220A
-full 2 year warranty
-Price Range: $93 + shipping @Ebay

Or from HeelToe...
<U>NRGCELL Slim</U>
-14.5 lbs
-480 CCA
-3" x 7.1" x 5.8"
-4 year warranty
-Price Range: $140

<U>Optima Yellow Top D51R</U>

<U>Batcap Xstatic model 800</U>
- weighs: 14 lbs
- 800 cold cranking amps
- Maintenance Free Sealed Case
- higher float voltage ~ at least 13.0v
- 7” Long x 6.5” Tall x 3” Thick
- 1 year man. warranty
- Price range: $150-$200

<U>Spoon</U>

<U>Buddy Club</U>

<U>T1R</U>

I believe I have read that now, the Hawker Genesis is not fit for automotive use, for the cells will crack because of the vibration. They aren't built like they used to be. So the replacement for this is the Odyssey.

If everyone could please help me make a decision, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks everyone!



Modified by Ryan_C at 10:59 AM 11/16/2006

CWTegRNo.160

my Optima yellow top didn't last very long on my R. i'm not a fan of that battery, so look into other batteries. the yellow top is not worth the money.

tartje

iTrader: (1)

how about the spoon and buddy club batteries?

it was something i had wondered about before, which of the lightweight batteries was good

Philly_NBP_R

Sears Die Hard for the win. Those lightweight batteries are all pretty much worthless in the cold weather... Especially for a daily driven car. If you garage your vehicle and keep it on a trickle charger, then they are fine. If not, not worth it IMHO.

Jon D

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Philly_NBP_R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sears Die Hard for the win. Those lightweight batteries are all pretty much worthless in the cold weather... Especially for a daily driven car. If you garage your vehicle and keep it on a trickle charger, then they are fine. If not, not worth it IMHO.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Nick... i still have your Braille sitting in my office at home. Never put it in the Si due to my stereo, i really should put it in the R.

Ryan_C

Those could be added to the list. I was late last night when I decided to create a thread, and lost some ideas as I was getting sleepy!

If anyone has specz on those batteries I have listed, IM me, and I will edit my thread so that way this can become the "Official" Lightweight battery thread.

Adding Spoon, Buddy Club, T1R.

OMG WTF

Optima sucks. Kirkwood/Costco for the win.

Yellow Dragon

I have an Odyssey PC680 in my SE-R. It works great...it's the motor blowing up is the problem.

coolhandluke

iTrader: (2)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CWTegRNo.160 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">my Optima yellow top didn't last very long on my R. i'm not a fan of that battery, so look into other batteries. the yellow top is not worth the money.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'l second that. I'm going to try and find a magazine article listing the different specs for a number of lightweight batteries.

slackeR1366

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Philly_NBP_R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sears Die Hard for the win.</TD></TR></TABLE>

werd

Dave-ROR

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CWTegRNo.160 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">my Optima yellow top didn't last very long on my R. i'm not a fan of that battery, so look into other batteries. the yellow top is not worth the money.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yep, it was a bad design and they know it. I'm shocked it's still being made. I've seen them die in 3 months a few times.

Flux

I just purchased an Odyssey PC680. Will have it in a few days.

Chris F

$25 lawnmower battery from Pep Boys for the win! It's powered my R for a year and a half now. You need to get automotive terminals on it, but after that it's good.

I had a Hawker Genesis, I think a deep cycle killed it, it didn't hold a charge after I left it sitting with the ignition off (alarm etc. still powered) for about 2 months.

I have another Hawker that is just fine too.

OMG WTF

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Yellow Dragon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have an Odyssey PC680 in my SE-R. It works great...it's the motor blowing up is the problem. </TD></TR></TABLE>i dont think its the motor thats the problem, its probably you/the tuner. SR20's are majorly overbuilt form the factory.

igyloo

PC 680 works just fine for me

nsxtasy

I have an Odyssey PC925 in the NSX, and the stock size Costco/Kirkland/Johnson Controls battery in the ITR.

With our harsh winters, I wouldn't trust anything smaller than the PC925. The smaller the battery, the fewer cold cranking amps and the less starting power in the winter. I don't use the NSX in the winter, so I figured I'd go for the more expensive lightweight battery. I do use the ITR in the winter, and I need the starting power, so I went for the Costco battery. (It goes down to -10 degrees F or colder in half of our winters in Chicago. Our record low temperature is -27.)

If you want the Odyssey, I did a search on the web and found the lowest prices were at Portable Power Systems. They were also extremely helpful - pointing out that the model numbers that contain MJ have a metal jacket around the battery, for cars (not ours) where the battery is located next to heat-generating components like exhaust manifolds, and the model numbers that end in T include terminal posts.

If you don't care about the light weight and want to go for a full-size battery, I did a search at a whole bunch of local stores and found that the price for the 100-month battery at Costco was $37, and it was $17 cheaper than the next cheapest place. (I checked Sam's Club, Wal-Mart, AutoZone, dealers, and independent mechanics.) The Costco battery is labeled with their Kirkland house brand and is made by Johnson Controls, a leading high-quality battery manufacturer (they also manufacture the Optima).

Click here for DIY battery installation tips.

Ryan_C

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have an Odyssey PC925 in the NSX, and the stock size Costco/Kirkland/Johnson Controls battery in the ITR.

With our harsh winters, I wouldn't trust anything smaller than the PC925. The smaller the battery, the fewer cold cranking amps and the less starting power in the winter. I don't use the NSX in the winter, so I figured I'd go for the more expensive lightweight battery. I do use the ITR in the winter, and I need the starting power, so I went for the Costco battery. (It goes down to -10 degrees F or colder in half of our winters in Chicago. Our record low temperature is -27.)

If you want the Odyssey, I did a search on the web and found the lowest prices were at Portable Power Systems. They were also extremely helpful - pointing out that the model numbers that contain MJ have a metal jacket around the battery, for cars (not ours) where the battery is located next to heat-generating components like exhaust manifolds, and the model numbers that end in T include terminal posts.

If you don't care about the light weight and want to go for a full-size battery, I did a search at a whole bunch of local stores and found that the price for the 100-month battery at Costco was $37, and it was $17 cheaper than the next cheapest place. (I checked Sam's Club, Wal-Mart, AutoZone, dealers, and independent mechanics.) The Costco battery is labeled with their Kirkland house brand and is made by Johnson Controls, a leading high-quality battery manufacturer (they also manufacture the Optima).

Click here for DIY battery installation tips.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks for all the help out. I wish we had a Costco here in Fort Wayne IN. Everyone always talks about this place, but I never get to see it. We do have a Sam's Club, which I here is about the same.

I will take all this stuff into consideration.
to everyone that has given a moment of their time as well.

vivid 02

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris F &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">$25 lawnmower battery from Pep Boys for the win! It's powered my R for a year and a half now. You need to get automotive terminals on it, but after that it's good.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Which battery is this? No really do you have a part number or what lawnmower model to ask for? Or a pic ?? Thanks

vivid 02

I also have the costco battery

Philly_NBP_R

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jon D &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Nick... i still have your Braille sitting in my office at home. Never put it in the Si due to my stereo, i really should put it in the R. </TD></TR></TABLE>


Jeebus, Jon. What are you waiting for? That is a sweet battery. Just not so great for winter time...

George Knighton

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ryan_C &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Fort Wayne IN</TD></TR></TABLE>
That bugs me a little bit. If your ITR is a daily driver or even if it's a weekend car, the low amperage of many of these lightweight batteries could turn out to be a problem for you.

Something else to consider is that we don't save quite as much weight by switching the ITR battery. The best lightweight batteries are a huge improvement over the OEM BB6 batteries, but not such a big improvement over the OEM DC2 batteries.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you want the Odyssey, I did a search on the web and found the lowest prices were at Portable Power Systems. They were also extremely helpful - </TD></TR></TABLE>
I have had very good luck with those guys, too. We bought an Odyssey from them that lasted four years, two years in the racing Prelude and then another two years in my ITR. The replacement battery also came from them.

nsxtasy

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ryan_C &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks for all the help out. I wish we had a Costco here in Fort Wayne IN. Everyone always talks about this place, but I never get to see it. We do have a Sam's Club, which I here is about the same.</TD></TR></TABLE>

For most things, Sam's Club and Costco are indeed very similar. Similar prices, similar quality, etc. That's why it's so noteworthy when one is so much lower than the other in price.

IIRC, Sam's Club had a 100-month Interstate battery for around $54. I think they also sell the Optima yellow top.

RTW DC2R

I used the T1R for awhile, it didnt like the cold and would never start in winter (no garage at the time).

Currently using Walmart Everstart POS or something like that, for like $45.

walker111

I use an Exide battery and have been for the past 2 years. Fires up in the cold and havent had any problems with it.

Tweakmeister

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris F &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">$25 lawnmower battery from Pep Boys for the win! It's powered my R for a year and a half now. You need to get automotive terminals on it, but after that it's good.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Same here $40 (after taxes) from Sears. Search the archives...just find one with at least the minimum number of cold cranking amps (I think it's 35? I forget...).

You'll need to thread the battery tie downs like 1"

Been great...