Yeah, I searched but I STILL want your opinions.

On Sunday(yesterday) I was bored so decided to "clean up" my engine bay a little bit. I've always hated the Yellow wire loom that connects the MSD so I decided to tape it with electrical.
A reference pic, notice the Yellow Loom that looks like an eye sore. thanks to Daishi for the pic


1. Disconnected the Optima Yellow top battery.
2. Disconnected the loom and taped it.
3. Reconeccted the battery cable. (hears where it gets good.)

I had forgotten that when the power comes back on that the STOCK CD player will eject the CD inside of it. I am standing in the back of the car looking thru the hatch. I'm looking for the security ight on the CD player as conformation of a good connection. All I see is a real faint blinking light instead. So I keep tightening the negative cable.
The light remains faint but constant. I keep tightning.

I ended up over tightening to the point that the terminal started to tear off the top of the battery. :doh:

I stop there and go to the drivers side of the car where I realize that the CD had ejected and was obstructing my view the whole time. The blinking red light was actually at full strength.

I felt about this big. <___>


Even with the damage the Optima Yellow top is still working. Not wanting "to go out like that." I go shopping for a new battery.
It turns out Optima no longer makes a Sport Compact battery. WTF? So I bought the next size up instead and left the store.

As I'm going home I start thinking. "Damn that battery must weigh 45lbs." For $200 their has to be a better solution about the weight. Even though I like the idea of a Deep Cycle for when the caR sits in the winter.

I did some research and have landed on these options. In the $200 range or less.

1. Braile. No weight battery. 11lbs. http://www.brailleauto.com/Pro...uct=1

2. T1R. 11.5lbs
http://www.aj-racing.com/catal...age=2

3. Odyssey. 14lbs.
http://www.odysseybatteries.com/battery/pc680t.htm


Am I an idiot? Should I just keep the Optima and call it a day?
This will be trunk mounted. Does battery weight really make that big of a diffrence?

Your valued opinions?

 

Get an even LIGHTER battery at a lower price, less the brand name: https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=695215

 

That has to be the biggest catch can I have ever seen!!!

I have an exide battery and have no complaints..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ITR 00-0477 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">As I'm going home I start thinking. "Damn that battery must weigh 45lbs." For $200 their has to be a better solution about the weight. Even though I like the idea of a Deep Cycle for when the caR sits in the winter.

I did some research and have landed on these options. In the $200 range or less.

1. Braile. No weight battery. 11lbs. http://www.brailleauto.com/Pro...uct=1

2. T1R. 11.5lbs
http://www.aj-racing.com/catal...age=2

3. Odyssey. 14lbs.
http://www.odysseybatteries.com/battery/pc680t.htm
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Based on that, I am guessing that he wants something smaller and lighter where an Exide wont fall under that class. Trust me, I have an Exide myself in my ITR and love it but its not what he was looking for.

 

Shawn, since you live in a Northern climate with winter weather, you may want to get something with at least as much cold cranking amps as stock. I got the somewhat larger PC925T model Odyssey battery for my other car, which doesn't go anywhere in the winter but does sit for extended periods with an automatic charger on it. Otherwise, you can get smaller sized batteries (including the PC680T), but they don't have nearly as much power in reserve. Your choice, of course. (I recently got a conventional-sized battery at Costco for the ITR; it doesn't save weight, but at 37 bucks it's a steal.)

If you decide on one of the Odyssey batteries, I shopped around and found the best prices (and excellent service) at Portable Power Systems, where I bought mine. They explained that the part numbers on the Odyssey batteries end in T for batteries with the metal battery terminals installed, and end in MJ (or MJT) for batteries encased in a metal jacket, recommended for use in cars (not the ITR) where the battery is right next to heat-producing parts like exhausts. Their current prices are $77 for the PC680 (no terminals), $87 for the PC680T (with terminals), $103 for the PC925, and $112 for the PC925T.

 

Damn that's a lot of $$ for a battery.

360 CCA tractor batteries at Walmart/Meijer: $24.99, sometimes $19.99 if you find them on sale.

They last 2-3 years if you take care of them (trickle-charge if car sits over winter). I had one in my daily and it lasted 3 years before I took it out. It also started my Honda motor every morning in the midwest.

They are also only about 15-18 lbs.

Yeah, it's not a 6-year battery, but for the price and weight savings you can't beat them.

For an all out race battery, I would opt for one of the lighter units you spoke about.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">360 CCA tractor batteries at Walmart/Meijer: $24.99, sometimes $19.99 if you find them on sale.

They last 2-3 years</TD></TR></TABLE>

Damn that's a lot of $$ for a battery every 2-3 years.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">They are also only about 15-18 lbs.

Yeah, it's not a 6-year battery, but for the price and weight savings you can't beat them.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sure you can. Let's compare.

a. Buy one tractor battery every 2-3 years for $25. That means your battery budget is $8-12 per year.

b. Buy an Odyssey battery every 10 years (yes, they really do last that long) for $87-112. That means your battery budget is $9-11 per year.

c. Buy a full-sized battery from Costco for $37 every 8 years. That means your battery budget is $4-5 per year.

Your choice...

 

I personally would not buy a 10 year battery because there is a good chance I won't own a car for that long. Plus, aren't the 10 year batterys some of the heaviest ones made?

This is where the tractor battery is nice. It is almost as light as the superlight units, at a fraction of the cost. And like I said, the last 2 I bought were had for $19.99, on sale. These were the 360CCA models.

Your numbers are a bit off. To keep a battery alive for 6 years on a non-daily driven car isn't easy. I can't tell you how many 6 year batterys I've had die on me because of my neglect or non-use. That 6 years turns into 2 or 3. If a $20 battery dies on me in 2 years...I'm only out $20.

So, call me a short-term thinker, but for $19.99 every 2-3 years, I get a cheap, fresh and lightweight battery. The lightweight part is what sells it for me.

I bought a lightweight Hawker about 3 years ago for $70. That battery is still good, but the same battery today is about $30 more last I checked.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I personally would not buy a 10 year battery because there is a good chance I won't own a car for that long.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I personally would not buy a 2-3 year battery because I wouldn't want to get stranded every 2-3 years.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">aren't the 10 year batterys some of the heaviest ones made?</TD></TR></TABLE>

No. The Odyssey batteries, like the 14-pound PC680 that Shawn mentioned, commonly last ten years or more.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Your numbers are a bit off.</TD></TR></TABLE>

No, they're not. However, they only apply to people who take care of their cars properly.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">To keep a battery alive for 6 years on a non-daily driven car isn't easy.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Nonsense. If a car isn't being daily driven, all you need to do is keep it fully charged - which most people would want to do anyway - and a conventional battery will easily last 8 years, and 10+ for an Odyssey. I've done it. And the climate here in Chicago isn't exactly kind to batteries.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I can't tell you how many 6 year batterys I've had die on me because of my neglect or non-use.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I can believe that. If you're going to neglect your batteries, you're going to replace them a lot more often.

Have you ever considered getting a charger to maintain your battery and make it easier on yourself? You can even get the small onboard kind and mount it next to your battery, to make it more convenient to charge. It will cost you around $30 for an automatic onboard charger (like this one) and your battery will last a lot longer. I've been using one for the past 15 years on my non-daily-driven car.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So, call me a short-term thinker, but for $19.99 every 2-3 years, I get a cheap, fresh and lightweight battery.</TD></TR></TABLE>

If you're going to abuse your battery by failing to keep it charged, then sure, you'll need to buy one every 2-3 years. But it's a lot easier to keep the battery charged, and it will last a whole lot longer.

So what else do you to abuse your cars? Leave the windows open in the rain? Let the tires go flat? Use the same oil for years without changing it?

 

Batteries start to deteroriate (lose charge) the minute after they are made. This is a fact. How much you spend depends upon how fast the unit does so.

I store a couple of my cars every winter (everything besides my daily driver). I don't want to afford a trickle charger for every battery...which is what it takes and this still does not guarantee full life cycle.

Sure, I'll thorw them on my batt charger every other month or so if I remember, but from my experience, this does not always make a 6 year battery last all 6 years...especially when the batt does not see constant usage.

Battery is a wear item, period. Just like tires, brakepads, brakefluid, oil, etc. Only thing being is that a battery does not affect the life of a motor or how well it stops/corners. I hardly call neglecting a battery on the same terms with neglecting everything else.

This is why my 'race' cars see a cheap and light tractor battery. My daily driver or truck will get a much better battery in it.

 

I think the Odyssey is starting to look a whole lot better. Definately more "bang for the buck."
thanks Ken and todd.

 

Just buy OEM one at the dealer for $80.00.
I don't think .01 hps gain with a $200.00 light weight battery is worth it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by machgo5go &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just buy OEM one at the dealer for $80.00.</TD></TR></TABLE>

My dealer charges $110 for the OEM one.

If you don't care about getting a smaller, lightweight battery, I don't think there's any reason to spend more than the $37 that Costco charges for their Kirkland battery with the 100-month warranty...

 

I highly recommend the costco battery. Lasts long at a great price

 

Stick with the yellow top. I had one go out on me and got it replaced for free.

They look dope too.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by machgo5go &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just buy OEM one at the dealer for $80.00.
I don't think .01 hps gain with a $200.00 light weight battery is worth it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You should understand the battery does not give you any extra HP but save you 20 pounds.

Yet, people spend 400 bucks for a CF hood, to save about the same (if not less) amount of weight.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gogogomoveit &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You should understand the battery does not give you any extra HP but save you 20 pounds.</TD></TR></TABLE>

True.

In terms of the improvement in acceleration, every 10-15 pounds of weight reduction has about the same effect as an increase of 1 hp across the revband, so saving 20 pounds is about the equivalent of adding 1.5 hp.