Lightweight affordable lithium battery
01-08-12, 10:13 AM
#1
Lightweight affordable lithium battery
I found a new choice for a lightweight battery, lithium at a lower price and longer life that the competition.
The CBS is roughly 4.5 x 6 x 7 inches. and weighs about 6 lbs plus mount. Comes in two versions base race or street car, both are same battery internals except street version has a voltage minder to cut off after extended discharge. Warranties range from 1yr (race) to 3 or 5 (street), full replacement not pro-rata.
http://www.chimerabatteries.com/
P.S. I am not associated with Chimera in any way, just a car owner sick of short life of lwt solutions.
The CBS is roughly 4.5 x 6 x 7 inches. and weighs about 6 lbs plus mount. Comes in two versions base race or street car, both are same battery internals except street version has a voltage minder to cut off after extended discharge. Warranties range from 1yr (race) to 3 or 5 (street), full replacement not pro-rata.
http://www.chimerabatteries.com/
P.S. I am not associated with Chimera in any way, just a car owner sick of short life of lwt solutions.
01-08-12, 10:46 AM
#2
RX-7 Bad Ass
iTrader: (55)
Nice until you look at the price - $600 for the "race" battery, $900 for the street battery.
OUCH.
Those ARE cheaper that some others on the market. Right now this is still just a very high end product. It will take time before the value is there.
Dale
OUCH.
Those ARE cheaper that some others on the market. Right now this is still just a very high end product. It will take time before the value is there.
Dale
02-15-12, 03:00 PM
#3
Emerald Triangle for life
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What about one of these?
http://www.shop.antigravitybatteries...G-YTX12-20.htm
I've been considering one for my DSP project.
http://www.shop.antigravitybatteries...G-YTX12-20.htm
I've been considering one for my DSP project.
02-15-12, 04:00 PM
#5
RX-7 Bad Ass
iTrader: (55)
That stuff is still way too damn expensive. Especially with the very small weight savings.
Hell, I run a Miata battery in my car. I can get it at most any parts store for $60 or so, I can easily pick it up with one hand, it's compact, and it's dead reliable. It's not worth it to me to sink a bunch of money into an exotic battery so I can shave off a few pounds. I'd rather put the money into something that makes a more substantial difference to the car. And, when the battery goes out, it's not another big chunk of change to replace.
Dale
Hell, I run a Miata battery in my car. I can get it at most any parts store for $60 or so, I can easily pick it up with one hand, it's compact, and it's dead reliable. It's not worth it to me to sink a bunch of money into an exotic battery so I can shave off a few pounds. I'd rather put the money into something that makes a more substantial difference to the car. And, when the battery goes out, it's not another big chunk of change to replace.
Dale
02-16-12, 09:35 AM
#7
Emerald Triangle for life
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I looked at the Miata batteries, and they *do* offer some weight savings for not much money. The specs I've read show them at 25lbs vs the stock Group 35 running 35-38lbs. Unfortunately, the CCA rating for the Miata battery seems a little low.
What intrigues me about the Lithium batteries is that, for 2-3X the cost, they shave another 20lbs, have a stock (or higher) CCA rating and supposedly have a really long service life. It seems the cost might work out about the same over time. Even if not, I have won and lost several AutoX'es and hill climbs by hundredths of a second. Spending $10/lb for weight reduction doesn't hurt my feelings at all.
What intrigues me about the Lithium batteries is that, for 2-3X the cost, they shave another 20lbs, have a stock (or higher) CCA rating and supposedly have a really long service life. It seems the cost might work out about the same over time. Even if not, I have won and lost several AutoX'es and hill climbs by hundredths of a second. Spending $10/lb for weight reduction doesn't hurt my feelings at all.
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02-16-12, 08:21 PM
#9
I have a Braille No-Weight battery and it works quite well. Unfortunately regular chargers are not good for AGM batteries, so plan on buying an AGM compatible digital charger like a Noco 7200. My Noco rescued my Braille after a long tough visit at the body shop.
If it's lithium then it may be even more important to have the right charger for it.
David
If it's lithium then it may be even more important to have the right charger for it.
David
02-16-12, 09:09 PM
#10
That stuff is still way too damn expensive. Especially with the very small weight savings.
Hell, I run a Miata battery in my car. I can get it at most any parts store for $60 or so, I can easily pick it up with one hand, it's compact, and it's dead reliable. It's not worth it to me to sink a bunch of money into an exotic battery so I can shave off a few pounds. I'd rather put the money into something that makes a more substantial difference to the car. And, when the battery goes out, it's not another big chunk of change to replace.
Dale
Hell, I run a Miata battery in my car. I can get it at most any parts store for $60 or so, I can easily pick it up with one hand, it's compact, and it's dead reliable. It's not worth it to me to sink a bunch of money into an exotic battery so I can shave off a few pounds. I'd rather put the money into something that makes a more substantial difference to the car. And, when the battery goes out, it's not another big chunk of change to replace.
Dale
Even have room for a nice fuse block and circtuit breaker.
06-08-12, 08:28 AM
#17
RX-7 Bad Ass
iTrader: (55)
IMHO, lithium batteries right now are a waste of money. They don't give you any bang for the buck. Get a regular battery and spend the money somewhere else on your car where it really needs it.
The battery linked above is $260 which is getting better but from the description sounds BARELY adequate to use in our cars.
The Braille type batteries are proven, weigh like 9-11 pounds, are physically small, sealed, and are MUCH cheaper.
Dale
The battery linked above is $260 which is getting better but from the description sounds BARELY adequate to use in our cars.
The Braille type batteries are proven, weigh like 9-11 pounds, are physically small, sealed, and are MUCH cheaper.
Dale
06-11-12, 12:45 AM
#18
I'm actually very interested in a lithium battery setup. I've spent some coin trying to get my car lighter through carbon fiber and other means while still keeping it a street car. And when I think about the weight savings vs how much I spent, the lithium weight savings seems like a bargain. When you calculate weight to dollar, lithium batteries is probably the the cheapest dollar per lbs.
I've been waiting for the price to come down on this one...
http://www.braillebattery.com/index....tteries/b128l#
It's 5.5 lbs lighter then the chimerabatteries.com equivalent. (30-32 ah, 90-96 lah). The site doesn't list if there is a price difference between their 3 models.
thewird
I've been waiting for the price to come down on this one...
http://www.braillebattery.com/index....tteries/b128l#
It's 5.5 lbs lighter then the chimerabatteries.com equivalent. (30-32 ah, 90-96 lah). The site doesn't list if there is a price difference between their 3 models.
thewird
06-11-12, 08:36 AM
#20
Wastegate John
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I have a Braille No-Weight battery and it works quite well. Unfortunately regular chargers are not good for AGM batteries, so plan on buying an AGM compatible digital charger like a Noco 7200. My Noco rescued my Braille after a long tough visit at the body shop.
If it's lithium then it may be even more important to have the right charger for it.
David
If it's lithium then it may be even more important to have the right charger for it.
David
Can you explain why? I read that other places and it does not make sense to me. Is it just because the chargers for AGM batteries have peak voltage detection?
The reason I always wonder about that is because you do not have to change your alternator if you switch to an AGM battery so why is a conventional charger no good. I have used a conventional charger on my braille battery and did not notice any affects because of it.
Sometimes I wonder if it is a ploy to get people to buy the special charges from the companies selling the batteries.
06-11-12, 04:05 PM
#21
Can you explain why? I read that other places and it does not make sense to me. Is it just because the chargers for AGM batteries have peak voltage detection?
The reason I always wonder about that is because you do not have to change your alternator if you switch to an AGM battery so why is a conventional charger no good. I have used a conventional charger on my braille battery and did not notice any affects because of it.
Sometimes I wonder if it is a ploy to get people to buy the special charges from the companies selling the batteries.
The reason I always wonder about that is because you do not have to change your alternator if you switch to an AGM battery so why is a conventional charger no good. I have used a conventional charger on my braille battery and did not notice any affects because of it.
Sometimes I wonder if it is a ploy to get people to buy the special charges from the companies selling the batteries.
I've pondered the comparison between alternator voltage and charging voltage myself. That's the thing that doesn't entirely add up. But keep in mind most alt's charge at 15v and conventional chargers don't go up that high.
David
06-21-12, 09:38 PM
#24
I have been looking at Deka http://www.dekabatteries.com/. I have a V8 so need a little more cranking power so was leaning towards EXT-18L? They are who manufacture a lot of Braille batteries but are about 80% less.
07-24-16, 05:40 PM
#25
Anyone looked into using a lithium motorcycle battery? Something suited to a goldwing or such seem to have ample capacity and cold cranking, probably less than twice the price of a pc680 (should make up for it in longevity) but looks like max charge will be way too low for an rx7 alternator.
Is there a way to put a resistor or something in somewhere so that a lithium bike battery that is rated to a max charge, of say, 30A can take charge from a 80A alternator safely?
Is there a way to put a resistor or something in somewhere so that a lithium bike battery that is rated to a max charge, of say, 30A can take charge from a 80A alternator safely?