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Thread: School me on Lightweight Batteries

  1. #1
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    School me on Lightweight Batteries

    We need to change our battery on a dedicated 98 323is track only car. Only have used std batteries waiting for it needing replacement so know very little about what we need other than wanting additional weight savings.

    Living in Ontario Canada the car we get temperature extremes, and track days running from late April to October. Car is stripped, but still has full headlights, necessary extra gauges, and a usb outlet for camera or iPhone. We maybe adding a radio system shortly, as we look to be doing Lucky Dog racing soon. Have done Chumpcar once before, and looking to do more endurance racing. Car is on a trickle changed when not used.

    DDAE45C1-5A5D-44EF-B03B-FDC116C485CF.jpeg
    Last edited by addbhp; 11-05-2022 at 10:58 AM. Reason: Missed word
    Mark
    2001 330Cic Daily Driver
    1998 323is Track Car
    2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (Wife's)

  2. #2
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    I've been using a small powersports oriented AntiGravity battery for a few years. 480 cranking Amps, 16 Amp-hours. (It starts car fine in 28 deg weather.) Although drain it enough (repeated cranking w/o start) and it will go into self preservation mode. My first one lasted just a touch under 3 years, and I replaced it with the exact same (I probably would have increased amp rating one size, but that would require re-fabbing a battery tray. )

    Other than it's somewhat short 3 year life, no other issues.

    The quality lithium batteries aren't cheap.

    If you buy a small one you'll need to charge it when you use electrical systems on the car if not running. So I'd add the cost of a Li charger in you cost estimates.

  3. #3
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    I bought this (twice) at Ace for I swear 89 or 99 bucks: https://www.google.com/search?q=inte...hrome&ie=UTF-8

    It might be mislabed but saved 12 pounds and I despise the thought of battery maintenance/drainage issues every time I havent started the car in 2 months. Also saving weight from lowish in the rear end seems like the least of the e36's issues. I vote spend the money elsewhere unless shooting for the pointy end of the grid.

  4. #4
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    Thanks for the responses, found some one using the Deka etx18 with success, but still researching. Any insight on Braille batteries, and what size are other running.
    Mark
    2001 330Cic Daily Driver
    1998 323is Track Car
    2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (Wife's)

  5. #5
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    Deka 30 (22lbs) lasted me 18 months. Could not handle a second winter. I now run H5 AGM/Group 47, which gives me a few years but is about 35 lbs. lithium is the way to go for weight savings - my F90 M5 and 9YO Cayenne S have them stock. But expect to spend close to $1k for an aftermarket lithium battery.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by olemiss540 View Post
    I bought this (twice) at Ace for I swear 89 or 99 bucks: https://www.google.com/search?q=inte...hrome&ie=UTF-8

    It might be mislabed but saved 12 pounds and I despise the thought of battery maintenance/drainage issues every time I havent started the car in 2 months. Also saving weight from lowish in the rear end seems like the least of the e36's issues. I vote spend the money elsewhere unless shooting for the pointy end of the grid.
    Agree, certainly, a lightweight battery won't buy you measurable time. I justified it by also moving the battery to the engine bay, getting rid of many feet and a few pounds of copper wire running through the cabin.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by pbonsalb View Post
    Deka 30 (22lbs) lasted me 18 months. Could not handle a second winter. I now run H5 AGM/Group 47, which gives me a few years but is about 35 lbs. lithium is the way to go for weight savings - my F90 M5 and 9YO Cayenne S have them stock. But expect to spend close to $1k for an aftermarket lithium battery.
    I built my own 3lb LiFePo battery back in 2012 for about $200. Ran it for 3-4 years before I destroyed it by overdischarging it too many times. Built another one that lasted a couple years. I've now built my 3rd one. I mounted it in the engine bay just below the DME compartment door. Overall, I saved about 45lbs - 42lb battery and 6-7 lbs of battery cable from the trunk to the engine bay.

    If I had to do it again, I'd pick up one of these:

    NOCO - 600A Lithium Powersport Battery - NLP20
    Last edited by jakermac; 11-11-2022 at 11:17 PM.

  8. #8
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    I’d be tempted to buy 2 of those, wire parallel and keep them in the stock location, but just bought an H5 AGM for my E36. Maybe next time — in 4-5 years…. A “near stock spec” lithium battery with factory size case and terminals is about $1k.

  9. #9
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    Hmmm hadn’t thought of lithium before, does anything else need changing…or are they simply swap, mount and run. Also do they need a different trickle charger during off season, aka winter, here November, to late April.
    Mark
    2001 330Cic Daily Driver
    1998 323is Track Car
    2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (Wife's)

  10. #10
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    Charger must have lithium setting. No big deal — you can find such chargers on Amazon for as little as $30. I forget what I paid for mine but it was on sale and I bought several. On far right under 12V is the lithium option.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by pbonsalb; 11-12-2022 at 07:47 PM.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by pbonsalb View Post
    Charger must have lithium setting. No big deal — you can find such chargers on Amazon for as little as $30. I forget what I paid for mine but it was on sale and I bought several. On far right under 12V is the lithium option.
    Yup. I have a lithium specific charger/trickle charger. It charges, cycles and maintains the battery.

  12. #12
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    12v lithium battery

    Quote Originally Posted by addbhp View Post
    We need to change our battery on a dedicated 98 323is track only car. Only have used std batteries waiting for it needing replacement so know very little about what we need other than wanting additional weight savings.

    Living in Ontario Canada the car we get temperature extremes, and track days running from late April to October. Car is stripped, but still has full headlights, necessary extra gauges, and a usb outlet for camera or iPhone. We maybe adding a radio system shortly, as we look to be doing Lucky Dog racing soon. Have done Chumpcar once before, and looking to do more endurance racing. Car is on a trickle changed when not used.

    DDAE45C1-5A5D-44EF-B03B-FDC116C485CF.jpeg
    Several choices; Antigravity , LithiumMoto, Amazon....

  13. #13
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    I'm running a Noco NLP20. Under 4 lbs and $180.

  14. #14
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    Looking at this Anti Gravity ATX20-HD. Does anyone have a link for how to connect traditional battery cable mounts to this battery? At 5 lbs and the matching bracket this looks like a good solution.
    Mark
    2001 330Cic Daily Driver
    1998 323is Track Car
    2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (Wife's)

  15. #15
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  16. #16
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    Shows back order. You can find those style adapters online — not a unique antigravity product.

  17. #17
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    Thanks aeronaut, that is exactly what I was thinking. Now thinking of moving the new battery upfront somewhere, and cutting, reducing the weight or the cables.
    Mark
    2001 330Cic Daily Driver
    1998 323is Track Car
    2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (Wife's)

  18. #18
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    On a fully stripped track car, it's easy to find room in the engine bay, and that's where mine is.
    But remember, heat is a batteries enemy.

  19. #19
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    And you are moving the battery to the heaviest part of the car and higher in the chassis.....

    Maybe I should mount mine in the passenger seat area next to the accusump.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Just worry there is no longer ANY weight in the back of a stripped e36.

  20. #20
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    IIRC, removing the copper cables to the trunk is about 6 lbs. And I hated those big un-fused cables that are made bare when the car is stripped.

    Maybe it's my car setup, but it still responds more positively to less total weight, than worrying about f/r weight bias. It LOVES having <3 gallon of gas.

  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by aeronaut View Post
    Maybe it's my car setup, but it still responds more positively to less total weight, than worrying about f/r weight bias. It LOVES having <3 gallon of gas.
    Not at all, you just nailed how physics works. Weight distribution affects the car during certain dynamic transitions, overall weight affects the car all the time.

  22. #22
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    Yet, the E30 guys swear they get better times with the spare tire in the car.

  23. #23
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    We are talking about 6 lbs of wire, not 100lbs of fuel here. Like saying the car feels faster after ya take a deuce. :-)

    Doesn't seem like a stretch to say doubling the height of a 40lb battery may have a bigger effect to lap times than 6 lbs of mass but obviously not a big deal regardless.

  24. #24
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    Now debating moving it anywhere since aside from gas, and the cage between the shock towers there is no weight at all back there. Car is fully stripped with lexan windows side and back. I know we’re talking only about ~5lbs. Thinking behind the passenger seat(when used) is nice and central if we do move it.
    Mark
    2001 330Cic Daily Driver
    1998 323is Track Car
    2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (Wife's)

  25. #25
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    I've been running a Braille lithium battery, the G20 if I recall the model number correctly. Very tiny and weighs almost nothing. Cranks right up every time, even in cold weather (25F is about as cold as I've used it though). I've had it for about 5 years with no problems.

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