Lightweight battery

[eon172]

Well the 22ah Lucas one is in and seems fine so far, will be leaving it on a ctek battery conditioner on snowflake mode from now on as the car is rarely used in between track days/events.

 

[JACAM]

Fullriver HC20 is good. Comes with maintainer charger. Sold as replacement for PC680.

https://www.thebatterycellonline.co.nz/images/HC20.jpg


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[donnylad]

bumping an old ish thread.

My car will be used 10 times a year ish, I need a battery that will be fine with this. If I can save weight great, didnt really want to mess about with a relocation kit until after this year.

Can I just buy a s,smaller battery that will do the job and charge it up a night or 2 before each event? or doesn't it work like that?

If its disconnected then it shouldn't loose any power should it? so I could just use a normal battery and disconnect it when parked up in between each event?

everything is costing so much I just could do without another £250 bill right now!

 

[R29TJR]

bumping an old ish thread.

My car will be used 10 times a year ish, I need a battery that will be fine with this. If I can save weight great, didnt really want to mess about with a relocation kit until after this year.

Can I just buy a s,smaller battery that will do the job and charge it up a night or 2 before each event? or doesn't it work like that?

If its disconnected then it shouldn't loose any power should it? so I could just use a normal battery and disconnect it when parked up in between each event?

everything is costing so much I just could do without another £250 bill right now!

So I'm looking at one of these batteries. I, like you, use my car a limited amount during the year. I think @cpaterson76 ran something similar on his old trophy.

I'm not 100% that this will be sufficient for us however hopefully someone on here will be able to help...

For ease the spec of the battery is as follows:

• Weighs just 898gr which is over 3kg lighter than standard
• Comes with built in LED condition indicator panel
• Can be mounted in any position without risk of spillage
• Improved efficiency & cranking power compared to lead acid
• Fast charges to 90% in around 6 minutes

Technical Data:

• Voltage -12v
• Manufacturer Claimed CCA - 240cca
• Dimensions - 150mm x 87mm x 93mm (LxWxH)
• Weight - 898gr
• Recommended Charging Current - 2.0A

 

[donnylad]

if that works that is so cheap! will weigh nothing also.

 

[R3k1355]

240CCA from a battery that weighs less than a kilo?? Smells kinda fishy to me?
Also isn't the standard battery closer to 20KG not 4KG??

Power Lite batterys are MSA certified, this 1.4 KG battery should be fine for track use, will only set you back about £100.
As with all Lithium batterys you need to use an isolator to prevent it draining when not in use, they also usually need a different charger, which Power Lite usually include.

 

[R29TJR]

240CCA from a battery that weighs less than a kilo?? Smells kinda fishy to me?
Also isn't the standard battery closer to 20KG not 4KG??

Power Lite batterys are MSA certified, this 1.4 KG battery should be fine for track use, will only set you back about £100.
As with all Lithium batterys you need to use an isolator to prevent it draining when not in use, they also usually need a different charger, which Power Lite usually include.

Thanks for the help.

The link you provided wasn't great however I think I've found the batter you are referring to:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PS-09-Po...m546b6da21f:g:9VEAAOSwC71chjaA&frcectupt=true

Although IIRC a few of the Knockhill lads where using the battery I linked with no issue. Although I the PS09 battery which is MSA approved does appeal to me more tbh as I feel I have some piece of mind...

 

[cpaterson76]

Yeah

So I'm looking at one of these batteries. I, like you, use my car a limited amount during the year. I think @cpaterson76 ran something similar on his old trophy.

I'm not 100% that this will be sufficient for us however hopefully someone on here will be able to help...

For ease the spec of the battery is as follows:

• Weighs just 898gr which is over 3kg lighter than standard
• Comes with built in LED condition indicator panel
• Can be mounted in any position without risk of spillage
• Improved efficiency & cranking power compared to lead acid
• Fast charges to 90% in around 6 minutes

Technical Data:

• Voltage -12v
• Manufacturer Claimed CCA - 240cca
• Dimensions - 150mm x 87mm x 93mm (LxWxH)
• Weight - 898gr
• Recommended Charging Current - 2.0A

I ran something similar and had a separate isolator under the bonnet to kill it and allow me to lock the car first then lock the bonnet with the aero catches. Car ran perfectly, never a start issue. My one weighed 850 grams so very similar and at that weight no need to relocate into the car as the relocation cables weighed more....

 

[scullyg40]

Do you put an isolator only in the plus cable, or in the earth cable as well?

 

[donnylad]

I was speaking to Paul Roddison at Roddisons Motorsport in Sheffield last week, he showed me a battery he uses on all his race cars. I think they are £240 and weight around 0.5kg. They are so light its insane. I will be doing the light weight battery route before any fibreglass panels now!

 

[scullyg40]

I will be doing the light weight battery route before any fibreglass panels now!

It's the best weight per pound ratio.

 

[R3k1355]

The link you provided wasn't great however I think I've found the batter you are referring to:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PS-09-Po...m546b6da21f:g:9VEAAOSwC71chjaA&frcectupt=true

Yea sorry eBay was down all day so couldn't grab a good example link, they were actually mentioned earlier in this thread though with the prices being a touch lower.
Maybe try to track this person down on Facebook, see if they still do the PS-09 battery at £90??

Their not as expensive as you think!
This is a well known sprint / hillclimb competitor who supplies batteries. PS09 is reccomended for Clio

 

[R29TJR]

Yea sorry eBay was down all day so couldn't grab a good example link, they were actually mentioned earlier in this thread though with the prices being a touch lower.
Maybe try to track this person down on Facebook, see if they still do the PS-09 battery at £90??

Funnily enough this is what I have done!

I paid him this morning £95 delivered currently including the charger, although he only has limited stock.

 

[RuskiWeldFab]

I just ordered PS-20 bundle from gsparkplug.com
Use CLUBMEM10 for 10% discount [emoji2958]
It’s near 5kg lighter than my odesey PC680


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[R3k1355]

I don't understand how these batterys are £100 yet a similar thing from someone like Lite Blox is close to a grand??

 

[stonejedi]

I don't understand how these batterys are £100 yet a similar thing from someone like Lite Blox is close to a grand??

eBay.....SJ.

 

[R29TJR]

I don't understand how these batterys are £100 yet a similar thing from someone like Lite Blox is close to a grand??

I’ll let you know how I get on with mine.

 

[Jonnio]

Looking at those Powerlite ones now for my car. Currently it’s driven a few times a month with the odd trackday thrown in and is hooked up to a Ctek charger when not in use. The car is alarmed/stereo fitted so there is some drain when not in use, never had an issue as long as it is on charge though.

Am I right in thinking that the PS-09 (based on someone saying this is recommended for the Clio), PS-20 and PS-30 will all have enough CCA to get it started, and that I just need to decide on the ah rating (aka how long it will last when stood off charge – unlikely!)?

Think I already know the answer (no) to this but can there be any issues using a much higher CCA battery than “standard” (current one is 440cca) if I’m aiming to get the ah rating as close to a “normal” battery as possible?

 

[R3k1355]

Should be fine starting the car, it's a popular battery for hill climbs and such so you imagine it's being used to get high compression race engines going.
PS-09 seems to be a popular choice for sole race use, but you might want the larger ones if you'll be using it on road and stuff as well.

You'd be best fitting a battery isolator and using that to disconnect the battery when the car isn't in use, instead of constantly having it on charge.

 

[scotiamr2t]

I now run a PS-09 and its been issue free as long as i have had it. Numerous people i know run them without issue

 

[Jonnio]

Picking a PS-30 bundle up later to have a play with.

 

[EVO 4LEX]

For those using these powerlite batteries, is the supplied charger a maintenance type charger as per a ctek etc or is it solely for when the battery runs low? I currently run a pc680 and leave it plugged into the ctek when not in use and would like to do the same if possible... I don’t have an isolator fitted so would just have to disconnect the battery if not.

 

[Jonnio]

For those using these powerlite batteries, is the supplied charger a maintenance type charger as per a ctek etc or is it solely for when the battery runs low? I currently run a pc680 and leave it plugged into the ctek when not in use and would like to do the same if possible... I don’t have an isolator fitted so would just have to disconnect the battery if not.

Asked this when I was buying mine, Green Spark Plug Company got in touch with "their supplier" (Powerlite themselves I guess) - "The charger is a smart charger and turns itself off once it is charged." I'm with you and just want to plug it in without messing around isolating it.

I've hidden a Ctek Panel indicator in the ash tray of mine so asked about chopping the crocodile clips off and crimping a Ctek connector on - "We recommend to use the changer as it is and to not modify the charger in anyway. Any modification will affect the warranty." Kind of ignored that one!
The only thing that I've noticed is the panel indicator would flash orange when the car was off or not on charge with the normal battery. With the Powerlite one on it's blinking green all the time as if it's charging.

They recommended I get the PS30 with how I wanted to use the car. Having left it for a week off charge/without driving it only seemed to drop like 0.1 of a volt with the car locked/alarmed/headunit. Tempted to say a smaller one would have done the job.

I've bolted the supplied cage to the upright of an original Punto battery box and cut away some excess metal/plastic and I think I'm at around a 9.6 kg saving with the PS30. Tempted to keep fiddling and ditch the cage altogether but will see.

 

[EVO 4LEX]

Asked this when I was buying mine, Green Spark Plug Company got in touch with "their supplier" (Powerlite themselves I guess) - "The charger is a smart charger and turns itself off once it is charged." I'm with you and just want to plug it in without messing around isolating it.

I've hidden a Ctek Panel indicator in the ash tray of mine so asked about chopping the crocodile clips off and crimping a Ctek connector on - "We recommend to use the changer as it is and to not modify the charger in anyway. Any modification will affect the warranty." Kind of ignored that one!
The only thing that I've noticed is the panel indicator would flash orange when the car was off or not on charge with the normal battery. With the Powerlite one on it's blinking green all the time as if it's charging.

They recommended I get the PS30 with how I wanted to use the car. Having left it for a week off charge/without driving it only seemed to drop like 0.1 of a volt with the car locked/alarmed/headunit. Tempted to say a smaller one would have done the job.

I've bolted the supplied cage to the upright of an original Punto battery box and cut away some excess metal/plastic and I think I'm at around a 9.6 kg saving with the PS30. Tempted to keep fiddling and ditch the cage altogether but will see.

Sounds as though it’s not a smart charger then as such.. looks like I’ll be disconnecting the battery. Unless you have been running yours for a while like this and the battery hasn’t got hot or any ill effects?

 

[Jonnio]

I've only started having the charger plugged in the last couple of days to be honest but I've not noticed anything get hot.

If you mean it doesn't sound like it's a smart charger from my comment that the CTek Panel light is blinking green all the time I mean that even if the charger is not plugged in and the car is switched off the green light is still blinking whereas on the standard battery it would blink orange in that situation. I'm just assuming the Powerlite is a bit beast and confusing it.

There is an LED on the charger itself, which is red when first plugged in then goes a dim green presumably (I've not looked at any instructions - best double check if it came with any) when it's done topping up.
IIRC it sits at just above 14v when charging and drops to 13.2/13.3v odd when "done" but I can double check it in different states if you want.

 

[EVO 4LEX]

I've only started having the charger plugged in the last couple of days to be honest but I've not noticed anything get hot.

If you mean it doesn't sound like it's a smart charger from my comment that the CTek Panel light is blinking green all the time I mean that even if the charger is not plugged in and the car is switched off the green light is still blinking whereas on the standard battery it would blink orange in that situation. I'm just assuming the Powerlite is a bit beast and confusing it.

There is an LED on the charger itself, which is red when first plugged in then goes a dim green presumably (I've not looked at any instructions - best double check if it came with any) when it's done topping up.
IIRC it sits at just above 14v when charging and drops to 13.2/13.3v odd when "done" but I can double check it in different states if you want.

Ah brilliant! I misunderstood what you meant then. Sounds good, think I’ll bite the bullet and get one ordered! Just need to decide whether ps09 or 20! It’s only a trackcar and with hardly any electrics left but I may run a heated screen down the line so thinking the ps20 will be better as it almost matches my current pc680 specs wise. Thanks for your replies!

 

[RuskiWeldFab]

Go for 20.


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[Jonnio]

Did end up fiddling some more, obviously not a Clio but might give someone an idea.

I had the brace across the top to stop it wobbling on the single metal upright of the original battery holder so decided the full bracket was kind of pointless. Bent up a piece of aluminium to match the bracket shape just to hold the bottom, should look pretty tidy with some paint/powdercoat and hide my dodgy angle grinding a bit...

Just need to get rid of the bracket now and win some money back lol.

 

[Borstii]

Using this JMT one

1639 Gramms pnp

 

[Borstii]

Cant edit?!

 

[Mertin]

Anyone running li ion batteries in the passenger seat? I relocated my battery last year to passenger seat and running an odyssey. Will swap to li ion sometime but have heard issues with them being relocated due to length of wire and voltage drop? Dont want to go back to having it in the engine bay. Prefer the neater look of no battery