Saving 11kg in battery weight
 

Hey Folks,

After replacing numerous full-size batteries on my STi v6 over the years, this time I thought I'd try something new. My friend Mike from [URL="http://www.raventechracing.com/index.htm?page=blog"]Raventech Racing[/URL] here in Perth recommended I try [URL="http://www.braillebattery.com/"]Braille Batteries from USA[/URL].

I've now been running a [URL="http://www.braillebattery.com/index.php/batteries/b14115/"]Braille B14115[/URL] for the last few months and I'm impressed. It's actually better than I thought it would be. I've done Sprint Champ events and Barbagallo events and had no issues at all.

This is a 5kg battery that mounts flat to help lower the centre of gravity just that little bit more. Compared to the previous heavy duty battery, I've saved 11kg. Thats no exaggeration. The new unit is fully sealed so I don't get anymore acid leaks during cornering on motorsport events. The install is nice and neat too with a Braille spec top clamp.

I've teamed it up with a tiny CTEK charger to keep the battery topped up since the STi isn't my daily drive. Now it can sit idle for months and start first time.

CTEK make a really cool quick-connect harness with indicator lights that bolt onto battery terminals full-time, so you don't need to use the optional alligator clips, which can be a pain. The XS4003 model is great for fast charging, but I think if you're not in a hurry, the smaller bike charger will probably do the trick for less folding. I'm yet to see a better quality charger out there.

There are photos of my install on Mike's blog page.

Cheers, Nick Gianco

Did you do the Time Attack on Friday night? A V6 did a 57xx from memory?..

When / if your Braille dies look into a Deka ETX14 as it's about half price.

For a few a couple of hundred $$ a 11kg saving is pretty good bang for buck!

[QUOTE]
Did you do the Time Attack on Friday night? A V6 did a 57xx from memory?..
[/QUOTE]
Yep, he did - 57.821 on knackered rear tyres.

[QUOTE]
When / if your Braille dies look into a Deka ETX14 as it's about half price.
[/QUOTE]
It is cheaper but the specs are not the same. 5kg vs 5.4kg, 360 CCA vs 200 CCA and 15 Ah vs 12 Ah.

Still does the job though.

I've got a Braille in my car too, its been good for the last 2 years with no worries. Tends to get so flat after a month of not being touched that I can't crank the car, but it jump starts straight away. So far I've been "lucky?" enough to not experience any of the issues that people often mention.

Ive had two braille batteries in two years one each year the same that you have just recently got. Very dissapointed for the price that i payed that it didnt last long at all..

Both died on me so went on recommendation to Deka and when we checked the specs they were exactly the same so for the price i went for it.. so far so good.

It looks identical to the braille so much so that i just moved my braille sticker onto the deka.. hahah

Thanks for the feedback guys :icon_smil

I've killed a few car batteries in the past too (not braille), but it was probably my fault. Battery would typically go flat from lack of use. After doing this more than a few times, they just died. Did some research and learned about sulphation and how it damages the cells.

I think [URL="http://www.firststartbatteries.com.au/battery-maintenance.html"]AGM[/URL] batteries like braille and deka discharge pretty slow normally (<3% a month?). But I found my Brant/Subaru alarm (or something else?) would fully drain a big battery in a week or two, and a race battery even faster. Then most chargers just wouldn't charge them.

The lesson for me... an automatic charger with race connections is cheap insurance.

So wheres a good place to get these batterys from

Battery World stock dekas

Neil @ Batteries (WA) in Malaga (Beach Road just by the ice rink) - sorts my race & rally cars with DEKA's