Lightweight Battery Install (Pics)
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 6
From: Los Alamitos California
St. Jude Donor '09
Lightweight Battery Install (Pics)
After doing some research, I found that a highly priced lightweight battery is just a rebadged Deka, also known as Big Crank. Given that the Deka is well under half the price, I opted for the Deka ETX18L. Cost was $82 shipped to my home. Bear in mind I added the Odyssey SAE terminals (ODY-3217-0006) to allow me to lay the battery on it's back (lower center of gravity). I already had these terminals from a previous battery.
Anyway, I wrapped the battery in adhesive-backed heat protection and made a battery tie-down plate out of some aluminum stock. I drilled two holes in the battery holder and ran short j-hooks to cinch the battery down. Finally, I put some Loctite in the female battery threads (wipe any off of the top as it acts as a resistor).
I opted for the stock location to maximize the weight savings. I've had this battery in for a week and so far so good. I showed a weight savings of 16.6 pounds over the stock battery.
San
Anyway, I wrapped the battery in adhesive-backed heat protection and made a battery tie-down plate out of some aluminum stock. I drilled two holes in the battery holder and ran short j-hooks to cinch the battery down. Finally, I put some Loctite in the female battery threads (wipe any off of the top as it acts as a resistor).
I opted for the stock location to maximize the weight savings. I've had this battery in for a week and so far so good. I showed a weight savings of 16.6 pounds over the stock battery.
San
Last edited by oldmansan; May 11, 2009 at 09:54 PM. Reason: Added pic of SAE terminals
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 6
From: Los Alamitos California
St. Jude Donor '09
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 6
From: Los Alamitos California
St. Jude Donor '09
I'll be heading to the East Coast next month for at least a week so that will be a good test of if the battery can maintain its charge. A lot here are concerned that the C6 has a lot going on when the car is off that greatly affect battery life. We'll see.
San
San
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 6
From: Los Alamitos California
St. Jude Donor '09
One other thing I didn't think of. I changed my oil the other day and did the "floor the gas pedal so the engine will turn over without starting" trick to prime the oil throughout the motor. I did this three times and honestly I didn't even think about the fact I had replaced the stock battery with a lightweight one until now. Everything is normal.
San
San
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 6
From: Los Alamitos California
St. Jude Donor '09
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 6
From: Los Alamitos California
St. Jude Donor '09
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 430
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From: Playa Vista CA
Do a google search of "deka braille". I am unsure if all info you will find is true, but I like that people are researching and questioning. Made in the USA? Is that true - because that'd be great!
Wish I did my due dilligence before buying a battery already! doh!
As a side note the Deka ET-series batteries are considered "powersport: ATVs, motorcycles, personal watercraft (PWC) & snowmobiles".
I likey.
(ps. I have the equivalent of a ext30l I believe)
Wish I did my due dilligence before buying a battery already! doh!
As a side note the Deka ET-series batteries are considered "powersport: ATVs, motorcycles, personal watercraft (PWC) & snowmobiles".
I likey.(ps. I have the equivalent of a ext30l I believe)
Last edited by nowheelie; May 12, 2009 at 12:39 AM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 6
From: Los Alamitos California
St. Jude Donor '09
Do a google search of "deka braille". I am unsure if all info you will find is true, but I like that people are researching and questioning. Made in the USA? Is that true - because that'd be great!
Wish I did my due dilligence before buying a battery already! doh!
As a side note the Deka ET-series batteries are considered "powersport: ATVs, motorcycles, personal watercraft (PWC) & snowmobiles". I likey.
Wish I did my due dilligence before buying a battery already! doh!
As a side note the Deka ET-series batteries are considered "powersport: ATVs, motorcycles, personal watercraft (PWC) & snowmobiles".
I likey.A lot of batteries are made at the same place and then sold to companies that rebadge them. I found that comparable models of the Braille and Deka were the very same weight, same case, and same terminals. One is very pricey, one is not.
Braille rates their batteries more optimistically, but I'd expect that from a company looking for more money. I'm happy to be a guinea pig.
http://www.eastpenn-deka.com/default.aspx?pageid=4
Made in the USA.
San
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 6
From: Los Alamitos California
St. Jude Donor '09
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 6
From: Los Alamitos California
St. Jude Donor '09
