[Tim300wsm]

So I need a battery for my car and want to go with a light weight model (non lithium). The braille AGM seem to be well regarded and was wondering if anyone has used them? Which model they used?
Right now I’m looking at the 9 or 11 pound model

https://www.tirerack.com/accessories/brandSearch.jsp?brand=Braille

 

[JohnWR]

So I need a battery for my car and want to go with a light weight model (non lithium). The braille AGM seem to be well regarded and was wondering if anyone has used them? Which model they used?
Right now I’m looking at the 9 or 11 pound model

https://www.tirerack.com/accessories/brandSearch.jsp?brand=Braille

Search the forum for "braille" and you will find several threads discussing this battery choice.

 

[Tim300wsm]

Search the forum for "braille" and you will find several threads discussing this battery choice.

I did search it but seems the only thing from the last decade was on lithium ion batteries. I was hoping for some recent opinions as a decade is more than enough time for a major shift in quality

 

[agent008]

I'm always considering a lighter battery as well, it might be that when I do my planned V8 swap the battery will have to be moved to the trunk , in this case a small battery would be better so this topic interests me.

The 9 pounder has 2 reviews on TireRack. One good, one bad. I suppose if you don't daily the car a battery maintainer is a must. Are AGM batteries compatible to regular battery maintainers without any issues?

 

[agent008]

This topic made me go again to Braille's website. I think I've already asked around but doesn't hurt to do it again. Does anybody know whether Braille's Li-Ion batteries have an internal BMS (battery management system)? How do these batteries cope with the standard alternator output? One figures there would be a high risk of detrimental overcharging or wrong-model charging for a li-ion (ie. constant-tension as opposed to constant-current, Li-Ion batteries use both alternately depending on the charge state they are in).

 

[rob the elder]

My swap retains the battery in the stock position. Works well. I have a lithium battery in the trunk to power the light show. That too works well. The only swapped cars I have seen are LS7s with the remote oil reservoir. I also have dual lithium batteries mounted in my car hauler maintained by solar chargers. I have been happy with that.

 

[boboborino]

@agent008, I believe this was answered to your original inquiry? Perhaps it was not what you were looking for?

2021 AutoCross/Track car build thread

RE: Lithium battery. Am I worry free? No. Do I think there's a "high" likelihood of mishap? No. We've all been using lithium batteries in: Your big cordless drills (ie Milwaukee/DeWalt/etc), your cordless vacuum, all your laptop computers, cell phones, tablets, nearly all electronic devices...

www.solsticeforum.com

2021 AutoCross/Track car build thread

RE: Lithium battery. Am I worry free? No. Do I think there's a "high" likelihood of mishap? No. We've all been using lithium batteries in: Your big cordless drills (ie Milwaukee/DeWalt/etc), your cordless vacuum, all your laptop computers, cell phones, tablets, nearly all electronic devices...

www.solsticeforum.com

 

[agent008]

@agent008, I believe this was answered to your original inquiry? Perhaps it was not what you were looking for?

2021 AutoCross/Track car build thread

RE: Lithium battery. Am I worry free? No. Do I think there's a "high" likelihood of mishap? No. We've all been using lithium batteries in: Your big cordless drills (ie Milwaukee/DeWalt/etc), your cordless vacuum, all your laptop computers, cell phones, tablets, nearly all electronic devices...

www.solsticeforum.com

2021 AutoCross/Track car build thread

RE: Lithium battery. Am I worry free? No. Do I think there's a "high" likelihood of mishap? No. We've all been using lithium batteries in: Your big cordless drills (ie Milwaukee/DeWalt/etc), your cordless vacuum, all your laptop computers, cell phones, tablets, nearly all electronic devices...

www.solsticeforum.com

it is, yes. Sorry I didn't remember where I had asked. Thanks!

 

[agent008]

I have a lithium battery in the trunk to power the light show.

What do you use to charge this batt? A li-ion specific charger? Or do you charge it from the vehicle's alternator.

I also have dual lithium batteries mounted in my car hauler maintained by solar chargers.

The key word here is maintained. I'd imagine your setup has lithium-specific solar charger circuitry (aka BMS)..?

 

[agent008]

@boboborino , I'll quote @phil1734 from the other thread you found where I asked about Lithium batteries. Turns out I never followed up on his response:

I confirmed with Braille that neither the Green-Lite or Micro-Lite have any sort of built-in BMS.

Anti-Gravity (what I use,) EarthX, and True Blue all offer batteries with a built in BMS, the later two being the only ones I know of that have received a flight certification from the FAA, the former being the only one I can afford.

@phil1734 , which model from Anti-Gravity did you buy? They don't have a Solstice on their compatibility list but I searched for the Polaris Slingshot which turned out the ATX30 and ATX30-HD models.

 

[phil1734]

I use an AT12BS-HD-RS from a Ducatti, which is not recommended and probably way too small for most users.

But it's going on its third year of service and starts the car like a champ, and only weighs 3lbs.

When I bought my car it had a Braille AGM, model #B3121. It worked fine but they're expensive for what you get, and they are known to drop cells out of the blue and go belly-up without warning after a few years of use.

 

[rob the elder]

What do you use to charge this batt? A li-ion specific charger? Or do you charge it from the vehicle's alternator.


The key word here is maintained. I'd imagine your setup has lithium-specific solar charger circuitry (aka BMS)..?

I use this
NOCO GENIUS1, 1A Smart Car Battery Charger, 6V and 12V Automotive Charger, Battery Maintainer, Trickle Charger, Float Charger and Desulfator for AGM, Motorcycle, Lithium and Deep Cycle Batteries (amazon.com)

It has a lithium battery setting. I mounted the maintainer in the car and then use an extension cord to connect it to ground power. That way, I can maintain the battery anywhere without having to remember to bring the maintainer.

For the trailer, I have one of these solar maintainers that also has a lithimu setting
Amazon.com : 30W 12V Solar Panel Kit Battery Trickle Charger Maintainer Pro + Advanced 10A MPPT Charge Controller + SAE Battery Clip Cable for 12 Volt Boat Car RV Trailer Motorcycle Automotive Home Off Grid System : Patio, Lawn & Garden

I bought the maintainer separately and plugged it into an existing solar panel and its working great.

 

[agent008]

I use this
NOCO GENIUS1, 1A Smart Car Battery Charger, 6V and 12V Automotive Charger, Battery Maintainer, Trickle Charger, Float Charger and Desulfator for AGM, Motorcycle, Lithium and Deep Cycle Batteries (amazon.com)

It has a lithium battery setting. I mounted the maintainer in the car and then use an extension cord to connect it to ground power. That way, I can maintain the battery anywhere without having to remember to bring the maintainer.

For the trailer, I have one of these solar maintainers that also has a lithimu setting
Amazon.com : 30W 12V Solar Panel Kit Battery Trickle Charger Maintainer Pro + Advanced 10A MPPT Charge Controller + SAE Battery Clip Cable for 12 Volt Boat Car RV Trailer Motorcycle Automotive Home Off Grid System : Patio, Lawn & Garden

I bought the maintainer separately and plugged it into an existing solar panel and its working great.

Thanks. With a lithium maintainer or a BMS I imagine your batteries will have a long, safe service life. If I ever get a lithium unit for any of my cars, however, I'd only feel confident if it was a BMS equipped one same as @phil1734 uses.

 

[agent008]

I use an AT12BS-HD-RS from a Ducatti, which is not recommended and probably way too small for most users.

But it's going on its third year of service and starts the car like a champ, and only weighs 3lbs.

When I bought my car it had a Braille AGM, model #B3121. It worked fine but they're expensive for what you get, and they are known to drop cells out of the blue and go belly-up without warning after a few years of use.

Great to know such a small Li-Ion is enough for our cars. Do you daily your car? Do you winter it and keep it on a maintainer? Sorry for my continued curiosity.

 

[rob the elder]

Huh. I have been very happy with my maintainers. These have been in service for years. I went lithium for the show batteries because of their longer cycle life.

 

[agent008]

Huh. I have been very happy with my maintainers. These have been in service for years. I went lithium for the show batteries because of their longer cycle life.

Of course, I mis-worded my response. Your setup is top notch, what I mean is for the vehicle battery I'd only use a BMS enabled one. As in the battery that starts the car.

Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Tim300wsm]

I don’t want to spend $600 or more on a battery. I have many other things to get for the car. A light AGM sounds like a good compromise for me

 

[phil1734]

Great to know such a small Li-Ion is enough for our cars. Do you daily your car? Do you winter it and keep it on a maintainer? Sorry for my continued curiosity.

It's not my daily, but I regularly street drive it in the summer including to and from autocross events 4 hours away.

In winter the battery gets pulled and lives in my basement. No maintainer. The first year it lost .2V of charge over 4 months. Didn't bother to record the second year.

You also have to remember I have far less electrical demand in my car than most. No radio, no interior lights, no fan, no OnStar, no vacuum pump, etc.

No worries about the curiosity. I enjoy car talk and discussing such with people who want to learn about new things.

 

[Wunderkind]

My inquisitive mind like to know why AGM is needed for our cars with relatively low electronics and lack of start/stop feature?
My current 12V lead battery offers immediate start-ups. Then again, my GXP is a summer car and stock electronics.

 

[agent008]

My inquisitive mind like to know why AGM is needed for our cars with relatively low electronics and lack of start/stop feature?

I believe OP wants to switch to a smaller, lighter battery. For me the main advantage would be ease of battery removal and also less space taken in the engine bay. By replacing the regular battery with a smaller one, the battery can be changed without removing the fender or the wheel well liner. You reduce front weight slightly too.

So I need a battery for my car and want to go with a light weight model (non lithium).