lightweight batteries?
Turbo Mini Forums

Just wondering has anyone one here got a lithium battery? iv seen some that weight around 2kg which would be a massive saving over my current one which is 16kg thanks

Edited by AlexB on 20th Aug, 2014.

more speed 1293 turbo mini-180bhp 171tourque@15psi

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I have on in my single seater. Less than 2kgs iirc.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

www.twin-turbo.co.uk

How much did it cost? And where did you get it from?

more speed 1293 turbo mini-180bhp 171tourque@15psi

best 80's mini at mini fair 2-2013 British mini fair 2014- runner up best 80
Top ten winner at players classic goodwood
Top 55 winner @imm2014
Runner up 80's @minifair 2-2014
Auto finesse sponsors choice award @ultimate stance 2014
mini fair best 80's winner 2015

Brilliant.. was gonna start thread on peoples best choice of lightweight batterys

Same here, now I've got a starter want to fit a small battery.

I got mine from here http://www.aandgmotorcycles.co.uk/batteries.html

Allan is a mini guy, as well as a biker.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

www.twin-turbo.co.uk

Thanks mate will give him a call tomorrow

more speed 1293 turbo mini-180bhp 171tourque@15psi

best 80's mini at mini fair 2-2013 British mini fair 2014- runner up best 80
Top ten winner at players classic goodwood
Top 55 winner @imm2014
Runner up 80's @minifair 2-2014
Auto finesse sponsors choice award @ultimate stance 2014
mini fair best 80's winner 2015

whats the cranking amps on these type of battery?

Are the Varley Red Top batteries any good

Jack Jones

I don't know, but spins my bike engine over easy. They're spec'd to crank engines I guess. I was just guided by Allan. He uses one in his Evo engined spaceframe mini.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

www.twin-turbo.co.uk

Evo engined space frame mini!! That's sounds so good

Jack Jones

Get a Varley Red Top 15

I seriously doubt it!

9.85 @ 145mph
202mph standing mile
speed didn't kill me, but taxation probably will

Ive got one of alans batteries. The mid size 14 I think. They are ridiculously light, mine was less than 950g when I weighed it a while back. In a different league compared to varley red top in terms of weight saving.

Only issue is that if you have starting problems, it doesnt last very long before dying but works perfectly well otherwise.

I've got Red Top 15. Always worked perfectly. I think it weighs about 5.5kg. These Lithium batteries look interesting though. 4.2kg would be a amazing saving for £100 at this stage.

Edited by alaskanow0 on 21st Aug, 2014.

Class C 3rd Place Avon 2011 14.18 @101mph

So a red top is still 5kg!? 950g is awesome! But after heat soak would a few turns over kill that?

A smaller battery is not going to last as long as a larger one. I don't think that these batteries are for everyday cars. For my hillclimb car i use the 14, for a road/fun/track car I'd be tempted to go for a larger one.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

www.twin-turbo.co.uk

The problem with lithium battery technology (and the main reason it isn't current place as aux automotive batteries) is the specific charging requirements. It's not a simple case of plug and play with the standard alternator charging set up.

They require either a constant voltage or constant current charging regime with the variable aspect being controlled in-line with a chemistry specific curve, aka "smart chargers" which are plug in the wall, off vehicle chargers.

It's fine in a car where no charging circuit is present and the battery is charged pre-event and then discharged only while the car is run over short bursts, but not in a road application.

This set up still requires some method of managing the individual cells in the system though. (~12V battery made up of 4x3.2V cells) All cells do not discharge evenly due to chemistry manufacturing tollerance, chemistry volume, contact resistance, etc and unlike lead acid technology, these batteries can not be run completely flat as once they have dropped below the threshold (Circa 2V for a 3.2V cell) cell voltage rapidly drops to 0V and they are dead.

A big plus of lithium battery technology is the massively high discharge/capacity (C rating) that they are capable of. A small 10Ahr lithium cell can typically supply 100A discharge current in short bursts (aka engine starting) which is a lot of punch for such a small cell.

In short though, stick with a varley red top or equivalent unless it's a track/competition car

Edited by adcyork on 21st Aug, 2014.

i use an optima red top 34R grate battery although heavy at 17kg cranks 800CCA tho

going from an old rooted battery to the new optima was like sticking 24v on it lol

Varley now offer a L-Ion battery, I was actually unaware that lithium batterys were freely available for cars now, in this capacity anyways.
The thing I'd be worried about is the safety of them. The cells likely have safety built into them to stop overcharging (and thus overheating) But after doing lithium battery tests at my previous place of work on only 1 cell and seeing how violent it is, a pack of cells strapped together would be horrific. They list a flame resistant housing, but I doubt that would do a whole lot.

They also say they are suitable for standard alternator charging, if you look on their FAQ

David.

I have seen a lithium battrey that we use on our radios get punctured it was like phosphorus when it went up!!

I have started posting on Instagram also my name on there is turbomk1golf

Nothing is impossible it just costs more and takes longer.

The Li-Po batteries used in remote control cars have to be cell balanced and charged in a fireproof bag, they're extremely volatile!

I too would be worried about their safety aspects.
There have been many reports about laptops overheating (even catching fire) and the whole of Boeing's flagship dreamliner fleet was grounded only just over a year ago until they put them in stainless steel boxes vented to outside the plane.
IIRC that was down to the charging regime being wrong.

Schrödinger's cat - so which one am I ???

So for a safety aspect, also charging wise a varley red top or similar is pretty much a plug n play battery that gives good weight saving over standard?

Although I understand the charding requirements for the Li batteries, these are being sold as a direct replacement and work with an alternator. Don't ask me how I would like to know. If they are not managed then their life will be serverly reduced.

The real advantage of the Li batteries is that they can provide good power throught their charged state. Unlike lead acid batteries that the voltage drops of quite quicky (unless a deep discharge type and these dont have the high current out put we need for crankng). In many ways the Li batteries are not great for the cars on a purely practical level. However, for competition these short falls are vastly out weighed by the weight saving.

Considering the current cars weighs 360kg a saving of 4kg is significant.

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