Best race battery - Page 3 - Saxperience

KamRacing · 6th January 2013, 12:28

Isn't it a lithium Ion battery in my iPhone that I keep in my pocket day in, day out??
Obviously a race battery may not be the best solution for an everyday car, but for people looking for an overall lightweight car then they should not be ignored.
There are plenty of small cars running small batteries that will work fine with a stripped out track inspired car.

Alanapone^p · 6th January 2013, 16:23

It is Kam, but, it us also temperature monitored and has the correct charging system, unlike putting one in a car.

Like I said, I know a bit about batteries but I'm by no means an expert and a lot of what I've said was found by doing a bit of research. As were seeing on Josh's beast, it does Senn to be working fine but for a proper test I'd like to see how it would fair on a daily drivers doing a mix of driving day to day.

As is usually the case with me, I will probably end up wrong (as JP is proving lol) and all the info I've put up will be proven as rubbish.

e8_pqck · 6th January 2013, 19:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alanapone

It is Kam, but, it us also temperature monitored and has the correct charging system, unlike putting one in a car.

Like I said, I know a bit about batteries but I'm by no means an expert and a lot of what I've said was found by doing a bit of research. As were seeing on Josh's beast, it does Senn to be working fine but for a proper test I'd like to see how it would fair on a daily drivers doing a mix of driving day to day.

As is usually the case with me, I will probably end up wrong (as JP is proving lol) and all the info I've put up will be proven as rubbish.

Been good info so far, if anything it should spur us on to undertake research of our own.

wolf_gsxr · 18th February 2013, 12:30

read:
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/a..._ideal_battery

... if there anything like li-po batterys id be very careful.. i had a home made uav that exploded mid air with a 10000mah 11.1v li-po battery.

Edit: and this is what happens to a tiny one when its overcharged. skip to 1.50

jpsaxo · 18th February 2013, 14:11

Pretty scary watching that tbh... Mine was from 'Skyrich' batteries, im no expert on exactly which battery mine is. I guess it's a good job my alternator is geared down so it's charging less.

But again I can only go on personal experience of mine, longest trip I did was 4.5 hours from Cornwall back up to the midlands (see pic) with a 5 minute stop roughly halfway back for fuel

wolf_gsxr · 18th February 2013, 23:53

ideally you could do with a car sized li-po alarm. and overcharge cutoff. Normal battery's are just charged but li-po, li-fe and li-ion battery's are balance charged so that each cell holds the same voltage as the next. if your car was hard to start and took a while to crank over and the cell voltage drops it could go bang.. or if you have a full battery and your alternator is ramming more volts through it it can go bang. However with the right precautions (voltage gauge/ some way of cutting the alternator) then they offer far more power than a standard battery for alot less weight.. that being said my battery knowledge comes from rc planes and airsoft guns so the car battery might have same built in protection..

jpsaxo · 19th February 2013, 01:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf_gsxr

ideally you could do with a car sized li-po alarm. and overcharge cutoff. Normal battery's are just charged but li-po, li-fe and li-ion battery's are balance charged so that each cell holds the same voltage as the next. if your car was hard to start and took a while to crank over and the cell voltage drops it could go bang.. or if you have a full battery and your alternator is ramming more volts through it it can go bang. However with the right precautions (voltage gauge/ some way of cutting the alternator) then they offer far more power than a standard battery for alot less weight.. that being said my battery knowledge comes from rc planes and airsoft guns so the car battery might have same built in protection..

Yeah that was along the lines of what I was thinking, some kind of trip switch that would stop charging the battery once it hit its full charge & start charging it again once it's hit a certain minimum % of charge, don't suppose you have any info on these or potential trick bits of kit that could be used?

e8_pqck · 19th February 2013, 06:02

Josh, have you not taken this battery to the ring? What pulleys have you got on, is it Sandys ally kit?

wolf_gsxr · 19th February 2013, 07:46

There is lots of off the shelf stuff but there for 11.1/14v lipo's. il see what's I can find for ya. Does it have the specs printed on the battery? Like voltage, amps and ah?

jpsaxo · 19th February 2013, 09:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by e8_pqck

Josh, have you not taken this battery to the ring? What pulleys have you got on, is it Sandys ally kit?

Never took it to the ring, this year will be the first time...

Yep Sandy's race spec pully kit so it gears the alternator down (and in turn the drag) quite a bit

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf_gsxr

There is lots of off the shelf stuff but there for 11.1/14v lipo's. il see what's I can find for ya. Does it have the specs printed on the battery? Like voltage, amps and ah?

I'm sure it does have the spec on it however I'm the other side of the planet mate so can't check... Ill dig out some pictures and edit this post this evening for you mate

Edit:

Hope that helps? If not I can get my dad/brother to take pics & get the info you need at the weekend

wolf_gsxr · 19th February 2013, 12:55

Not overly lol. What you could do is run a smart li-po trickle charger from a 12v supply on a switch with a volt gauge. So the alternator doesn't charge the battery it just gives 12v to the battery charger. Which means there's a possibility to run a smaller/ less power sapping alternator. In theory what should then happen is you start your car and it drains some of your battery. The charger then charges your battery nice and gently and cuts off when it's full. Like I said though this is for the lipo packs I know. A car one might have all the protective circuits built into the battery already. I'd try to phone/email the company and enquire about it. It's designed as a car battery and I assume I'd didn't come with a list of do and do not's so it could be fine, but you have a very nice car and considering a lipo battery the size of a matchbox can blow up a 2m wingspan plane out of the sky one that big will make a mess. That and the fumes it gives off are VERY poisonous.

Another interesting read and shows the power a tiny battery http://www.bigsquidrc.com/rc-myths-f...-car-starting/

wolf_gsxr · 19th February 2013, 13:32

Right. Done some research on your specific battery and I have some good news. As its made of slightly different materials from a normal lithium battery it won't burn or explode and is less picky about being charged. The only requirement is font let the battery discharge to much (run flat) or don't let it exceed 15v. So all you need really is a volt meter to keep an eye on the voltage levels and possibly an alternator cutoff switch incase it gets close to 15v. That's said if its geared down it shouldn't be to bad. Sorry for previous scare mongering lol. You should be fine as long as the voltage stays below 15v.

Jimmy-Boy · 22nd February 2013, 12:01

Now about to buy one of these lit ion batts, how hard would it be to wire a trip if it reaches 15v+ ?

wolf_gsxr · 22nd February 2013, 12:33

You could have a volt gauge and have a manual cut off like the FIA red battery isolators hidden somewhere connected between the alternator and the battery. You can buy a battery charger for that exact battery on their website. You could wrie the alternator to power that an that will charge the battery/cut off when it's full. The only problem would be if the charger could handle the power the alternator puts out.

Jimmy-Boy · 22nd February 2013, 12:55

ok its a 100% track car so have you got any links for a manual cut off switch mate? thanks for sharing your knowledge too!

jpsaxo · 22nd February 2013, 14:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf_gsxr

Right. Done some research on your specific battery and I have some good news. As its made of slightly different materials from a normal lithium battery it won't burn or explode and is less picky about being charged. The only requirement is font let the battery discharge to much (run flat) or don't let it exceed 15v. So all you need really is a volt meter to keep an eye on the voltage levels and possibly an alternator cutoff switch incase it gets close to 15v. That's said if its geared down it shouldn't be to bad. Sorry for previous scare mongering lol. You should be fine as long as the voltage stays below 15v.

That's reassuring to hear mate, I've check what it's charging at

what do they normally charge at? Like I said mine is geared down... But it also revs higher than standard so at constant high revs it could over charge?

wolf_gsxr · 22nd February 2013, 23:15

FIA switch go to demontweeks/rally design/ eBay I think there less than £20. What I'd suggest is get a multi meter and see what the peak amps/ volts are at the redline. that battery needs ideally no les that 14v and no more than 15v. The drain of the battery from starting it should be enough of a drop to let it charge while on track. So if its a track car it's pretty much plug and play. It's a shame you can't run the engine off the alternator like a crosser does with its coil thing. Battery just to start the car then just turn it off or wait till its charged and turn it off. That battery according to the makers won't ever blow up or set fire so at worst if you let the voltage get abit high is decrease it's lifespan.

wolf_gsxr · 22nd February 2013, 23:28

Right.. forget all of that and read this: http://www.skyrichbattery.com/p7/Lit...ery/pages.html .... read each of the 5 things at the top (overview, installation guide, maintanence etc) its best you take there advice as its there battery and they explain things better than me lol.. hope this helps.

jpsaxo · 23rd February 2013, 03:33

That's awesome mate cheers for the info. Basically we should be sweet unless its overcharged at more than 15.0V

wolf_gsxr · 23rd February 2013, 07:56

Correct. Ideally to keep it fully charged it needs to be over 14v but you can top it up with a battery charger. You should be set to use it with your alternator geared down. I'd still be buying a volt gauge to to see when it gets low. That and I like fancy gauges lol.