Battery..what you guys running?

[wagspe208]

I am down to buying a battery. Man, those wet cell pieces are heavy. With God as my witness, I ran a Rural King (local tractor supply place) battery in my old boat for two or three years. Never an issue.
I am tempted to get one of the AGM construction pieces, however, the manufacturers say I need their chargers (of course). And call me cheap if yo want..I am NOT paying 150 for a battery and another 200+ for a charger.
I am lazy and will never check the water level (no, really), so a maint free piece is on the agenda.
Any of you roundy rouind guys have problems with plates breaking, etc during the long races?
Wags
Oh, blown, drag piece for those that do not know.

[Flatmvn]

I am running the Optima Yellow Top in mine. Can use a regular 10 amp trickle charger on it. I only have to charge it about every three or four trips to the river.

Louis

http://www.tayna.co.uk/getimage.php?image=tayna/8303ytu4.2.jpg

[BradP]

Napa equivalent to the optima.
Did have one break internally a couple of years ago but I think it was due to a very low profile trailer.

[gfinishline]

Cranking power is what you require, fast recharge times between rounds is the major factor. I would use a group 27 (1000 CCA or larger) WATER battery. The NEW style batteries, (jello, nuclear waste, etc...) and " no maintainance" have RECHARGING LIMITERS built into them. (diodes) That's how they don't burn off fluids. The new stuff is great for low maintainance, but you need to crank the motor RIGHT NOW. (within 30 minutes) A water battery will recharge at 50 amps for 30 minutes and be READY TO GO. The others will NOT! Just put "water in battery" on your 'go to track' list. Never had a "no crank" failure with good old water batteries OF ADEQUATE POWER, even on blown alcohol motors.

[wagspe208]

George, you are probably right. The powermaster ADM piece is limited on charging current. I agree, I pour the coals to the battery between rounds.
I did not realize no maint batteries limited charger input. Makes sense.
I guess it is back to the farm supply place. It worked for two or three years...good enough again.
I always told people whan they asked what I had "good enough for a tractor, good enough for my drag boat" LOL
Wags

[gfinishline]

Steve, we deal with 6 different law dogs on this lake (31 boats). They all have tried the "trick batteries" on their Verados and opti-max powered boats. Radios and electronics 'drag' the batteries down, and only the "old style water" batteries will cover the load VS hard recharge use. I have used #O wire on one group 27 (water) battery (1000 CCR) to crank blown alcohol drag motors with no failures. (cranking @ 20 degrees and then timing jumped up when running) I don't like checking water levels every few weeks either, but I have not found any "new style" battery to be able to DO THE JOB, that I needed done.

[RiverRacer]

Any of you roundy rouind guys have problems with plates breaking, etc during the long races?

Usually put them on the right side by the front of the motor outside the stringer, don't get the vibration like you do in the back!..

[FC-Pilot]

We have had good luck using the 800+ CCA water batteries in our boats for years. We had them in our flats that we would ski behind one to two times a week all summer long and never had any issues. We then ran them in our funnycars for five years. We then decided to go to racing batteries and never had good luck with any of them until we went to the V-Battery. But for the price and consistency I would go with what worked for you.

Paul

[058]

What works for me is an average run-of-the-mill car battery, Group 27 lead/acid Exide. 700-750 CCA. They usually last me 6+ years then they get changed. I keep them fully charged and clean, no dirt or moisture on the tops as even a small amount of crap can cause a discharge. I never bought into the "revolutionary" new type of batterys [gel or whatever], seen more failures with those than the old fashioned car batterys. And in the event a car battery goes south a replacement can be found almost anywhere.

[FC-Pilot]

I never bought into the "revolutionary" new type of batterys [gel or whatever], seen more failures with those than the old fashioned car batterys.

I don't want to even try to count how many Optimas I have been through.:( You could not give me one (not to say others have not had good luck with them, just not me).

Paul

[Moneypit]

Optima red top. 3 years and counting in the PS89 boat. Only drain is the starter, and bilge pump, never had a "time" issue for recharge........MP

[warpt71]

We have always ran a group 27 deep cycle marine battery in our boats and they have been trouble free.

That said, my dually has a yellow top Optima and I have abused the shit outta it lol!!! I have run the stereo for hours, left back-up lights on over night 3 times (put it on the charger for about 45 min and it started up) The regulator went out on the alt. and it overcharged it, case expanded and you could hear it "sizzling" inside. I have driven the truck at night w/out the alt. just the battery.

If you ask me, I would consider an Optima for a lake boat, I just have not tried it and do not know the long term life cycle though?

[wagspe208]

I bought a big ass wet cell battery. Group 27 I think. Not huge..ceretainly not small. I can replace it at any auto parts store across the country.
I took you guy's advice! LOL
Thanks
Wags

[wagspe208]

Oh, BTW...
Battery box welded up, fuel and chute release lever brackets made, finished, all switches mounted, fuel tank bracket finished....MSD bracket finished.
Now I will set the engine in one last time, check alignment of greek couplers, remove everything and detail to send to powder coat.
Wags

[Norseman]

I don't want to even try to count how many Optimas I have been through.:( You could not give me one (not to say others have not had good luck with them, just not me).

Paul

Paul;

I've had good luck with Optimas in street cars, but I've always used Lead Acid batteries in the race cars.

Though I do know a bunch of guys that use them in dirt modifieds.

Bob

[cjbuilder1]

I have 2 big interstate marine batteries in the cruiser--so far so good. I have been running an Exide Oribital (gel) deep cycle battery in our CJ7 for 7 years now. Beat the devil out of it, winch it dead, bounce it all over the place, and it is one tough piece. When the time comes for boat batteries I will sure give the Exides a look. 1000 CCA and 120 min reserve.

[RiverRacer]

I used Interstate batteries for a long time and with proper maintenance they last a long time!.. I think the main issue with the Optima is using the wrong type battery for the application, I learned that the hard way not paying attention. I used a Red top and it took a $hit in no time, but I neglected to notice that it is a start up only and not meant to be drained as in deep cycle!. I've never used the other ones so I've no experience with them, but I would think using the right one for the application would give good service. But I'll stick with the good ole water type battery, I know they are reliable, and readily available!...

[058]

The best battery is the one that doesn't give you trouble....:D

[RiverRacer]

The best battery is the one that doesn't give you trouble....:D

Now ain't that the truth!.LOL..:D

[Moneypit]

The best battery is the one that doesn't give you trouble....:D

Now ain't that the truth!.LOL..:D

Yeah, no doubt, BUT, how many people actually notice a battery that is working and doing it's job?........You don't pay any attention until it says NO, usually at the worst possible time.........I also use a red top Optima as a second battery in the ol Ford camper special, but not as a camper battery, just a pergo switched back up........Ray

[Terrible toy]

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll317/terribletoy/Odessey.jpg

Here's a pic of the Odessey battery I use in my altered. It's by far the best I've found for this application. The car has a solid rear end and the battery sits right on it, so it sees a lot of vibration and pounding. I've got it running the MSD ignition, water pump, fuel pump, data recorder, lights, trans brake and starter without an alternator. It soldiers on without problems, unlike some other type I've used.

Oh, and excuse the dust on the chassis, down for repairs.:rolleyes:

[shooter2]

Well I used to go to Canadian Tire and get mine. It was a sealed top and maint free type.. Had it registered as the battery for our motorhome. Never let me down, but I did replace it each season, just to be safe. It was always replaced under warrranty with no problem, after all it was only for a motorhome. In all honesty though I am looking at the new turbo start battery in the boat I am going to be driving this season and some sort of other box on it that changes something ( sorry don't know the details, so don't want to look dumber than I am) and it scaRES THE $HIT out of me as I am looking at it as more stuff to go wrong. Still like the KISS theory.

Brian

[FC-Pilot]

The best battery is the one that doesn't give you trouble....:D

Amen!

Brian, the "box" may be a step down box. It just takes the voltage down to 12 volts to run some of the electronics that can not handle the higher voltage. I have seen quite a few people run them without any issues. I currently have two dead TurboStarts' sitting in the shop right now. The first one died before even getting to the race, and the second one died before getting to the next race. (I don't know what it is with us and batteries)?:p

Bill, we also ran an Odyssey battery and really liked it. Ours was mounted right about where yours is and it was a real trooper. The only reason we took it out was because it struggled to spin over some of the bigger cubic inch motors we have been playing with. Then again, it was the smallest of their batteries, so that is still saying something. I would imagine the full size (or maybe even the medium size) unit might be able to do the trick.

Paul

[shooter2]

Amen!

Brian, the "box" may be a step down box. It just takes the voltage down to 12 volts to run some of the electronics that can not handle the higher voltage. I have seen quite a few people run them without any issues. I currently have two dead TurboStarts' sitting in the shop right now. The first one died before even getting to the race, and the second one died before getting to the next race. (I don't know what it is with us and batteries)?:p

Paul

Yep that is exactly what it is. That is what I thought but wasn't sure and I didn't want to say unless I knew for sure.

Brian

[RiverRacer]

how many people actually notice a battery that is working and doing it's job?........You don't pay any attention until it says NO,

Not too many, see it all the time seems like the battery gets neglected quite a bit, one in my dually is 8 years old and still going strong!..

[Terrible toy]

Not too many, see it all the time seems like the battery gets neglected quite a bit, one in my dually is 8 years old and still going strong!..

Art, what kind of batteries are you using? I just had to replace the two in my diesel Ford after 3 years.(one was still good, but I was told that when one goes bad you have to change them both)

Paul, what kind of starter are you using with your big motors? I'm using an old Tilton (really old, used it in my drag boats) but have a new Powermaster with a 4.4:1 ratio as my backup. With small blocks I don't need that kind of torque but heard they work well with big motors.

Speaking of big motors, I'm amazed at the size engines I see now. I have a friend running the Super Gas 9.90 class with over 600 cubic inches.

[FC-Pilot]

Paul, what kind of starter are you using with your big motors? I'm using an old Tilton (really old, used it in my drag boats) but have a new Powermaster with a 4.4:1 ratio as my backup. With small blocks I don't need that kind of torque but heard they work well with big motors.

Speaking of big motors, I'm amazed at the size engines I see now. I have a friend running the Super Gas 9.90 class with over 600 cubic inches.

Bill, We have used a few different types of starters over the years. The Tilton style that has worked the best for us over the years is the high horsepower units with the noticeably longer motor. Due to space constraints we have been happiest with the Nipindenso style as they have a higher gear reduction. I have never had much of a problem with them (as long as I set everything up right to begin with).

As far as engine size, we have run anything from 565 to 600 ci. in these things. One big issue we have run into is having enough room for starters. There are a few "big dog" starter to rotate the earth, but we can't fit them in the car due to the chassis. That is why the battery is such a big issue with us. We have to use a starter that is "just good enough" and make sure we have a killer battery to spin them over.

Paul

[Terrible toy]

I know what you mean about room between the rails.:(

[FC-Pilot]

I know what you mean about room between the rails.:(

We just set up our own jig so we will not have that problem again.;) We will have a chassis that we can fit in as drivers and set it up so a real engine can even fit in it.:D We will have room for the dry sump, starter and what ever else we feel like sticking in it. I do like having the battery back there though as it really helps to plant the tires on ugly tracks.

Paul

[Terrible toy]

We just set up our own jig so we will not have that problem again.;) We will have a chassis that we can fit in as drivers and set it up so a real engine can even fit in it.:D We will have room for the dry sump, starter and what ever else we feel like sticking in it. I do like having the battery back there though as it really helps to plant the tires on ugly tracks.

Paul

You guys are building your own chassis, quite an undertaking. When our boat business folded Dale Lambert built a chassis jig (the one my alcohol car came off of) and I saw how much work it was. Not to mention building a car. Are you guys doing your own tin work also? I will really be impressed if that's true.

Dale and I (I did mostly easy stuff) did the tin in the two cars that came off his jig. Between the first car and mine there was a scrap pile of tin half way to the roof.:D It's much harder then it looks.

[RiverRacer]

Art, what kind of batteries are you using? I just had to replace the two in my diesel Ford after 3 years.(one was still good, but I was told that when one goes bad you have to change them both)

The one in the truck is just a K-Mart special(Excide I think, may be wrong??)I just keep up on it and make sure the water is up at all times, and if the truck sits I pop the ground cable off so there is no drain on the battery, that reduces the life of a battery!.. If you have the two batteries connected together and one goes bad it feeds off the good one and will pull it down, and the bad part is you don't know it until the second one is giving up, that's why they say you need to replace both of them!....

Speaking of big motors, I'm amazed at the size engines I see now. I have a friend running the Super Gas 9.90 class with over 600 cubic inches.

Yeah it is amazing, you remember when a 427 was the average then a 468 was a big motor, then if you were into bucks a 496 was a mountain motor!.LOL..:D

[Terrible toy]

[QUOTE Yeah it is amazing, you remember when a 427 was the average then a 468 was a big motor, then if you were into bucks a 496 was a mountain motor!.LOL..:D[/QUOTE]

True, true...

[FC-Pilot]

Yeah it is amazing, you remember when a 427 was the average then a 468 was a big motor, then if you were into bucks a 496 was a mountain motor!.LOL..:D

The crazy thing today is if somebody has a 468" it is a small block.:eek: That just blows me away.

Paul

[Wannabe]

When 800+ cubic inch deals are as common as a 600+ inch deal were ten years ago, it scares me a little. Now there are some bullets out there running into the 900 cubic inch deal. With the machines we have now, there is no reason to be limited by deck height or bore spacing. Huge engines for sure.

And with the tin thing on the race cars, we just finished the tin on the one car, so we will be doing all of the tin from now on. It is not going to be easy, but how many people can say that they built their own car and mean they really built it all. Not just watched someone else build it. But built it. Body, chassis, tin, engine, all fabrication, paint wiring, etc. It goes back to what Art says. If you want something done right . . .

[RiverRacer]

The crazy thing today is if somebody has a 468" it is a small block.:eek: That just blows me away.

Paul

Well, I remember when I was a kid my buddy's older brother used to say a 283 was a starter motor for a 409!. LOL...

[hm66Howard]

I bought a big ass wet cell battery. Group 27 I think. Not huge..ceretainly not small. I can replace it at any auto parts store across the country.
I took you guy's advice! LOL
Thanks
WagsI got a group 31 at my local NAPA. Kept breaking plates every few months or so and they kept replacing them for free. I got about 4 seasons of free batteries from them until I parked the boat for a while and the warranty ran out. From the replies here, I see you racers aren't running charging systems. What about the lake and river guys? I put a GM "one wire" on my FE. :p

[poncho]

Does anyone remember a battery called Armour Plate? they were hard to find but worth it i think they originally were aimed at the baja crowd,a dealer in my parents area walked in to their body shop and gave them one and told them it would be perfect for the v-drive,we ran them for years and then one day the same guy walked in and said they were going out of business so we bought like 6 of them,man that was a good battery never broke a plate like the rest

[poncho]

When 800+ cubic inch deals are as common as a 600+ inch deal were ten years ago, it scares me a little. Now there are some bullets out there running into the 900 cubic inch deal. With the machines we have now, there is no reason to be limited by deck height or bore spacing. Huge engines for sure.

And with the tin thing on the race cars, we just finished the tin on the one car, so we will be doing all of the tin from now on. It is not going to be easy, but how many people can say that they built their own car and mean they really built it all. Not just watched someone else build it. But built it. Body, chassis, tin, engine, all fabrication, paint wiring, etc. It goes back to what Art says. If you want something done right . . .

Doing your own tin is tremendous my hat is off to you guys!

[poncho]

The one in the truck is just a K-Mart special(Excide I think, may be wrong??)I just keep up on it and make sure the water is up at all times, and if the truck sits I pop the ground cable off so there is no drain on the battery, that reduces the life of a battery!.. If you have the two batteries connected together and one goes bad it feeds off the good one and will pull it down, and the bad part is you don't know it until the second one is giving up, that's why they say you need to replace both of them!....



Yeah it is amazing, you remember when a 427 was the average then a 468 was a big motor, then if you were into bucks a 496 was a mountain motor!.LOL..:D

I find myself saying its just a little ol 468,whodda thought

[RiverRacer]

Does anyone remember a battery called Armour Plate? they were hard to find but worth it i think they originally were aimed at the baja crowd,a dealer in my parents area walked in to their body shop and gave them one and told them it would be perfect for the v-drive,we ran them for years and then one day the same guy walked in and said they were going out of business so we bought like 6 of them,man that was a good battery never broke a plate like the rest

I remember them, I even had one once and they were a good battery!..

[RiverRacer]

I find myself saying its just a little ol 468,whodda thought

Amazing huh!..:D

[wagspe208]

I got a group 31 at my local NAPA. Kept breaking plates every few months or so and they kept replacing them for free. I got about 4 seasons of free batteries from them until I parked the boat for a while and the warranty ran out. From the replies here, I see you racers aren't running charging systems. What about the lake and river guys? I put a GM "one wire" on my FE. :p

I am ceretainly in the minority. I have a powermaster 50a alt. on my drag piece. It is the cool 18000 rpm rated one. My reasoning is as follows..consatant voltage to ignition. Not 12.5 this time, and oh..well, not enough time to charge between rounds so 11.6 next pass, etc. I still charge every pass, but the box sees 13.5v every pass. Works for me
Most make fun of me, though. I let the..when I am getting a check for winining. :D
Wags

[Yeager]

I run the optima in the race car and it works good, but needs to be charged often. A couple passes and it gets weak. If you charge after every pass it works great. I got 3 years out of my last one.

As for starters, we us the high dollar powermaster and it works great. (16:1) They are pretty small and should fit anywhere.

As for motor sizes in cars... anything under 500" is rare. (unless your a class car) Hell, I'm new to this boat thing and I get embaressed when I say I have a 454..... Maybe I'll build a bigger one this winter.

Mark

[poncho]

I run the optima in the race car and it works good, but needs to be charged often. A couple passes and it gets weak. If you charge after every pass it works great. I got 3 years out of my last one.

As for starters, we us the high dollar powermaster and it works great. (16:1) They are pretty small and should fit anywhere.

As for motor sizes in cars... anything under 500" is rare. (unless your a class car) Hell, I'm new to this boat thing and I get embaressed when I say I have a 454..... Maybe I'll build a bigger one this winter.

Mark

better yet build two and send one to me so i wont feel bad about my peewee bbc

[Terrible toy]

As for motor sizes in cars... anything under 500" is rare. (unless your a class car) Hell, I'm new to this boat thing and I get embaressed when I say I have a 454..... Maybe I'll build a bigger one this winter.

Mark

Funny, I had the same thought about my 21 ft. cruiser with a 454, not even bored out to 468, Chevy. Damn motor is shrinking right before my eyes, now where did I put that old 4 1/4 crank.:D

[RiverRacer]

What about the lake and river guys?

I've always run a mag, don't need no stinkin alternator, two wires to start one to ground bada bing, can't get more simple and reliable!..:D