Battery question
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shwah
New member
e. Any ignition system which utilizes the original distributor for spark timing and distribution is permitted. Internal distributor components and distributor cap may be substituted. Crankfire ignition systems are prohibited unless fitted as original equipment. Any spark plugs and ignition wires may be used. Ignition timing is unrestricted. Batteries may be replaced with those of alternate manufacture provided they are of similar amp-hour capacity and weight and are fitted in the standard location. Additional battery hold-down devices may be used, and are strongly recommended. Cars originally equipped with two (2) 6-volt batteries may replace them with one (1) 12-volt battery installed in either of the original battery locations.
This is why it is fine.
This is why it is fine.
tom_sprecher
Super Moderator
Maybe because you'd be hard pressed to find a wet cell battery these days?
Gary L
New member
IMO, this rule is so grey it's silly.
The word "similar" is just too subjective to be meaningful in this context. If the original battery weighed 34 pounds, at precisely what point do you consider the replacement dissimilar? 32 pounds? 28 pounds? How about 15 pounds? Or, if you happen to admire the stock location of your battery (from a ballasting perspective), how about 58 pounds? Even at the two extremes mentioned, I can say they are "similar", because both batteries have mass of the same order of magnitude. And if it's the same size and shape as the original, mounted in the standard location, and has "similar" amp-hour capacity, seems to me you're good to go.
Just out of curiosity... has anyone ever seen a protest written for battery weight?
dj10
New member
I stand corrected thenbecause I thought the reason one would chose a gel battery is for weight reduction.
Is there another reason? [/b]
Wouldn't a gel battery be less susceptible to explosion, fire and leakage? This sounds like a saftey factor that isn't being considered by the ITAC or CRB. This might be a good rule to change.
JoshS
New member
I recommend that people check out Deka batteries. They make AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries as direct-fit replacements for stock batteries (in some sizes). Same technology as an Optima, but in the stock form factor.
Deka automotive batteries
Deka automotive batteries
I think that if it is a similar amp hour capacity +/- 25% (yes I know this a big range), then I would have not issues. I switched to an Odyssey last year in my Integra. One for some weight savings (30lb stock, ~15 lbs Odyssey). However, the main reason I switched is for saftey of the closed cell design, no leakage if upside down or gets crushed, and have experience to prove. I hit a barrier diagonally 3 years ago on the front bumper and knocked the battery loose, acid got everywhere. Last year I had a hard front impact, the Odyssey has a metal casing that got bent in 2 places, bent the tie down bracket, and the wires got cut = no leakage.
Victor
Victor
just as an fyi, i looked up the battery for my car at autozone:
http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?U...UP%7C%7EBattery
they are as follows with regards to warranty period in years, weight and price and cold cranking amps
A. 6, 25.7, $49.99, 410
B. 7, 28.1, $54.99, 425
C. 8, 27.7, $79.99, 500
since they are all listed as Group 51 replacements for my car, i would say that they are "similar"
http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?U...UP%7C%7EBattery
they are as follows with regards to warranty period in years, weight and price and cold cranking amps
A. 6, 25.7, $49.99, 410
B. 7, 28.1, $54.99, 425
C. 8, 27.7, $79.99, 500
since they are all listed as Group 51 replacements for my car, i would say that they are "similar"
Z3_GoCar
New member
Yes, but are any of those the optima style gel-cell and should gel-cell's not be allowed ( de-facto ) when they provide a clear safety benefit because they happen to be lighter? I know that as an ITE car i'm allowed more lattitude, but I run an optima group 52 in my car as there's not an optima that matches the stock style battery. Basically, it's close in size and shape but the battery posts are on the left side of the battery instead of the right side. I run the optima for two reasons, first my battery is in the trunk and I don't want acid or it's resedue back there, and secondly the optima is susposed to be more tollerant of vibration. As long as it close in size shouldn't it be legal? Anyone check out the add in Sportcar for the Carbon fiber battery's? How are you going to keep some one with more money than brains from doing something like spending several hundred on an ultralight battery because they think it'll give them 0.0002 seconds per lap? My Tirerack window banner's good for like about 0.5 seconds per lap 
If it looks like a normal battery size for the car, why worry about it?
James
If it looks like a normal battery size for the car, why worry about it? James
JoshS
New member
Interesting argument ... but there are ways to be both safe and legal. You just have to do a little more research. Sure, the "big two" -- Odyssey and Optima -- might not make batteries in the stock size and weight, but there ARE other companies that use these same technologies that do. I have an AGM (same as Optima) battery in my Z3 Coupe, that's exactly the same size as stock (Group 48), using the stock hold-downs. It's a couple of pounds heavier than stock. It's made by Deka (link above).
The additional weight is fine for me since it's in the right place and I'm ballasting up to minimum anyway. But even if someone wasn't in that situation, the point is, that if you want a non-wet-cell battery that's actually legal, they can be found.
BTW, I was forced into this battery by the rules. My stock battery location is inside the passenger compartment (in the floor of the hatch). It's exposed once you remove the trunk carpeting. The rules require a wet-cell battery that's in the passenger compartment to be in a marine-type container. But I could not find any marine-type container that could both fit a stock-sized battery AND still fit into the stock location. I bought and returned SEVEN different containers. So, I needed to find something that wasn't a wet cell, yet was of "similar" size and weight to stock. Naturally, I started with the big two, but came up empty ... it took a little research, but they're out there!
The additional weight is fine for me since it's in the right place and I'm ballasting up to minimum anyway. But even if someone wasn't in that situation, the point is, that if you want a non-wet-cell battery that's actually legal, they can be found.
BTW, I was forced into this battery by the rules. My stock battery location is inside the passenger compartment (in the floor of the hatch). It's exposed once you remove the trunk carpeting. The rules require a wet-cell battery that's in the passenger compartment to be in a marine-type container. But I could not find any marine-type container that could both fit a stock-sized battery AND still fit into the stock location. I bought and returned SEVEN different containers. So, I needed to find something that wasn't a wet cell, yet was of "similar" size and weight to stock. Naturally, I started with the big two, but came up empty ... it took a little research, but they're out there!
