Lightwieght Batteries for a GT3

[GrahamSaunders]

Having replaced the batter in my GT3 recently I noticed how heavy it is and how high it sits above the front axle line. The porsche lightweight batteries are very expensive so I have looked for alternatives and found this company in the US who sell Braile lightweight batteries and also the fitting bracket.

http://www.suncoastparts.com/product/BRAILLEBATTER...

These are supposed to be around 16kg lighter than a standard battery and cost are just under £200 including the bracket - seems a very cheap way of losing weight.

Does anyone have any experience of these or similar? Are they reliable enough or do you end up with starting problems? Can you notice any change to handling?

[thegoose]

Here's a recent thread on the subject, which should be useful:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[m33ufo]

Out of curiosity, is it possible to purchase the L-ion battery used by Porsche from an alternative supplier at a better price?

[m33ufo]

I'm being picky I know, but was hoping someone may make the same battery - just not badged Porsche!

[Slippydiff]

m33ufo said:

I'm being picky I know, but was hoping someone may make the same battery - just not badged Porsche!

Rumour has it, they have a propensity to start "thermal incidents" in some cars. I'd imagine Porsche have secured a sole retailer clause for them anyway.

[GrahamSaunders]

Slippydiff said:

http://www.lithiummoto.com/index.html

http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/gt2-and-gt3/...

Thanks for the link to the rennlist thread - that was the sort of thing I had in mind. Initially thought about buying a porsche lithium battery but I think they are too expensive.

Anyone on PH tried this approach?

[keep it lit]

here is my diy effort; odyssey 25 race battery (7kg) & autolec isolater.. used old pair of jump leads for cable & terminals from my workshop..

i did have the smallest moll 550/46 battery (18kgs) from porsche on the car, i have made the connections reversable so i can put the standard battery back on in around 30 minutes for touring etc.




ade

[GrahamSaunders]

keep it lit said:

here is my diy effort; odyssey 25 race battery (7kg) & autolec isolater.. used old pair of jump leads for cable & terminals from my workshop..

i did have the smallest moll 550/46 battery (18kgs) from porsche on the car, i have made the connections reversable so i can put the standard battery back on in around 30 minutes for touring etc.




ade

So do you just use the small battery for track days or does it live in the car?

[ForzaWhitesGen2]

Does this really make a difference?
Eat breakfast or leave it?
Shorts or Jeans?
20ltr of fuel or 33?
At around 1395 Kg's how much would the lighter battery improve things? ..... 0.12741 seconds? .. is it that important?

[spareparts]

ForzaWhitesGen2 said:

Does this really make a difference?
Eat breakfast or leave it?
Shorts or Jeans?
20ltr of fuel or 33?
At around 1395 Kg's how much would the lighter battery improve things? ..... 0.12741 seconds? .. is it that important?

Toilet#2 first or just a #1?

1 days driver training would yield more than the cost of a Lightweight battery imho.

[GrahamSaunders]

It seems the cheapest way of losing weight, and its weight that sits quite high up in the car and so raises the roll centre of the car more significantly than an exhaust system or seats. Its not really a question of either driver training or a battery or an exhaust - why not all 3?

Feedback from the post on the Rennlist forum suggested that changing the battery made a difference to the front ride height which took 2 full turns on the front suspension to offset and that there was a noticeably improvement in turn-in on track.

Anyone on here actually tried a light weight battery and noticed any impact on handling?

[keep it lit]

GrahamSaunders said:

So do you just use the small battery for track days or does it live in the car?

Race battery has lived in the car since installed last year..

A selection of weight saving mods over time will save you plenty of noticeable mass loss, especially if you track the car regularly.. my 6.1 gt3 is down to 1325kgs inc full cage and some fuel.

[s_mcneil]

Ade, OT but why the strut brace, thought the C4 chassis was stiff enough?

[keep it lit]

s_mcneil said:

Ade, OT but why the strut brace, thought the C4 chassis was stiff enough?

was on the car when i bought it pal..

[s_mcneil]

keep it lit said:

was on the car when i bought it pal..

Cool, just asking as I have 1 in the garage ready to sell but finding people don't want them.

[ChrisW.]

Slippydiff said:

Rumour has it, they have a propensity to start "thermal incidents" in some cars. I'd imagine Porsche have secured a sole retailer clause for them anyway.

At 65 degrees C a Lithium, battery under load can go into a state of exothermic discharge ...

Hence Tesler use electric fans powered by the batteries to cool their batteries ....

[DanH]

I have the odyssey with a nice rennline battery mount so looks very tidy. No idea how long it can survive off a conditioner, but I'm not super optimistic given the size of it combined with tracker + alarm. Its a significant weight saving though and probably the cheapest one you can do.

[GrahamSaunders]

DanH said:

I have the odyssey with a nice rennline battery mount so looks very tidy. No idea how long it can survive off a conditioner, but I'm not super optimistic given the size of it combined with tracker + alarm. Its a significant weight saving though and probably the cheapest one you can do.

Thanks Dan. I had a look at the website and the mounts look really well finished. Which battery did you go for - the 925 or 680?

[DanH]

GrahamSaunders said:

Thanks Dan. I had a look at the website and the mounts look really well finished. Which battery did you go for - the 925 or 680?

680!!! very small.

[bobsan]

had one of these since day one with vehicle:

http://www.powervampracing.com/detail.asp?ID=24

hopeless after 3 day or less with alarm, needs to live on charger continually,as will any light weight battery but I'd never fit a reg battery, far too heavy.