The car I bought came with brand new XS (Non Lithium) 12v batteries. I have the warranty card, so I know they are brand new.

They've been charged 2 times total. Crank over the motor about 5 times and that's about all you get. I'll be going back to normal automotive batteries.

The XS just doesn't seem to have the capacity needed. I would assume this is how they are so light. Save weight, or tow it seems to be the option, and I'm not towing it.

My opinion here about regular non lithium batteries.

There is no "Magic Battery" if you have one that is lighter then is probably has less capacity. Some may be a little better than others but in general it takes size and weight for capacity.
12 volt batteries and 16 volt batteries may have same amount of total energy but the 16 volts dumps it faster. A 16 volt will spin your motor over faster but it will also go dead faster. Similar total energy but different on how they dump that energy.

A battery simply stores a charge. (Energy) Total energy or charge is more or less dependent on size / weight. If you go with a smaller lighter battery then you have less reserve and charging becomes more critical. And if it fails it will probably not be first round but in later rounds as the reserve gets low and you need it more. Then you are in Semi Finals and it will not start. Ask me how I know.

I like a 16 volt battery but if you have problems with your car and it will not start good you need to resolve that issue. A good system 12 volt or 16 volt does not matter will work fine if your charging system and everything is good. I say this because some think that they are having problems starting so they go to 16 volt system and it will not resolve their issue.

quote:

ry but if you have problems with your car and it will not start good you need to resolve that issue. A good system 12 volt or 16 volt does not matter will work fine if your charging system and everything is good. I say this because some think that they are having problems starting so they go to 16 volt system and it will not resolve their issue.

Agreed.

I definitely am going to go back to 2 normal automotive batteries. The car was built with the #1 plug inline with the strut mounts, without an alternator in mind. I'm going to keep thinking on it, but I doubt I can put an alternator on this car.

If the batteries will only crank over 5 times before dying then you either have some bad batteries or other issues. My 3 year old single 16 volt XS battery still spins my blower motor over like there is no plugs in it so dont blame XS

As far as an alternator goes, looking into mounting it backwards with the pulley facing the block

quote:

Originally posted by Holytown:
[QUOTE]ry but if you have problems with your car and it will not start good you need to resolve that issue. A good system 12 volt or 16 volt does not matter will work fine if your charging system and everything is good. I say this because some think that they are having problems starting so they go to 16 volt system and it will not resolve their issue.[/QUOTE

Agreed.

I definitely am going to go back to 2 normal automotive batteries. The car was built with the #1 plug inline with the strut mounts, without an alternator in mind. I'm going to keep thinking on it, but I doubt I can put an alternator on this car.

Check out Powermaster bracket. If you want a picture of it on my car PM me an email or cell number and I will send you pictures, I had issue finding spot to mount mine also.

For what it's worth, I have heard too many horror stories on the lithium batteries needing "warmed up" before starting a motor, or not making more than 1 run before needing charged again (that is, with multiple starts) and then all of the fire stories from when they first came out..

My XS D1600 16V battery with a 100amp super mini alternator in our camaro got charged maybe 4 times last season and every time it would have the XS charger on trickle mode within 5 minutes after hooking it up. The dragster needed charged a little more but it also has a much more stout motor than the 10.7:1 truck motor in the camaro and had a little more amp draw with the fuel pump and fan being run more.. That will be much less this year though switching to a belt pump on the dragster, and once the heavy D1600 wears out on the dragster it will get switched for a S1600 for a little weight savings.

What about a mount like I made?



Also if you want a good regular battery look at Odyssey batteries.

quote:

Originally posted by CURTIS REED:
What about a mount like I made?



Also if you want a good regular battery look at Odyssey batteries.

That looks nice and would work in a tight application.
Powermaster has a lot of brackets and they have measurements on their web site. Some of them fit very close up to block. Very good stuff.

Which XS power battery do you have?

1. Light weight batteries are a waste of $ in bracket cars, far easier and far, far less expensive ways to lose weight.

2. Every bracket car should have an alternator and there is no good reason not to with countless solutions/brackets available to mount them.

3. In a door car run 2 batteries in the trunk/hatch area behind each slick. In addition to gaining more cranking amps for easier starting, the added weigh will have the car working better, providing you 4 corner scale the car and make the necessary adjustments.

My last car had a 16V. It had the volts but no reserve capacity... So think alcohol carb on cold days..

My new car has 2 12V regular auto batteries. A little heavy but they are in the back. I have no desire to go to 16V.

if your charger is computer chip operated be sure to use a inverter genset when normal ac is not available . cheap chinese gensets without inverter supplied power drives electronics insane.

quote:

Originally posted by 1320racer:
1. Light weight batteries are a waste of $ in bracket cars, far easier and far, far less expensive ways to lose weight.

2. Every bracket car should have an alternator and there is no good reason not to with countless solutions/brackets available to mount them.

3. In a door car run 2 batteries in the trunk/hatch area behind each slick. In addition to gaining more cranking amps for easier starting, the added weigh will have the car working better, providing you 4 corner scale the car and make the necessary adjustments.

^^This^^

I've been running XS 16 volt batteries for 8 or 9 years, both D1600 and S1600. I've always ran an Alternator but still throw the charger on after every run. I used to swap them out every 2 years but have started going 3 now without issue.

quote:

Originally posted by TonyB6255:
I've always ran an Alternator but still throw the charger on after every run. I used to swap them out every 2 years but have started going 3 now without issue.

This^^^

It’s nearly 2022, who doesn’t own a battery charger and what are you trying to prove by not putting it on your battery every round?

That said, as of this year, I now run/own three 16 volt, D1600 batteries. 1 on the dragster, 2 in the Firebird. For all the years past, I ran 12volt, specifically AC DELCO in my door cars and 2 Concord/Total Power/Rock aircraft batteries in my dragster.

quote:

Originally posted by TonyB6255:

I've been running XS 16 volt batteries for 8 or 9 years, both D1600 and S1600. I've always ran an Alternator but still throw the charger on after every run. I used to swap them out every 2 years but have started going 3 now without issue.

I used to buy the " Rock " 16v batteries and couldn't get one to last 2 seasons. Switched to the XS and haven't had one go bad yet

quote:

Originally posted by sc4087:

quote:

Originally posted by TonyB6255:

I've been running XS 16 volt batteries for 8 or 9 years, both D1600 and S1600. I've always ran an Alternator but still throw the charger on after every run. I used to swap them out every 2 years but have started going 3 now without issue.

I used to buy the " Rock " 16v batteries and couldn't get one to last 2 seasons. Switched to the XS and haven't had one go bad yet

What charger do you use?

East Penn / Delco 1131 and the 60 amp alternator the car came with, driven with a 50% under crank pulley.
On the charger while running the cooling between rounds.
Last battery was 7 years old, replaced because I felt guilty.
Some of y'all make this harder than it needs to be.

quote:

Originally posted by Holytown:

quote:

Originally posted by sc4087:

quote:

Originally posted by TonyB6255:

I've been running XS 16 volt batteries for 8 or 9 years, both D1600 and S1600. I've always ran an Alternator but still throw the charger on after every run. I used to swap them out every 2 years but have started going 3 now without issue.

I used to buy the " Rock " 16v batteries and couldn't get one to last 2 seasons. Switched to the XS and haven't had one go bad yet

What charger do you use?

I also had no luck with the Rock 16V batteries. As a reference I have been using this Moroso charger https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mor-74016 since I made the switch to 16 volt maybe 9 years ago. Mine has the Rock battery label on it because I bought a Rock battery/charger package back then. I also keep the battery on the charger 24/7, once charged it goes into float mode and will top off the charge every couple of days automatically

^^^Best battery charger for our race cars money can buy.

A new car to you and a new battery. I would be all over the wiring running a "voltage drop test" on the pos and neg sides to verify the wiring has solid connections and you don't have a starter that is dragging. I also noticed you didn't say you had the battery tested.


Joe