XS 16volt standard heavy aZZ battery with their smart charger and alternator from House of Payne. Going on year #6. Just saying.
Michael Frizie ET 2471
December 13, 2021, 04:36 PM
sc4087
quote:
Originally posted by Holytown:
What charger do you use?
Same as Steve, the repackaged Moroso charger with a Rock racing batteries sticker on it.
Mike Greene
December 13, 2021, 04:57 PM
SCDIV1
Red top Optima in battery tray middle of car XS 1200 in nose and barely fits
Been using that pair of batteries with a super mini alternator and HOP starters since 2013
Replaced red top once and old one is still good
Never replaced XS and they sit on a charger/maintainer 24/7 all year
Never had a problem
On gas with a lot of electrical loads
December 13, 2021, 05:25 PM
Toad1
Cable issues are biggest culprit. My son wires drag cars and it is amazing some of them even started before he went work on them! Make sure the block or the actual starter bolt is grounded to the battery, not just the frame. Take no chances, the better the ground, the more effective the positive cable can deliver amps.
I've got three seasons on my xs 16v so far and zero issues....16.5:1 665" engine alky injected.....cranks like no tomorrow....and as far as going dead, I've ran as many as 5 rounds without recharging (generator died on me), still started car without issue.....several more times......and I'm not currently running an alternator....
One thing to remember is a "dead" 16v battery still has more available voltage than a fully charged 12v battery does......
Agree with Ed on this, a lightweight battery doesn't belong in a bracket car. I tried that ONCE.....car wouldn't start after two attempts....so I use that battery for my timing light since it won't work on 16v. I also plan to find a spot for my alternator. Looking like where the crank trigger is at now, and I'll move the trigger under the engine....with my alternator, I doubt I'll have to charge the battery at all at the track......
Mark Goulette Owner/Driver of the Livin' The Dream Racing dragster www.livinthedreamracing.com "Speed kills but it's better than going slow!" Authorized Amsoil Retailer
December 14, 2021, 11:21 PM
markemark
quote:
Originally posted by CURTIS REED: Also if you want a good regular battery look at Odyssey batteries.
AGREED. I replaced a 9 yr old PC 1500DT Odyssey this summer that still cranked good enough to start my sbc. I also replaced the 2.4hp ECAE starter with a 3.0hp from HOP at the same time. That starter increased the cranking speed.
I almost never charge my battery. Sits in race car 4+ months during winter never on charger. Odyssey states battery only needs charging if below 12.65v. My alternator is 135 amp and system is 14.2+ volts at idle or wot.
If I had BBC door car I’d have two of them.This message has been edited. Last edited by: markemark,
December 15, 2021, 04:46 AM
1320racer
a good "regular battery" is AC Delco which I ran in my doors cars for decades until this season. Never had one fail and typically swapped them out every 4-5 years just because.
December 15, 2021, 07:28 AM
CURTIS REED
quote:
Originally posted by markemark:
quote:
Originally posted by CURTIS REED: Also if you want a good regular battery look at Odyssey batteries.
AGREED. I replaced a 9 yr old PC 1500DT Odyssey this summer that still cranked good enough to start my sbc. I also replaced the 2.4hp ECAE starter with a 3.0hp from HOP at the same time. That starter increased the cranking speed.
I almost never charge my battery. Sits in race car 4+ months during winter never on charger. Odyssey states battery only needs charging if below 12.65v. My alternator is 135 amp and system is 14.2+ volts at idle or wot.
If I had BBC door car I’d have two of them.
My first I bought in Aug. 2008 and replaced it in March of 2017. Used it 3 more years as my tongue jack battery. Using Battery Tenders 24/7 makes a huge difference in the life of a battery no matter the voltage.
I believe them to have one of the best inner constructions of "regular batteries". Guess we have to use quotes. LOL
December 15, 2021, 07:38 AM
1320racer
I’m not trying to win a bullshyt contest as to how long my battery(s) will go before replacement same with the nonsense claims from those who don’t charge their battery between rounds. Im all about winning races, not losing a round because I’m trying to prove a meaningless point about a battery. That said I’ll put my previous used AC DELCO battery against any “regular battery” for usable service life on a 15:1 bbc.
December 15, 2021, 07:41 AM
NC3x58
Question for those who leave race cars in storage in the winter in colder states, do you leave the battery on trickle charger in the car or take it somewhere warmer like in the house basement or something?
Nick Craig
1971 Camaro Split Bumper 376ci LS3
December 15, 2021, 07:42 AM
1320racer
No to trickle charge and no to removing the battery from cold conditions.
December 15, 2021, 07:55 AM
Lincoln
quote:
Originally posted by NC3x58: 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..
Leave me out of this lol
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.
December 15, 2021, 08:08 AM
BG7X77
I keep every battery that is not in daily use on a LOW AMPERAGE (0.75) maintainer 24/7. RV house and chassis, lawnmowers, race car.
BG
December 15, 2021, 08:10 AM
Bob Deniker
I have the big XS in my dragster with the fancy mezier (sp) starter and flexplate. No alt, but charge every two runs with the XS charger. 5 years old. My Camaro has 2 yellow top Optimas with a standard old school alternator. They gotta be 10 years old.
My shyt must be junk because I have the XS D1600 battery in both cars with 120amp alternators in both cars and I use the best battery charger bar none on both cars between rounds and my charger never gets to trickle/float mode after the 1st round due to time between rounds and is always charging at 15 amps or more after every round.
December 15, 2021, 08:27 AM
NC3x58
quote:
Originally posted by 1320racer: My shyt must be junk because I have the XS D1600 battery in both cars with 120amp alternators in both cars and I use the best battery charger bar none on both cars between rounds and my charger never gets to trickle/float mode after the 1st round due to time between rounds and is always charging at 15 amps or more after every round.
Based on what you just said, I would have to agree with you that your shyt must be junk
All kidding aside, the only time ours is at 15 amps or more is when the alternator belt on the dragster stretched a little one time and wasn't charging correctly. Problem solved with a better Dayco Top Cog belt and it always goes to trickle mode after 5 minutes or so... Unless we are literally hot lapping, with only time being to drive back to pits, splash some methanol in the tank and head back to the staging lanes.. Then it may take 10-15 minutes after the race and we're back to fully charged!
Nick Craig
1971 Camaro Split Bumper 376ci LS3
December 15, 2021, 08:41 AM
1320racer
I’ve been running Dayco Top Cog belts for over 3 decades. That said, my engines run gas. After the pass the engines are cooled to 110 in my pit with the charger on. Once reached, fan/water pump is shut off and battery stays in charger until started for next pass.
December 15, 2021, 09:05 AM
NC3x58
Ever since switching to the Dayco belt, we never had to adjust it again on the alternator. And this season we switched to methanol, get back from a pass at 180* or so, shut it off while splashing fuel in and its back to 150-160 and doesn't climb again till going down the track. Methanol for the win there!
Nick Craig
1971 Camaro Split Bumper 376ci LS3
December 15, 2021, 09:39 AM
Bob Deniker
quote:
Originally posted by 1320racer: My shyt must be junk because I have the XS D1600 battery in both cars with 120amp alternators in both cars and I use the best battery charger bar none on both cars between rounds and my charger never gets to trickle/float mode after the 1st round due to time between rounds and is always charging at 15 amps or more after every round.
Well, I don't have much experience in the later rounds anymore
Originally posted by NC3x58: Question for those who leave race cars in storage in the winter in colder states, do you leave the battery on trickle charger in the car or take it somewhere warmer like in the house basement or something?
In car, 15* to 30* inside garage during the winter months, no charger. 0 turn mower and scooter same way.
