12V racing battery recommendations

[Paul Merolla]

Originally Posted by Larry Hill

I have used two 11.5 lbs Braille battery's for years in the six pack car with zero let downs. Once the starter acted a little slow, battery was ok just a loose cable. My alternator works. I have tested and could go three rounds without charging in between rounds. I did cool car with sprayer until temp was reached then turn off fan. I change them out every three years.

Sounds like you and I have exactly the same battery experience, Larry. This is the 4th season on my two 11.5 lb Braille batteries. I even completely killed them once last year by leaving the water pump on for 5 hours...discovered this fact when they called us up for first round. Charged them for 15 minutes or so, the car started, and I still beat a few people to the lanes.

[btrc]

A few years ago my car wouldn't start for the semi finals at a race and I decided that this was not going to happen again.
Now between rounds I run the fan and water pump from the (2) deep cycle batteries in the trailer normally for the winch and jack. I run 4 ga cables to a switch box and then 4 way cable to a 4 pole plug. The 4 way socket in the car is wired in parallel to the normal wires.

[cmracing]

Made 13 passes Saturday with a single Group 31 in the trunk, 105amp GM alternator supplying the juice, never had my charger out. Doubt there are many cars using as much power as mine:

Dual stock GM F-Body fans, over 20 amps each.
Mezier electric water pump.
Weldon EFI fuel pump.
8 injectors, though they take very little.
4 coil packs (DIS waste fire setup, like a GN).
The last two hours ran the electric fan on the 2nd trans cooler, not sure what it draws.

The last 6 passes were made 15 minutes between each, only got to the trailer for fuel.

So....... Why mess with these little batteries you have to worry about charging when there are massive batteries out there that will never give you an issue?

[GTX JOHN]

I run one or two Walmart budget batteries (either 26 or 56 as I recall)
that weigh 26 Lbs. I have been for 25 years. Easy to exchange on the
road if needed. They have recently gone up to $49.95.
I do charge them in the latter rounds.

[Paul Merolla]

Originally Posted by cmracing

So....... Why mess with these little batteries you have to worry about charging when there are massive batteries out there that will never give you an issue?

Because in Stock, we have to keep the battery in the stock location...a group 31 on the nose of the car wouldn't be too smart.

[cmracing]

Originally Posted by Paul Merolla

Because in Stock, we have to keep the battery in the stock location...a group 31 on the nose of the car wouldn't be too smart.

I understand that. I have wired Stockers and kept a small battery up front to meet the rule, and put a real battery in the back that I never had to worry about. You're right, I can't imagine a Group 31 under the hood of anything but a truck!

[GTX JOHN]

Stock the batteries MUST be exactly the same size. NOT just same brand and similar model. I got bounced for less than 1 Inch difference in length and same width in the same brand and model. This was in St. Louis
at Divisional last year in my Demon.

[Dave Noll]

Originally Posted by GTX JOHN

Stock the batteries MUST be exactly the same size. NOT just same brand and similar model. I got bounced for less than 1 Inch difference in length and same width in the same brand and model. This was in St. Louis
at Divisional last year in my Demon.

Was the smaller one in the front of the car or the back?

Originally Posted by Dragsinger

However, I am softening with that stance and now think a conventional, lead-acid, or AGM 12 volt deep cycle is an overall excellent choice.

I haven't seen the deep cycle batteries last much more than 1 year. Maybe I get the wrong ones.

[cmracing]

Originally Posted by GTX JOHN

Stock the batteries MUST be exactly the same size. NOT just same brand and similar model. I got bounced for less than 1 Inch difference in length and same width in the same brand and model. This was in St. Louis
at Divisional last year in my Demon.

Amazing! With all the other stuff going-on in Stock Eliminator they are worried about a battery.......... Guess it is easy to measure and check, unlike a lot of other "stuff"...........

[Mike Pearson]

Originally Posted by GTX JOHN

Stock the batteries MUST be exactly the same size. NOT just same brand and similar model. I got bounced for less than 1 Inch difference in length and same width in the same brand and model. This was in St. Louis
at Divisional last year in my Demon.

That is splitting hairs. Seems a bit picky on that. I could see if it was a big difference. Looks like they were hunting something to bounce you which is surprising as many racers as you have helped over the years.