Lightweight Starter Battery

[Shrimps]

What is everybody using for lightweight starter batteries these days?  With all the fancy battery tech out there nowadays, looking for something other than a standard flooded lead acid as I'd like to save some weight.  It's easier to buy a lighter battery than have to lose weight myself.

My 2/2010(!) flooded battery needed some assistance after my car sat for nearly 10 months.  Otherwise started surprisingly easy, thankfully.

Anyway, not sure if I want to go crazy & try out a Lithium powersport battery, or someplace in between with smaller (than flooded) AGM like a PC680 type.  I am inherently cheap so I'd like to keep the cost at/under $150.
 

[94touring]

I used one for awhile.  It's sitting dead on my shop floor. Will try and get the info off it tomorrow.

[94touring]

Here's what I had used.  I don't remember the weight and don't have a scale out here, but probably half a standard battery. Since my standard battery is now dead, might go back to the light one. 

[MiniDave]

Why did you stop using it?

I'm curious about some of these new lithium batteries too, but all the ones I've seen are really expensive. I know you need a different kind of battery charger, I wonder if the standard alternator setup is OK for them? I wonder if a motorcycle battery would start these tiny little motors too?

I've been hearing not good things about Optimas lately....

[94touring]

It got a bad cell or something about 2 years in and would randomly die. 

[Red Riley]

I used a Braille 15 pound AGM for a couple of years, then went to an 18 pound one when I started having issues with the first one. (my fault)
They seem to last about 3-4 years before they start needing more regular trickle charging. I recently changed to an Odyssey Extreme PC680. I'm very happy with it. Starts right up every time. I also added a battery cutoff, which gives me peace of mind that there isn't anything draining the battery when it's parked.

[Shrimps]

I recently changed to an Odyssey Extreme PC680. I'm very happy with it. Starts right up every time. I also added a battery cutoff, which gives me peace of mind that there isn't anything draining the battery when it's parked.

Glad to hear you're happy with the Odyssey PC680 as I ended up ordering one last week.  Supposed to be here Thursday.  I have a battery cutoff that I always use when the car is at home which I imagine is how my flooded group 24 battery lasted nearly 14 years.

[Red Riley]

I bought my Odyssey battery at the Batteries+ store. Pro tip: when it gets within a month or two of the guaranteed free replacement date, take it back and get a new one for free. They don't ask whether it's good or bad, they just hand you a new one.

[Shrimps]

I bought my Odyssey battery at the Batteries+ store. Pro tip: when it gets within a month or two of the guaranteed free replacement date, take it back and get a new one for free. They don't ask whether it's good or bad, they just hand you a new one.

Is the guaranteed free replacement a Batteries+ thing or Odyssey battery thing?

I bought mine from FCP Euro and they claim a lifetime warranty on their parts.  Supposedly valid for oil too.  :idunno:

https://www.fcpeuro.com/page/lifetime-guarantee

[BruceK]

I bought my Odyssey battery at the Batteries+ store. Pro tip: when it gets within a month or two of the guaranteed free replacement date, take it back and get a new one for free. They don't ask whether it's good or bad, they just hand you a new one.

Is the guaranteed free replacement a Batteries+ thing or Odyssey battery thing?

I bought mine from FCP Euro and they claim a lifetime warranty on their parts.  Supposedly valid for oil too.  :idunno:

https://www.fcpeuro.com/page/lifetime-guarantee

That's an incredible policy! It even includes wear items like brake pads. Wow.

[MiniDave]

When I went to FCP Euro to look at that PC680 battery, it gave me a different part number....

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/powersport-battery-odyssey-pc680

Reading the specs it says it only has 170 cold cranking amps - I wonder if that's near enough? It also says it doesn't come with terminals?

[Shrimps]

Yep, 170 isn't much based on merica' standards.  But the battery seems pretty popular on the UK Mini forum.

They also have regular terminals for the battery.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/powersport-battery-terminals-odyssey-32170006sell

I have yet to install mine.  I bought one of these off eBay to secure it in the battery well though.

https://www.streetrays.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=SRX_PC680_BattHoldDown-A