flyingbrick Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Enjoyed the battery discussion in other thread- could we move that chat here? I'm keen to know what lowest amp alternator people would use on efi car road car that has lights but not much else. Also what kinda CCA would a big modern v8 need? Love the idea of these sealed gel batteries as I have enough room to mount one on my firewall in cabin behind dash- it keeps the power wires short and frees up space in the engine bay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikuni Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 As per the other thread, I'm using a Shorai bike battery in my race car. http://shoraipower.com/ They are expensive, mine was around the $250 mark and it is a little undersized for a normal car, but bear in mind it is a race car. I'm removing all of the electrics except for the windscreen wiper motor and I've removed a blade to reduce friction. Headlight bulbs have been replaced with LED bulbs and I might take them out altogether. For a road car with electrics you would need a much larger battery, but most older cars should be fine with a small one. This is my battery To give you an idea of the size - that's the battery in the distance on the firewall This method is good to reduce cable lengths and weight, and my battery weighs 764 grams, when my car battery was 14kg and a small SLA battery was around 5kg. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pusherman Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 i bought a nice 550ca battery and left in my escort with the alarm on and rarley starting it so it drained every month or so and i charged it and drove car but now it charges no more and i am sad/ have to roll start car for extra 'theres the neighbour in that noisy car again' points Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingbrick Posted September 4, 2013 Author Share Posted September 4, 2013 So are the optima red and yellow top batteries still the best for a street driven car or is there a cheaper option? In hindsight there will be some significant current draw in the gem with fuel pumps, electric fans, lights and PCM potentially on at once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpr Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 should be able to go pretty small on the alternator. not sure what you would get one off though. I use an under driven 2e 55amp one in place of 70amp? 4age one. so something that isn't under driven and less that 55amp should be fine. daihatsu charade maybe smaller again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingbrick Posted September 4, 2013 Author Share Posted September 4, 2013 Great- mines 60a. Wasn't sure If that would be enough. Also not sure on pulley sizes- I don't know if its going to end up under or over driven as using a factory ls1 crank pulley,an alternator pulley off some Nissan and an alternator off..... Can't remember http://shoraipower.com/lfx36l3-bs12-p130 Anyone see any problems with this in a sometimes street driven car? What a great product!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOHC Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Those sealed lead acid batterys last a long time, I found a place in auckland witch sells them for $45 each as they have been sitting at auto shops too long and they need to move them fast, they have a 12 month warranty. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingbrick Posted September 4, 2013 Author Share Posted September 4, 2013 Those sealed lead acid batterys last a long time, I found a place in auckland witch sells them for $45 each as they have been sitting at auto shops too long and they need to move them fast, they have a 12 month warranty. Same brand or??! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOHC Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Same brand or??! Allsorts of brands, Excide, Repco, ect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingbrick Posted September 4, 2013 Author Share Posted September 4, 2013 Can ya tell us who sells them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mailman Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Great- mines 60a. Wasn't sure If that would be enough. Also not sure on pulley sizes- I don't know if its going to end up under or over driven as using a factory ls1 crank pulley,an alternator pulley off some Nissan and an alternator off..... Can't remember http://shoraipower.com/lfx36l3-bs12-p130 Anyone see any problems with this in a sometimes street driven car? What a great product!! Would that battery be robust enough for use in a road car (classic mini, electrics = ignition, lights and err... not much else)? I see it has 540cca which is roughly what I have in my car at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berjjj Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Those sealed lead acid batterys last a long time, I found a place in auckland witch sells them for $45 each as they have been sitting at auto shops too long and they need to move them fast, they have a 12 month warranty. Also interested in one since I'm planning to relocate it to the boot. Where is this place? If you don't mind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoKer Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 I'm keen to know what lowest amp alternator people would use on efi car road car that has lights but not much else. wut? can you elaborate on this please : are you trying to save space? or loss of parasitic power driving a 1000A alt will be no different to driving a 10A Alternator aka generator (and yes I am aware the two are different things Alt. vs generator) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOHC Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Can ya tell us who sells them? Mr green 154 Railside Ave Henderson Waitakere City Auckland (09) 6258000 Sorry I didn't say they start at $45, I have bought a few off them but they didn't seem to cost over $45 and I got quit a bit sealed battrey witch would have cost over $200 somewhere elce 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOHC Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 http://www.trademe.co.nz/services/trades/automotive/auction-550595688.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingbrick Posted September 4, 2013 Author Share Posted September 4, 2013 wut? can you elaborate on this please : are you trying to save space? or loss of parasitic power driving a 1000A alt will be no different to driving a 10A Alternator aka generator (and yes I am aware the two are different things Alt. vs generator) Hey man. Space- but also because I have a 60a item and no idea if that is suitable. Is there a max or minimum rpm they should spin at? I'm guessing I can just suck it and see- If under charging I can move to smaller alternator pulley to increase rpms. I have gone to small 60a alt because that's what I have, have to relocate it anyway, my motor didn't come with one etc. Do cars ever have charge issues changing to under drive pulleys? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOHC Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 I saw segedins were selling bigger pulleys for slowing the alternator down, I thought one of the good things about alternators is they would charg at any speed? Some hot rods run them off the driveshaft 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingbrick Posted September 4, 2013 Author Share Posted September 4, 2013 Lets say your car is running and you have all your accessories on and your alt can't keep up- would voltage on gauge just drop below 12v the very instant things go bad? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOHC Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Your alternator may over heat if it couldn't keep up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KKtrips Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 60 amps is plenty for most injected cars. Most basic carby cars have a 35-50 amp from factory. If you are running a high draw fuel pump, electric fan, heater, wipers, headlights and a loud stereo with subs all simultaneously then I would imagine you would need a 100 amp alternator. Anyhow just fit the 60 amp alt and see how it goes via an ammeter once you are running. If it is not keeping up or having to work hard the whole time then upgrade it at that point. If you can't be bothered doing it twice then just fit a Bosch 100 amp alternator from the word go. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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