ugly wieght

[twincamman]

I just lost 30 ponds 0f unneeded ugly weight from my elan --[no I didn't cut off my head or other appendages] ---by removing the 40 pound acid lead cell battery and replacing it with the new gel cell 10 pound battery ----worked on the Europa so I thought I had best put one in the elan ---00-ed

[richard sprint]

Can you provide more info?

I'm sure Colin Chapman would have jumped on this one...

[msd1107]

There are numerous manufacturers that produce light weight batteries. The batteries we are used to are open plate batteries, and have a low energy density.

Newer batteries use what is called gel mat construction. This allows the same energy storage to be accommodated with less material. In addition, the battery is sealed, and can be mounted in any position except upside down. Often, they are smaller for the same capacity.

The Odyssey PC680 is a popular choice. This is around 12 lbs. Varley makes an equivalent model, as do many others.

If your engine starts up on the first spin, (especially if you use a gear drive starter which has a lower current draw) you could go to an even smaller battery. There are batteries as light as 5 lbs, and are even smaller than the PC680 form factor. You have to be careful with these smaller batteries, since the terminals may not be compatible with your existing battery cables. Also, the long length of the +12 cable from the battery to starter has to be considered. With such a light weight battery, mounting it close to the starter would be desirable.

Odyssey and Varley have batteries in those sizes. At the recent CES, there were several battery manufacturers displaying their wares. Although slanted to the big speaker crowd with huge capacities, they also had small sizes. One was longwaybattery.com. Do a Froogle or Google search for lightweight car battery. You will find ones as light as 1 or 2 lbs!

David
1968 36/7988

[twincamman]

this one takes 1/4 nuts and bolts is very beefy so it will withstand a little abuse --called magnavolt 12v etc etc no financial interest etc etc yadda yaddad-- ---ed

[alexblack13]

Top tip Ed... I like this one. Anything that rids the car of a lot of weight at one fell swoop is good news. My batt lives in the boot in the normal place. Would it fit there ok?

Listening out......

Alex B.....

[twincamman]

the battery is 6x6x8 so it fits pretty near any place and can be put on its side or end -----not up side down though --ed

[alexblack13]

Brill! I would not have fitted it upside down though. Most of us know that would reverse the polarity

Thanks.Thats one for this winter...

AB...

[hatman]

Ah, but Rohan would have to install it upside down.

[elansprint71]

Ah, but Rohan would have to install it upside down.

I believe that there is an AUS version with the terminals on the bottom.