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Battery Box Installation for S1

PostPosted: Sun May 24, 2015 11:48 am
by Certified Lotus
In the several bins of old parts (that came with the car when I bought it) for my S1 is the original battery box. The car came with a large battery installed behind the passenger seat that wasn't bolted down to anything. Very dangerous. It is clearly way to large for the battery box.

Can someone show me a picture of the battery box installation in their car along with the mounting of this box. Does it bolt to the floor (drill through the fiberglass floor) ? My car is changed over to negative ground.

I am figuring I will need to go to a very small battery to fit inside. Would like recommendations from US suppliers if you have them.

Re: Battery Box Installation for S1

PostPosted: Sun May 24, 2015 3:23 pm
by mbell
You might want to take a look at odyssey batteries. Offer smaller, lighter batteries that standard.

Have one on mine, still project stage but turns car over well for good length of time and holds its charge pretty well.

Think a few people here use them well.

Re: Battery Box Installation for S1

PostPosted: Sun May 24, 2015 11:43 pm
by lotusS2guy
The battery box is tapered and holds the battery in place. There should be 2 bobbins in the floor that match up with the holes in the lip of the battery box. I found that lining up the holes and the bobbins is difficult in low light, so I installed two short pieces of threaded rod into the bobbins to act as guides and secured with two nuts. I, too, use an Odyssey battery (don't recall the model #) and it fits perfectly.

I also use a NOCO Genius smart battery charger to keep the battery topped up when the car is not in use. This charger has a detachable connector which can be snaked underneath the battery box and left permanently so that the battery can be charged with the box in place.

Re: Battery Box Installation for S1

PostPosted: Mon May 25, 2015 1:05 am
by kenb
Hi,
My 641/2 Si has the battery in the boot/trunk.sorry don't have a photo .
I use a Miata battery in my Morgan +4 work oK.
Ken Canda.

Re: Battery Box Installation for S1

PostPosted: Mon May 25, 2015 1:38 pm
by tesprit
mbell wrote:You might want to take a look at odyssey batteries. Offer smaller, lighter batteries that standard.

Have one on mine, still project stage but turns car over well for good length of time and holds its charge pretty well.

Think a few people here use them well.


+1 for using an Odyssey battery. I am using their PC925 in my S2 and it works great along with the modern gear reduction starter I have installed. It has plenty of cranking power and has never failed to start the engine, but what makes this battery a great choice is the compact size, light weight, the ability to mount it in any configuration/position except upside down and the best feature of all is that it will not ever leak battery acid. This last feature is probably the best reason to use an Odyssey in an early Elan. Eventually any conventional wet cell lead/acid battery will leak some battery acid and the last place you need a sulfuric acid spill is in the interior of your car. Also, according to Odyssey, even if their battery is impacted enough to crack the case it still will not leak. I added a permanent pigtail to mine as mentioned for using a battery maintainer and that has always ensured the battery was fully charged. The PC925 should fit inside your original battery box with no problem, but you can also purchase one of their mounts to attach to the floor behind your seat. The battery is small enough and light enough that you can place it anywhere you want and just drill a couple of holes for the mount through the floor to bolt it down without fear of it coming loose.

Dan

Re: Battery Box Installation for S1

PostPosted: Tue May 26, 2015 11:39 pm
by Famous Frank
I've used a Lawn Tractor Battery from Sears for years. They are almost all the same size. But Sears is the only one I have found you can get with a 350 CCA (Cold Cranking Amp). I'm sure any good battery manufacturer has them now.

Here is a Interstate Battery for $76

http://www.interstatebatteries.com/p/la ... 2147384903

And Sears has their Die hard for $62 340 CCA

http://www.sears.com/diehard-gold-lawn- ... ckType=G10

Re: Battery Box Installation for S1

PostPosted: Wed May 27, 2015 4:22 am
by kpcseven
Agree with Frank. I also use a lawn tractor battery that I got from Napa. I was concerned that the fancy chemistry of a gel battery might not be long lived with an old fashioned generator but that worry wasn't based on any firm facts. Swayed by the cost difference.

Re: Battery Box Installation for S1

PostPosted: Wed May 27, 2015 12:43 pm
by Certified Lotus
Thanks everyone! Decided to go with the Odyssey PC925 battery and mounting bracket. Was already ordering parts from Summit racing and they had them.

I'm hoping to run out of things to order soon......... :roll:

Re: Battery Box Installation for S1

PostPosted: Sat May 30, 2015 10:50 am
by Certified Lotus
Got my Odyssey battery (PC925) in the mail yesterday along with the odyssey battery bracket. The batter fits well inside the Lotus battery box as described, but once you add the bracket it is a very tight fit.

Securing the battery to the floor is a must. I had a battery break loose in one of my Lotus Exige track cars and it caused a lot of damage. I can only imagine what would happen if the battery had been in the passenger area........

More than likely I'll end up with a very secure battery mount and a tight fit battery cover that won't be bolted down. But that should be OK as it's just a cover.

I wonder how they came from the factory? Was there a bracket to hold the battery down or did the battery cover handle that need?