Battery Recommendations?
 

Hey All - Quick question -

My OEM battery finally bit the dust (from my 2013) and it's time for a new one.

I track my car occasionally and am not opposed to getting a smaller / lighter one. I do store my car in the winter on a trickle charger, so very cold starts are not an issue.

IF I do go with an aftermarket, smaller/lighter batter - I want it to be almost a direct swap if possible.

Any recommendations over another OEM battery?

Thank you!

https://i.postimg.cc/x16vXmnF/1212.jpg

Shorai lithium battery, about 5lbs...

Any specific model?

Something like this?
https://www.shoraidirect.com/en/p130...ty-case-type-3
It can crank even the winter if you use often your car

This thread may help you:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=120937

I went gel
 

I have some minor Audio equipment upgrades so went Gel to allow me Tunes / Movies without needing to keep the motor running.

Where do you buy correct posts and such for it?

Also - following the thread that JIM THEO posted - it appears Shorai does NOT recommend using their batteries in cars yet. The gave some damn good reasons.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...8&postcount=14

After doing some looking - I think i'll go Braille AGM - still much lighter than stock, but no potential Lithium issues and I don't have to get a different trickle charger for winter.

Plus, around $200 still isn't bad.

https://www.braillebattery.com/index...atteries/b2618

Good point, actually I've read many forum members use it that's why I suggested it.
I think the max voltage I saw in my MY18 is about 14.4V, hope those that have it in their cars will comment with experiences!

Those "damn good reasons" really don't apply to our car. I've been running a Shorai LFX36 battery for a long time without any issues. I daily drive the car + track it. As long as you don't let it sit for a long time, you'll be fine. Our alternators do not overcharge, as long as you have the stock alternator. If you're doing crazy car audio stuff, probably don't want a lightweight battery to start with, but then maybe look elsewhere. Our stock audio stuff is not going to damage this battery.

I live in a cold climate and have been happy with my switch to the PC680. I get a deal on Odyssey batteries, I paid under 150. It is about 60% the weight of stock, so not the lightest. But it is an improvement and my old battery had died on me anyway.

Don't listen to Shorai, they don't know your use case. They assume you have some SUV with massive amounts of electronics. A Braille battery will have the exact same issues as the Shorai. The only difference is Braille takes the same type of atv batteries Shorai uses, relabels them, and doubles the price. The company that makes Braille batteries is called Deka, and you can buy the exact same battery for a ton less without the fancy Braille name.

I just bought a Braille AGM - not lithium. So going with the traditional tech that's just 1/3 lighter.

Just make sure you disconnect over the winter if not leaving on a charger. It will help keep it happy. My battery is smaller, but still leave it on a charger most of the time.

For sure - even my basically dead ass one is on a trickle right now

Went to hang the charger on last night for a top off charge, only to find battery is completely dead. Not even a dome light. So....
It was a choice between the Optima and Deka AGM. I've had good luck with the Optima in my Tundra. Got 7 years out of the first one.

Decided on the Deka intimidator AGM since we buy boat loads of batteries from Deka here at work and I can get a decent price.
Hope it works out ok and holds up as well as the Optima.


The batteries in these cars sure go dead fast when sitting.

Optima moved their production facilities a while ago and started using recycled lead in their batteries almost 10 years ago. I got only a couple years out if the last two yellow tops on my truck, dead cell every time. I would pass on them. I been a big fan of Odessey and Northstar the last few years.

Sent from my Moto E (4) Plus using Tapatalk

I know you already picked up a battery, but Odyssey batteries get my vote... made mistake getting Shorai before it and ended up being a dead $300+ paperweight from daily driving within a few months. Voltage is critical on the lithium batteries and you can't let them get below 13.7 volts if you value your battery... so you have to watch your voltage like a hawk and have them constantly on a charger. If you start your car a few times within a short time/travel distance and no charging in-between would not recommend using for a daily driver. Would only use for coming and going to work and not running ANY short errands while at work. Charging while at work would be highly recommended if need to use the car for errands during the workday.

The Nissan dealership 'killed' the less than 1 year old Odyssey battery in my Frontier which they had for 3 months waiting on a replacement part for failed brake system because apparently they don't disconnect the battery and used it without recharging, first and last time I ever take a vehicle to them. They drained it down to ~3 volts then had the nerve to say I needed a new battery for $130. Told them I didn't want their junk OEM battery. OEM battery is why I bought the Odyssey when I got the truck in the first place - crazy ammount of corrosion on the main cable, connections, and battery bracket from it offgassing.

Contacted Battery Mart, where I purchase batteries from, and asked them to do the Odyssey recovery procedure, which they agreed to though saying no garantee since it was way outside the warranty drain specification, and that return shipping would be on me if it was a dead battery. So I shipped off the battery to them and they performed the recovery procedure, brought the battery back to life, and stress tested it with very healthy results.

Battery functions as new with no noticeable change in its performance. I'm sure some life was taken off it due to the Nissan dealerships negligence, but as long as I get useful service out of it for ~ 5 years it will be well worth it. I bought the when it was on sale and with an additional %15 off... so it was ~$80 less than normal price...normally ~$280, got it for just under $200. Odyssey batteries will last a good 7+ years of extreme use though, and are rated at up to 10 years useful life... and have a 5 year warranty.

I use the PC680MJ in my FR-S... metal jacket because higher heat rating and about 1/2 the weight of stock battery.

Another vote for Odessey. Optima sold out and is junk now. Braille are super light, but my friends that use them on track cars get less than a year out of them and treat them like disposables.

Any of these super lightweight batteries need to be on chargers as much as possible. And frankly if you sit them at work you should detach them so the don't drain. I'm surprised there isn't a prevalence of solar powered chargers for them, that you they can always be charging when the car is off.

Good point. I wonder if anyone has gone this route. I may try it.

you can buy a little solar panel and charge controller at harbor freight for cheap.

I just went through the winter (a colder winter than previous years) in upstate NY with a Braille B3121 battery. There were no issues. It didn't need charging or anything different than stock battery. I will see how many years it will last. If it lasts more than 3 years, I am getting another.

What's going on here??? There are some very striking yellow bits that must turn blue....

lol what? The battery will be gone and the only part left yellow is the sticker on top of the radiator fill tube :)

What will really throw you off is the red Cam Sensor Covers, Alternator and water pump pulleys.

https://i.postimg.cc/D0RPH3z0/302611...77770240-o.jpg