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DIY: 5lb Shorai Battery Install
There are several options out there for lightweight batteries. I didn't really like any of them. Most seemed overpriced, underpowered and/or overweight for what they offered. During the course of my research, I came across the Shorai lithium-iron battery... It's very light, cheaper than lithium-ion and packs quite a bit of power. Like a freaking unicorn of lightweight batteries. I have no idea why everyone isn't running these.
So I pulled the trigger... Ordered a Shorai LFX36A3-BS12 Powersports Battery (A better battery with the correct orientation would be the LFX36L3-BS12) ~$270 Also ordered... [ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004DDI0DE/ref=oh_details_o08_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1"]Braille Battery 1821 Universal Mount Kit / Rubber Tie Down [/ame](I have replaced the actual rubber tie with the metal SPT tiedown, works great!) [ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002ZR4UC/ref=oh_details_o09_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1"] Brass SAE Automotive Battery Terminal Set for Hawker Odyssey Batteries [/ame]($12) I found out I needed these to finish the install... [ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0071GWVIU/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1"] KnuKonceptz 1/0 Gauge Crimp Style Ring Terminal [/ame]($8) [ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Z0YB5Q/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1"]KnuKonceptz KCA Kable 0 Gauge Power Wire Black [/ame]($4) 1/4" Nylon washers from Lowes, see picture ($1) The specs on the battery are amazing... http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ps455de91a.jpg http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...psfd36dce7.jpg And the battery weighs exactly 5.2 pounds. More capacity than stock and 24 less pounds! Installation was a bit tricky but once I eyeballed it enough I figured it out. http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ps2db02e69.jpg There was no way to make it fit with the stock mounting hardware and using just the stock battery hookups. I decided to make about a foot long extension for the negative terminal. I crimped the huge connectors with a set of lockjaw pliers then made a double crimp compression using a chisel and hammer. Those connectors aren't going anywhere! I also needed to buy some 1/4in nylon washers (I sandwiched them between stainless fender washers) for the stock battery ties because the new battery is so short I ran out of threads. Using that hardware with the braille rubber tie, everything went in perfect. I installed some thick rubber weatherstripping along the base of the battery to offer a little extra security. I can rock the car with the battery though so I don't think it's going anywhere. I zip tied the OEM negative hardware where you see it along one of the preexisting wiring harnesses. Retained all the stock hardware for the winter months when the big battery might have to go in. http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ps4b66a9e2.jpg I'll update this thread when/if the battery gives me a hard time. I've started the car just fine all day today. Fires right up like stock. There are some s2k guys that have been running this battery for 2 years with no troubles. If anyone has any questions, let me know! This battery is also used on the awesome TRD griffon car too. http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...psd0c9932b.jpg |
Thanks for the writeup. I have my lfx21 coming in. I managed to find 6" j-hooks =)
Let us know how the battery holds up. Might have to invest in the Shorai charger... |
Had a few 30 degree mornings. The car seemed to have an easier time starting than with the stock battery. Been dding like its a normal battery, nothing strange to report.
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I feel more comfortable doing this mod knowing that the professionals involved in the TRD Griffon project went with this battery. On the other hand seems like no reported issues from "Industrial" which is also good to know.
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Very nice find, thanks for sharing
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Thanks for sharing. Very nice find indeed.
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It turns out that Shorai makes another version of this battery, the LFX36L3-BS12, that is exactly the same, except it has the opposite polarity of the one in this DIY.
If you used that version, you would not have needed to make adaptor/extension cables, and it would have been a drop-in fit. http://shoraipower.com/lfx36l3-bs12-p130 [ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005P975X6/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1"][/ame] |
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So the drop-in fit wasn't exactly true. I ended up fabbing my own battery tie-down out of aluminum T-channel because the Braille one was not going to work with the battery mounted in the stock orientation. I knocked this together in about an hour, and it is way overkill for the job. But, much like Industrial's solution, if you grab the tiedown or the battery and try to shake it, the whole car moves.
I'm going to make a couple of revisions to this to simplify it, make it lighter, and also Plasti-dip it for additional safety. End result though, I was able to use the factory j-hooks, and battery terminals. |
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Revised the battery tie-down. This version is pretty close to the same weight as stock, if not lighter. Materials needed to make one like it are around $10.
http://stores.ebay.com/8020incgaragesale I am using the equivalent of the 2020 metric T-slot profile, and you can get an 18" long piece for less than $5 off ebay. Just add the appropriate size button head cap screws and you've got all you need. Use a chop saw (or even a hacksaw - just make sure your cuts are square) to cut the pieces to size (one 8.5 inches, one 3, and one 1), and tap the ends of the two short support pieces to match the cap screws. Mark your locations and drill four holes in the long section: two for the J-hooks, and two access holes to tighten the button head cap screws. I've got the J-hooks on the wrong ends in the picture, but you get the idea. I'm probably going to plasti-dip this thing, but haven't bothered yet. EDIT: Did a half-assed Plastidip job on the tiedown. Looks ok for what it is, and the dip provides insulation as well as even better grip on the battery. |
How has this battery performed so far?
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Industrial would be better able to answer, but I've had no issues so far. Car is daily driven. I do not plan to run this battery year-round, even though I probably could.
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looking for a lightweight battery as well. is your car a DD? also, let us know how it performs in the winter!
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Thanks for posting this. Somewhere I saw someone claim they were running a 3.5lb Shorai battery, so I've been planning on getting one ever since, but haven't started researching them yet. Thanks for reducing my workload.
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Cranking the car is the biggest load you'll require from a battery, right? I'm pretty sure it is. So wouldn't a lightweight flywheel + lightweight pulleys reduce the requirements for the battery?
Whenever the time comes, I'll be trying to go with as small a battery as I possibly can. |
Just to update, the car runs perfect. No issues at all to report. I'll report back as the temps drop. Probably going to buy the P-tuning tray to fix my ghetto install so I can pass tech for next year when I track my car. I have a lightweight flywheel, crank and ac pulleys too although I'm not sure that makes a difference.
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I use a shorai in my s2k... big thumbs up.
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Hello,
I've succeccfully installed Shorai battery using re-cycled Al bracket and the stock battery tie. Cranking after 3 days was not a problem. I think that 1 week could be possible. Attachment 51922 Attachment 51923 |
Anyone has any experience flashing the car with lightweight batteries?
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I wouldn't risk a week if I could help it. Not worth the cost of being wrong. Don't know about the 86 yet, but many modern cars have ridiculous parasitic draw.
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I ran the Shorai LFX14L2-BS12 in my Miata last year for autocrossing, only weighed a pound and a half. Not a lot of parasitic draw in the Miata, but if I had the (aftermarket) stereo in the car it would barely start if left sit for a week without running. When I did a stereo delete it would fire right up after sitting a week or two. I have heard of a couple of people running the same battery in the BRZ/FRS
On a newer car like the twins if not driven for more than a day or three and one of the smaller Shorai batteries is used, I'd highly recommend hooking up a battery tender to it to avoid having parasitic draw drain the battery too far. That will kill these batteries pretty quickly. |
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If you get a tender, make sure it plays nice w/ Lithium. Don't just hook up any tender.
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"Yes. HOWEVER, you may NOT use a charger/tender if it has an automatic "desulfation mode", which cannot be turned off. We have confirmed with Deltran, makers of the "Battery Tender" brand, that their products do NOT have a desulfation mode, and are therefore OK for use with Shorai LFX, for example. But the best possible charger/tender for Shorai LFX is the SHO-BMS01, which will be released on about March 15th 2011, we expect. It uses the 5-pin BMS port in the LFX batteries, in order to monitor, diagnose, and balance the individual cells during charge. And it also has an optimized storage mode that will give the longest possible service life to your LFX. " All my Pulsetechs have auto desulfation. So consider yourself more lucky than good. :w00t: I'm sure Shorai would be happy to sell you as many batteries as you can burn through. Battery Tender LiFePO charger: http://batterytender.com/battery-ten...s-lithium.html |
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Also since it hasn't been mentioned yet I would strongly recommend having something like an OBDII reader to monitor battery voltage. It's very important to monitor that with any Lithium Iron battery technology. A typical lead-acid battery is fine running at 12V but as soon as you drop a Lithium Iron battery below 12.8 you can have permanent damage to the battery and it will never hold a charge.... I found this out the hard way twice after doing that to two Shorai Batteries on my Formula SAE car. |
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As ToyoburuBRZ wrote, use the Shorai tender. I used to tend mine every three weeks or so. Hope this helps, and I hope to get mine soon and will report back some more. |
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IIRC there are only a few battery manufacturers in the US (2 or 3 I think). Your Shorai may be a relabeled Eastern Penn ATV battery.
I put a powersports battery in my sti a while ago. It lasted about a year and didn't cost me too much. I did have it hooked up to a battery tender. http://www.iwsti.com/forums/2-5-lite...a-battery.html Edit: This is the one I used in the sti years ago: http://www.batterymart.com/p-Big-Cra...4-Battery.html I think I bought it because of the name. |
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Update...battery is working just fine. Had a few 40 degree mornings lately. Cranks up without a hiccup. |
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I'll be ordering an LFX21L6-BS12 in about a week or so. What all am I going to have to buy to make it work, and what else should I buy to make life better?
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I'm going to keep my factory battery, just in case the little 21 ever gives me trouble. Is there something I should do to the factory battery to ensure it has a long storage life? |
Shorai battery, Shorai battery charger, battery tray kit. Done. Make sure to keep voltage reading closer to 14V then 13V.
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Oh, and I meant to mention that I'll be DIY'ing my own tray/tie down contraption. So it'll connect right up to the factory battery terminals?
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I know it's kind of lame when a vendor hawks his own product, but this may be of interest to some of you: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50947
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3682/1...ed39db20_c.jpg http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3780/1...4e506d73_c.jpg http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3826/1...50ec9d8f_c.jpg Also, regarding the battery: It's actually not 36AH, its real capacity is about 13AH. Shorai uses a marketing trick that says their batteries are 36AH equivalent, in terms of how much amperage they put out. Pretty lame, I was actually kind of pissed when I heard of this information, capacity should be capacity, not some weird equivalent. That being said, I currently have two of our FRS/BRZ setups out in the wild. I had a friend take a 2 week vacation with no problems starting the car. Also, if you guys know Moto Miwa, he's reported being away for a week and having no problems starting the car. All in all, I have about 60 of the LFX36L3-BS12 battery packages in NSXes, with no reported problems. I've been using a LFX36L3-BS12 for almost a year now and it's been great. I've also allowed my personal car to sit for 10 days with no problems, and have had a customer go 16 days, although it's not something I would recommend. I've done a good amount of testing of these batteries, so let me know if you have any questions. |
I have a Shorai in my car :)
Been there a few years now... |
Updating my christmas list right now...
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