Battery Preferences
 

Any brand preference or size when it comes to replacing a Miata battery? Going with something lighter would be a nice way to save a few pounds. What's worked for you and for how long?

Penn Deka makes a miata replacement AGM. Also, Braille AGM batteries are just rebadged Dekas. I've been running one for about two years after the oem took a dump.

Rebadged Braille is a good street option.

I am going to go with an A123 8-cell unit in the black car, but it doesn't make a good street battery.

I didn't note the brand, but bundy just showed me his new battery the other night. Seems to weigh like 2lbs and is the size a couple packs of cigarettes put together.

Sounds like an A123 setup. Should weigh ~1.5lbs. Great for race cars, not so much for street cars (you get 2 chances to start the car, then you break the jumper cables out).

I have a Braille 11.5 pound battery in mine. Never fails to start the car after it's been sitting for a week or so in 20f or lower. If you lived in a warmer climate you might be able to get away with less power, but for me it's perfect.

The cheapest one I can buy, which is really heavy. That corner is light.

Attachment 191638

7.7 lbs Yuasa YTX14AHL: 210 CCA, 12 Ah, 7.7 lbs; 5 5/16" x 3 1/2" x 6 9/16"

I use a Battery Tender Jr. whenever the car will sit for more than a few days at a time. I've had it since summer of last year with no issues. I also tend not to drive it when it's really cold out (e.g. 30s in the morning) so I can't speak to its starting ability in those conditions.

I had a stock one...it didn't have enough power for the hell I put the starter through when trying to start it/my tune.

Bought an optima red top and modified the bracket to hold it. Car has hardtop, softtop, all power options, AC...don't care about weight...yet.

I have the Deka ETX12 which weighs about 6lbs. Seems fine, but doesn't like being started over and over in a short time. It's a little more fogiving than Andrews battery, but not much. The Deka is also only $60.

DEKA ETX14. M3 track pukes use it, so it must be good enough for the street in a miata. 12 A-h, 200 cranking amps, 12 lbs.

http://jkuper.smugmug.com/Cars/S50-B...86_ouo9g-M.jpg

http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl...q=deka%20etx14

Very true. With this logic, is there really any reason to go with a light battery in anything that's not a designated race car?

Oddessey 680t.

winter daily driver means I got an optima yellow top.

red top optima in my car

Well I know I hate my WestCo. Only 2-3 years old, and it struggles to start the car in cold weather (20-30 degrees) after only sitting 24 hours. God forbid I leave the radio on for 20 minutes with the engine off, the damn thing drains way too fast. Wish I had spent a bit more for the Optima yellow top.

How well does it fit down there? Does it actually fit in the plastic tray?

i had 3 optimas die on me in the past... all were less than 6 months old and after changing to a different brand i had no issues.

no more optima for me.

It was a Yusa YTZ7S

4 7/16 x 2 3/4 x 4 1/8
Weight 4.6 lbs
130 CCA.

6 AH

I have used an Optima yellow top D51R for years and it has been the best battery ever in terms of reliability. Even running the thing down several times it has come right back to life. It weighs 27 lbs however.

Westco’s are complete garbage in my opinion.
Red top Optima’s haven’t worked so well either.

We will se How I can live with the Yusa I might go to the 10 or 14 if it really doesn’t cut it only a few lbs more. My car is ~200# over weight though and I’m looking to cut weight wherever I can. I need to loose som weight off my fat gut as well though.

Bob

Optima Yellow top D51R fits perfectly. just a little taller than stock is all. I don't think there is a more reliable miata battery. It will handle deep cycles, even started my car after leving the parking lights on for 8 hours at work once. It is not a light weight option though.

Bob