New lightweight battery solution - Deka - I think its identical to Braille 2015

[jlj3394]

Our battery was about to shoot craps, so I began looking for a Braille or an Oddyssey 680. I've got the Sector 111 Braille bracket.

I found a thread on here where someone said "Deka" was the company building Braille. Since I couldn't fine a braille and an Odessey was $150 and 20 minutes away, I googled Deka and found a local supplier. I went there and took a look at what they had.

These appear to be IDENTICAL to the Braille. I've included pics with measurements as well as a PDF I found on the Deka website.

The battery weighs 12 pounds and has 200 CCAs with a 10AH rating. It appears identical to the Braille in size as it fit perfectly with the Sector111 bracket.

Best part - he only wanted $65 for it. If you're interested, he said he would ship:
Standard Battery
Jeff Daugherty
816-421-8118
Home - All Types of Batteries at Warehouse Prices

[ChrisH]

I just did a quick search on the web and saw a number of forums saying it was the same as the Braille branded battery. But, I can't say for sure that is accurate.

I saw online prices (before shipping) as low as $63.95 at online stores, and $55 on ebay (with $12 shipping).

It appears it may be sold under the brand name "Big Crank" as well.

[luxige]

Maybe one of you guys could add this to the battery sticky; good find.

[lwein]

Deka is one of the few USA companies which still produce their own battery,along with many other ones which they brand for other companies,so maybe it is?

[rex_racer]

Word is the highest tested Deka batteries are sent out to become Braille batteries, while the "lower" rated ones are labeled as the cheaper Deka batteries.

[xxxotic]

Heres the spec sheet on them

http://www.dekabatteries.com/assets/base/0278.pdf

[dmh]

Originally Posted by rex_racer

Word is the highest tested Deka batteries are sent out to become Braille batteries, while the "lower" rated ones are labeled as the cheaper Deka batteries.

I can only imagine where you came up with that, however it is false. Braille is just a marketing company whereas Deka is a manufacturing company. (I’ve been there a few times.) We've been running Deka's for years just as many NASCAR teams do. They are popular with GA teams too.

[CHRISN]

I have been using my Deka battery for a full season now.
@ 6 lbs it has not failed me yet.
I paid $55 at a local Meyer store.


Chris

[TheViper]

Battery Sticky revised to show some Deka models Battery Choices & Information
Cheers,
Michael

[shinoo]

Originally Posted by ChrisH

I just did a quick search on the web and saw a number of forums saying it was the same as the Braille branded battery. But, I can't say for sure that is accurate...

Both batteries are produced by East Penn. Deka is just a brand - a lower spec one at that. Braille batteries are built to a higher spec range than the Deka. Building a product to meet a tighter tolerance costs more. Braille batteries offer a superior warranty as a result. They may appear to be the same on the surface but the insides are not.

[RoadDad]

So. This

Originally Posted by dmh

I can only imagine where you came up with that, however it is false. Braille is just a marketing company whereas Deka is a manufacturing company. (I’ve been there a few times.) We've been running Deka's for years just as many NASCAR teams do. They are popular with GA teams too.

Or this

Originally Posted by shinoo

Both batteries are produced by East Penn. Deka is just a brand - a lower spec one at that. Braille batteries are built to a higher spec range than the Deka. Building a product to meet a tighter tolerance costs more. Braille batteries offer a superior warranty as a result. They may appear to be the same on the surface but the insides are not.

?

[Amarao]

Both have a 1 year free replacement warranty... so yeah... and even if the Deka only had a 6 month warranty, I could buy two for less than the price of a braille.

[rex_racer]

Originally Posted by RoadDad

So. This


Or this


?

What shinoo, stated is exactly what all of my research and a large contingent on another forum have found as well. With independent battery testing they found that the Deka batteries were great, just that the Braille's were stronger, but of course cost more.

[dmh]

I am not saying Braille batteries are poor. The B2015 is the Deka EXT20L in a different case (same internals, exactly). Deka markets them for Power Sport applications whereas Braille targets auto enthusiasts.

Deka is simply the name East Penn sells under, i.e., engineer's at East Penn design and manufacture Deka batteries. All of this is easily verifiable. If you feel more comfortable with a Braille sticker on the battery -- fine. What battery you choose makes no difference to me.

(Don't believe the marketing nonsense concerning testing. Deka's specs are probably more accurate than those who rebadge them. Deka also makes BigCrank batteries as well as Magna Power among others. They are all the same.)

What I was commenting on was lack of posting insight. Maybe if posters actually knew a bit more about the topic they post about they might be able to pass on more helpful information.

[shinoo]

Originally Posted by dmh

I am not saying Braille batteries are poor. The B2015 is the Deka EXT20L in a different case (same internals, exactly). Deka markets them for Power Sport applications whereas Braille targets auto enthusiasts.

Don,

With all due respect, Blake@Braille has insisted that his batteries are built to a higher specification than the Deka. Is your suggestion that they are the same is based on discussion with an engineer at East Penn or speculation? I've worked in the auto industry since 1985 and can attest that specifications can differ wildly - as a result, parts can perform very differently even though they look similar.

I will get the specifics from Braille.

[TheViper]

My opinion as a qualified electrical engineer, ignore specifications. The only correct way to compare products is to test them scientifically, side by side, in a real world environment.
Michael

[lwein]

We could eliminate all these weight concerns------somebody just has to come up with a crank----like the starting systems on the pre war---ie the Great War-the "War to end all Wars"----WW1! leave the crank at home.weight savings! no battery! no starter! no electrics! no lights!
Or we could just be rational---whoever buys the smaller battery, regardless of the brand ,will have to use a "smart"charger on the car. WTF?

[dmh]

Originally Posted by shinoo

Don,

With all due respect, Blake@Braille has insisted that his batteries are built to a higher specification than the Deka. Is your suggestion that they are the same is based on discussion with an engineer at East Penn or speculation? I've worked in the auto industry since 1985 and can attest that specifications can differ wildly - as a result, parts can perform very differently even though they look similar.

I will get the specifics from Braille.

Whether Blake insists or not, they are the exact same. Deka, Braille, NAPA, Walmart, Big Crank, Mega Power, who ever, it doesn't matter. That is according to Deka, the source, whose techinacal information representative says they are all made to the same specs with a different label and in Braille's case a different case (no pun intended). Anyway, I am not inferring anything negative about Braille -- just correcting misinformation.

[jlj3394]

In any case, even if the Braille batteries did test to a higher spec, what really matters is whether that difference is significant. Is a 1% difference worth 2.5 times the price? Would a 20% difference be worth that? Probably not.

Those of you who want the lightest battery at the cheapest price can rest assured that the Deka14 will start your Elise. We've got an amp, sub, and HIDs, so there is a bit of extra electrical load. If it starts the car and carries the same warranty, I'm not sure where the extra price is justified. Perhaps some premium is justified, but not 2.5 times the price.

I'll let you know if it starts in temps below freezing, but even our stock battery had problems with that.

If I was S111, i would carry the Deka as well as the Braille. For some, the extra specs (if they really exist) would be worth the extra dough. The rest of us probably have other ways to spend it and would prefer the Deka, especially since it is the cheapest battery option out there. The S111 bracket looks great and works with both, so they could continue to sell that.

FWIW, my bathroom scale measured my Deka at 11.2

[RoadDad]

I just got off the phone with Lou at East Penn Manufacturing.

Here's the deal per our conversation.

East Penn manufactures the Deka battery. We know that. Braille then takes that same East Penn Deka battery and does "some fancy stuff" to it (specific to the model apparently like putting it in a carbon case, fancy copper terminal) and does some fancy marketing. None of the "fancy stuff" changes the performance or specs of the battery at all. The inerts of both the Braille and the Deka remain identical.

jlj3394, nice find. Thanks.