Odyssey PC545 Battery

[YAUDI]

I swapped out the OEM battery with the Odyssey PC545 Battery (~$75 from extremebatteries.com). Here are my weight comparisons:
OEM Battery = 25.0 lbs (including the 2 steel brakets and SAE connectors)
PC545 Battery = 11.4 lbs

So the weight savings for me was essentially 13.6 lbs . My 0.040" thick 2024-T3C strap holding the PC545 is in the noise weight-wise.

Just a FYI for future reference .

[Dro]

Yep, that's my next mod. Ordering the battery today.

Thanks for the weight info.

[ekological]

What's the difference between the 545 and the 680? Just weight and capacity? I installed the 680 and now have no worries of leaking acid

[YAUDI]

Originally Posted by ekological

What's the difference between the 545 and the 680? Just weight and capacity? I installed the 680 and now have no worries of leaking acid

680 has a bit more capacity, overall dimension, and weights ~3.0 lbs more, good choice nevertheless...

I've tracked a lot, with no acid spills, but I could smell it everytime I opened the hatch, not a good smell ...

[Stan]

The 680 can lie flat in the stock location using the stock mounts and the bolt on Non-SAE wire provisions but I'd want to add another retainer for track stuff. The 680 and 925 are the sizes that Hawker / Odyssey suggest for a 26R battery such as the one in the Elise. The 680 has about 1/3 more capacity than the 525 in AH. If you don't have rules issues, you can replace the battery with even smaller sizes and place it in a different location too. There are also lighter versions of them intended for airplane use that are lighter, for example there is a 10.x pound version of the 680. These are less vibration resistant than the normal style but might be fine in the Elise.

[YAUDI]

Here's a good Odyssey Battery document .More than a normal person ever wanted to know about Odyssey Batteries

[Jack]

YAUDI -- could you please share the details of what you used/and how to secure the PC545 in the trunk? Thanks in advance.

[YAUDI]

Originally Posted by Jack

YAUDI -- could you please share the details of what you used/and how to secure the PC545 in the trunk? Thanks in advance.

I pretty much used the 2 existing fastener locations and a bent up Al sheet metal strap. I am going to do a few sessions at the track this weekend and see how she holds up. If it's all good, I'll bead blast it and post some pics.

Here's the shape of the strap I bent up. Fasteners are on the outboard vertical flange, and inboard lower horizontal flange.
....._______
|__|..........|
................|__
View LKG Fwd (Left is LHS, Up is Up, ignore the periods)

The aft load path is not super, but with the non-slip pad/battery grooves along with some velcro, I'm sure it will hold for aftward interia criteria (acceleration)... Heck, the OEM battery support config doesn't have a real aft load path...

I'll keep ya posted...

[Au111]

Originally Posted by YAUDI

....._______
|__|..........|
................|__

That's exactly the setup I have - using the stock bolts and washers in the stock locations. You can get a strap like that at your local auto parts store for just a few dollars; cut to length, bolt in place and you're good to go. I kept the inboard clamp in place, as well to help tension the strap.

I feel that this mounting is stronger than that of the stock setup.

[YAUDI]

As promised, here's a pic of my install. I put some 0.5" thk foam tape to compress against the top of the battery and some velcro on the driver side forward corner of the battery. I bead blasted the strap for coolness effect . Battery seems to be holding charge and staying in place ...

[Vantage]

What's the difference between the PC680, PC680MJ, and PC680MJT? I'm not sure which one to buy.

I could even go with the PC545. I may not use the car for up to 3 weeks, so maybe this is a case where I should go with the 680?

Thanks for your input, I'm clueless about batteries.

- J

[peck555]

The 680 and 925 are the sizes that Hawker / Odyssey suggest for a 26R battery such as the one in the Elise.
26R...the racing version of the Elan...cool

[spider]

Originally Posted by Vantage

What's the difference between the PC680, PC680MJ, and PC680MJT? I'm not sure which one to buy.

I could even go with the PC545. I may not use the car for up to 3 weeks, so maybe this is a case where I should go with the 680?

Thanks for your input, I'm clueless about batteries.

- J

MJ = metal jacket. It's a metal sleeve that wraps around the battery for more extreme conditions. Don't know what T stands for, but me thinks it's for terminals. You don't need either for our application.