As some of you are aware, my friend and I are building a Miata-based Locost. We are approaching "start" time, and we are looking at battery options. Obviously we want something light. What I don't know is what to look for in order to fire the Miata engine. Thoughts? Cheap is good.
ZOO wrote: As some of you are aware, my friend and I are building a Miata-based Locost. We are approaching "start" time, and we are looking at battery options. Obviously we want something light. What I don't know is what to look for in order to fire the Miata engine. Thoughts? Cheap is good.
I'm starting my E30 race car with a lawn tractor battery. IIRC its 100.
Depends how easily it starts 
I use an Odyssey PC680 with a couple of my Miata engines, it's always worked well.
Push starts weigh nothing, add nothing to the build budget. They are also easier if you live on a hill 
porksboy wrote: Push starts weigh nothing, add nothing to the build budget. They are also easier if you live on a hill
Not if you live at the bottom
I have the Oyssey PC 680 in my ZX2SR and it starts it even in cold weather.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:porksboy wrote: Push starts weigh nothing, add nothing to the build budget. They are also easier if you live on the top of a hillNot if you live at the bottom
Fixed it myself 
There are some Braille subs out there that are nice and light too, I remember a topic finding who manufactures them and finding the cheaper alts out there.
Double post
Mine is powered by a lawn tractor battery that puts out maybe 250CCA. Most 4's draw less than 150amps to crank.
If you go to NAPA, they have Deka batteries for cheap. Braille, etc are usually just Dekas. I use an EXT18L for my 944T, and it easily cranked a 2.7 liter four cylinder over in minus 20F without any cold stat tuning 
There is the EXT12 which gives 180CCAs at 0F and weighs 9.4 pounds.
Main page http://www.eastpenn-deka.com/default.aspx?pageid=510
Datasheet with sizes weights and CCAs http://www.eastpenn-deka.com/assets/base/0278.pdf
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