Ever since 2021 I’ve used a smart charger. I believe I bought it at Home Depot. Used mostly on AGM batteries. It works really well and doesn’t take up a lot of space
My battery is in front of the fuel cell to the left side without an alternator. Sadly the box design needs to be changed. As I'm crush cracking the case just under the top. I look at most CAs, while with the highest reserve rating while staying in the cheapest branch, then after picking the battery model I dig thru the shelf for the one with the newest manufacture date if info is avail. I debated about going with alt setup and cut the weight with atv battery, but found easier to keep the heavier battery
I have a yellow top that went bad at 8 years also. I still use it for my winch on the trailer but the car would not start good with it. Been using 2 years on the winch though!
All of them 😆! Seriously though, I usually start out the night at 12.6v and then roll the track, hot lap, heat, and feature. probably 50 to 75 laps total and I will be still looking at 12.2 or 12.3 I have never had any issues but I have always run classes where I could run either an MSD box or better guts in an HEI. I will tell you there is a slight performance gain if you have to run completely stock guts in an HEI by having an Alternator keeping your voltage up at 13.6 or more. Here a tip regarding that as well. Gap your plugs at 0.035" if you are on a stock HEI. Running too wide of a gap takes a lot more high side coil voltage and is one of the reasons they fall off on performance at high RPM. Even on an MSD and the MSD e-coil I still only gap to 0.045". Follow some good logic like this and a good AGM battery can perform very well without an alternator.
I've had brand new optima yellow top batteries go bad in 3 years or less their junk! I have a xs 16 volt been in my racecard for 5 years keep it on charger maintainer it gives you more HP more volts to HEI 12 voltage no alternator you lose power I run 16 volt alternator and battery made huge difference car starts fast don't have to restart it 4 times to warm up either
16v hands down wont have to worry about a battery anymore
They are popular for sure
I would highly recommend an alternator
I have never felt the need for one, especially on an MSD setup. I could see where it would be needed if I had a lot more draw and much longer races
Glad to see a video from you buddy. Can’t wait to see the street stock nationals video.
Well we made a bunch of them but none were of winning LOL
@@DIRTRACELIFE lol hey that’s part of it. I’ve been racing for 4 years now and have yet to find the winners circle so don’t feel bad
Ever since 2021 I’ve used a smart charger. I believe I bought it at Home Depot. Used mostly on AGM batteries. It works really well and doesn’t take up a lot of space
I do the same
Yellow top has always worked for us!
7 or 8 years aint bad!
We have always went red no alt.no issues usually last 5-6 years.
Good to know
My battery is in front of the fuel cell to the left side without an alternator. Sadly the box design needs to be changed. As I'm crush cracking the case just under the top. I look at most CAs, while with the highest reserve rating while staying in the cheapest branch, then after picking the battery model I dig thru the shelf for the one with the newest manufacture date if info is avail. I debated about going with alt setup and cut the weight with atv battery, but found easier to keep the heavier battery
I am always bolting them to the right side but thats because I am heavy
Deka agm got 4yrs on mine in my sportmod
Had not heard of a Deka until now
@@DIRTRACELIFE Napa sells them here in Michigan
A lot of dirt racers have really good luck with XS Power batteries. Theres lots of info on their site and feed back on the web from other racers.
I hear they work pretty good, still a few tracks around me with rules that say 12 volt only but I believe CRUSA allows them.
I have a yellow top that went bad at 8 years also. I still use it for my winch on the trailer but the car would not start good with it. Been using 2 years on the winch though!
Well thats getting ALL YOU CAN out of one
I use red all Jones pulleys.with alternator in a mod love will never ever not run a alternator again.
Its convenient
The red top over yellow had both better luck with red if your running hei a alt is a good idea
With an Alt, red for sure, without I am yellow top
XS 16 volt. You'll never run a 12 volt again
I hear they work pretty good, still a few tracks around me with rules that say 12 volt only but I believe CRUSA allows them.
How many laps do you get on a single charge? Say on a 3/8 or quarter mile track?
All of them 😆!
Seriously though, I usually start out the night at 12.6v and then roll the track, hot lap, heat, and feature. probably 50 to 75 laps total and I will be still looking at 12.2 or 12.3 I have never had any issues but I have always run classes where I could run either an MSD box or better guts in an HEI. I will tell you there is a slight performance gain if you have to run completely stock guts in an HEI by having an Alternator keeping your voltage up at 13.6 or more.
Here a tip regarding that as well. Gap your plugs at 0.035" if you are on a stock HEI. Running too wide of a gap takes a lot more high side coil voltage and is one of the reasons they fall off on performance at high RPM. Even on an MSD and the MSD e-coil I still only gap to 0.045". Follow some good logic like this and a good AGM battery can perform very well without an alternator.
Maybe make battery load testing a part of your maintainence routine / schedule?
We all should, but no being honest I have never done that unless I suspected an issue ;(
Good luck at nationals!
Thank you sir
I had a battery die right after welding on the chassis. It showed good voltage. Wouldn't crank the engine.
That's another reason to unplug the MSD module when welding
I've had brand new optima yellow top batteries go bad in 3 years or less their junk!
I have a xs 16 volt been in my racecard for 5 years keep it on charger maintainer it gives you more HP more volts to HEI 12 voltage no alternator you lose power I run 16 volt alternator and battery made huge difference car starts fast don't have to restart it 4 times to warm up either
I have a few tracks around that exclude the 16v batteries in the rules (not CRUSA, they don't care)
we run an alternator on both dirt cars battery dies you can still run
That's true
What's your opinion on not running an alternator do u think. Your motor can loose HP from lap 1 compared to the end of the race
Not at all on an MSD box but YES will lose HP on a stock HEI
Xs
Thanks