No drilling. Take the factory battery out, put the Helix bracket and battery in, and bolt everything down using the factory hardware. Took 10 minutes.

 

Anyone else out there have a Braille/Deka installed and can report on it's performance in cold/warm weather and length of time between uses.

 

Sweet product idea. Looks like I have a new weight savings venture to purchase soon. The mod wish list just increased.

 

Eric;
Any update on the new batch?
I thought I'd bump this up.

 

TTT... I was wondering about this myself. Being that I live in Texas and the glass-mat batteries are posta hate the heat, I am wondering if it'll last...

 

I have had mine for a couple of months now and have had zero problems.
Helix was so cool about the Deka switch from Braile. Turned out to cost less and performs the same. I swear I can feel a difference without that mass in the rear.

 

Zero problems....

 

Now that I keep my key further away from where I park, zero issues!

 

Was hoping to hear from someone in, like, Southern CA, Arizona, the deep South... you know, somewhere where it actually gets hot for more than a few days a year...

 

While these batteries don't like heat, many live in engine bays... We are so fortunate with the MCS that the battery resides in the rear, opposite the engine, and those toasty temps...

10 or so degrees of ambient temps is really nothing to be overly concerned about, IMO...

 

Yeah, but I drive a Cooper (sans the 'S')...

 

Ah, then your query makes more sense... Strategic placement (relocation) and/or ideal channeling of ambient air would be prudent...

 

Right - losing weight from the front would improve the overall balance of the car... relocating the battery to the back would help more, but would also be a PITA. Besides that, adding the extra weight of all that cabling for a relocation would make the weight loss less advantageous...

I'm wondering if using some heavy duty insulation in the factory battery box (like the 1/2" thick stuff used in race cars with a heavy-duty aluminum sheet on it) and opening up the rear (which backs up to the cowl vent) would do the trick.

Ambient temps here inside a car reach really, really hot in the summer so having it in the same location as the S really isn't all that helpful...

I've seen some reports on the SLA batteries like these that they just die in the heat...

 

I am on diet.

 

Here is the real product and it is AWESOME:

 

Boy, sure wish I had one

Hint hint:impatient

 

Braille Ltw battery is not available in my country. :(
wish I could get.

 

I know this thread is old, but this is really a sweet setup. Thanks Helix for taking time to create new products that are really needed out there.

 

I have had mine in for a year now and the only caution that I would express is if you have the OEM alarm, do not let the car sit long without driving, trickle charging, or disconnecting the battery. In a matter of weeks the battery is drained enough that the car requires a jump. The OEM battery can sit for over 6 weeks under the same conditions and still fire up. Otherwise I have been very satisified with the setup. Top notch construction and function.

 

I am much less enthused about this setup than before: the 11 pound batteries, no matter what brand, have too high a failure rate for day-to-day use. I would estimate that over time the 10-15% of the batteries were not holding a charge, which meant a lot of replaced batteries for us. Somewhere on my dusty list-of-things-that-I-was-supposed-to-have-done-a-long-time-ago, there a note to try the 15 pound battery, to see if it can handle the northeastern winters. Uhhh. Next week. Yeah, next week.

 

Eric, do you know if this would be a straight swap for the tiny battery on a classic Mini? And are you bringing any to AMVIV?

 

Hey Eric
Do you have any idea when the 15lbs will be tested and will you be making a new retainer plate?
Thanks

 

Have you tried the Dyna-Batt battery? Different shape, but I've been running one in my Mustang for years. It's a dry cell, so it works completely different than a normal battery, but it's kept the car running strong. Its only 14 lbs. They sell them at this link, maybe you can contact the manufacturer for dealer options:
www.performancedistributors.com

 

So now that it's been some time since this thread began, how does a leightweight battery hold charge compared to a larger battery? What about having a subwoofer and small amp hooked up to it, no problems?

I need a new battery and will probably get the Deka w/ Helix case if everyone is still satisfied with their purchase. If not the Deka, the Optima 34R Red Top.

 

Originally Posted by MINIAC
Will this type of battery hold its charge if the car isn't driven for a week? a month?


The quick answer is no. I'm lucky to get 5 days... I've had this battery for at least 1.5 years, and another SLA before, with the same results. I now use a solar charger via Harbor Freight, and that helps. Just a trade that will not be acceptable to some...