LocostUSA.com

Any suggestions? I don't have the donor battery.

The Miata battery looks like a good option, given its small size. I'm also interested in some of the new batteries like the Oddysey line. I was briefly tempted by the mini-micro racing batteries, but I'm not that obsessive about weight, and I won't be racing it.

Cost is not a huge factor, but bargains sure are nice.

-dave

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...nowadays people are so intellectually lazy and lethargic that they can't build ANYTHING with their hands. They'll spend hours watching whiny people marooned on an island, but won't spend a second adding anything to the world. -weconway
Visit my [Locost 7 build log]

I used a $27 lawn tractor battery from Walmart. It is the exact same dimensions as the stock Miata battery and I could use the factory Miata hold down hardware.

It was purchased almost a year ago and still starts the car right up. I even let it go dead when I accidently left the key turned forward a couple times and it is good as new after a night on the trickle charger.

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He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.

I use an Odyssey PC680. Very happy with it.

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Midlana book: Build this mid-engine Locost!, http://midlana.com/stuff/book/
Kimini book: Designing mid-engine cars using FWD drivetrains
Both available from https://www.lulu.com/

I have a PC680 clone and it works great with my L67.

The nice thing about the odyssey batteries is that they're dry-cell, mountable in any position. Better yet, if the housing cracks in an accident there's no acid to fly around.

They also retain a charge for a really long time. Don't drive the car for a month? No problem, it'll start right up.

_________________
Midlana book: Build this mid-engine Locost!, http://midlana.com/stuff/book/
Kimini book: Designing mid-engine cars using FWD drivetrains
Both available from https://www.lulu.com/

I went to Costco and bought the smallest battery they had. Hey, don't look at me like that - it was the low cost solution! At the time it was about $35 but I notice their prices on car batteries have gone up quite a bit lately.

;-)

John

Wow! Prices HAVE gone up a bit. I just priced that battery and it's now $52!

Dimensions: 9.25x5x8 (9.25x5x9 if you count the terminals.)

And being a dry cell, they are SCCA legal to be placed in a passenger compartment without a sealed battery box. Bolt it to your passenger floor and your good!

Don't get it wet though. I had one in a DSM hatch. A winter with a leaky hatch later and it ballooned and was dead - I was scared to charge it too