DoA lightweight Deka battery?

[sadiq]

Based on many favorable reviews of the Braille 21lb battery and its supposed equivalent, the Deka ETX30L, I just installed a Deka ETX30L in my 08 E90 M3. Had problems right out of the gate. Clock reset upon every ignition, even after a full night's charge using a CTek trickle charger. I had Mike Benvo code/register the new battery (to tell the car about the lower capacity), which appears to have fixed the clock resetting - but voltage still seems to drop super low. This leads me to believe that I either have a faulty Deka, that the Braille is actually not "just a rebranded Deka," or that lightweight batteries just aren't as solid as they are cracked up to be.

Anyone have any thoughts or similar experiences?

Edit: I understand that lightweight batteries won't be as solid as the stock battery. The stock battery is rated for about 2x the CCA and 3x the Ah capacity as the Deka. That's part of why I'm asking, from people who have also installed it, if this is a typical result or an anomaly.

[dparm]

Per my post in the other thread, rebranding is certainly possible, but that does NOT mean it's the same quality. It's a definite possibility that Deka is producing a super-high quality one for Braille -- one that surpasses the Deka-branded ones in terms of quality.

[sadiq]

It certainly doesn't not mean it, but that also doesn't mean that it necessarily is a different quality... which is why I'm interested in hearing from people with specific first hand experience with Braille and/or the Deka ETX30L in this specific car.

[kiln]

U shoulda went with a lithium ion.

[sadiq]

Originally Posted by kiln

U shoulda went with a lithium ion.

Aren't those like $1200?

[z3papa]

Braille batteries are rebranded Deka batteries. Lightweight batteries by their nature tend to be vulnerable to issues. It is not unusual for the batteries to come in an uncharged state but obviously not preferable. Have you put it on a battery charger or tested whether it will take a charge? I've had a number of these in my prior race car as they save a ton of weight, and each eventually cycled out and discharged over time. Some lasted longer than others. Certainly need to invest in a proper trickle charger if you want to run this and I'd advise using it during winter if you live in a cold environment.

[OneMmmm]

Give this a shot... only 6 lbs. We need a guinea pig!

http://www.getohm.com/

[1MOREMOD]

Interesting, didn't see price.

[BPMSport]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

Interesting, didn't see price.

It's $220 Retail with an ETA of August 2016.

It's a startup that has raised 50K, from what I've seen they rarely meet these eta dates.

[pbonsalb]

Gotta click on link. It is a crowdfunder. Looks like it will be about $200 if it is produced. 10 amp hour reserve is not much but maybe the intelligent features will allow it to work. These are power hungry cars. If it shuts off car power after a few days, that could be inconvenient. Would power locks still work?

[dparm]

Why is it listing 10Ah reserve? Most car batteries give reserve time in minutes. I know that's not terribly accurate, but at least it's a consistent metric to compare batteries by.

[sadiq]

I'm not trying to spark the age old "why would you do this" debate. I rarely drive the car and have it hooked up to a charger. So I don't need a robust battery, just one that works under the most forgiving of conditions. If I left the car parked for days in the cold without a tender, I wouldn't consider this.

What I'm asking for is firsthand experience from people who have actually used THIS battery. Have you had any types of issues with it, and if so, what did you do to address those issues?

[OneMmmm]

Originally Posted by Mike Benvo

It's $220 Retail with an ETA of August 2016.

It's a startup that has raised 50K, from what I've seen they rarely meet these eta dates.

100% right re: ETA dates for crowd funded projects. They almost never meet their deadlines.

There's been a lot of publicity for this battery on sites ranging from TechCrunch to Rennlist. Curious to see if this comes to fruition.

[sadiq]

Based on my experience, the Deka ETX30L DOES NOT WORK. I have tried two. I have no extra sound system or electrical components. For those who have had good luck with the Braille, then I would say congratulations, the Braille must be a better battery. However, the Deka does NOT have the juice to start the car without causing gremlins. I have hooked them up to my CTEK MUS 4.3, and charged to absolute full. Even at full, with ignition on and engine off, they read at about 11.4-11.7v. Well under 12v (which is already under the recommended minimum of 12.5v for starting). For anyone reading this: DO NOT buy a deka ETX30L for your E9x M3.

Very sad when misinformation on these forums leads suckers like me down these roads of trial and error, but please please learn from my mistakes and do not try this.