DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

What batteries do people run? Mine will be in the standard position, not relocated to either of the luggage compartments.

I am trying to decide between a standard battery with yellow mat underneath, or a "dry" battery. Our American cousins seem to recommend Optima red tops.

I run a standard battery on the 914, largely because when I built it those new fangled dry batteries were in the future! Mine is located in the boot, in a dropped battery box to give height for the roof to be stored. I have a cut-off switch which I knock off every time I leave the car, and the battery whilst being probably 5 or 6 years old whizzes over the high torque starter after leaving it like that for 6 months over the winter. No charging, no conditioning, good as gold. It is not enormous.

I have a uk made dry cell on the Boxster. I did lots of research, and the battery is borderline for the engine size, but it weighs just 1kg and was £200 plus £80 for their conditioner. It works fine but responds badly to any kind of current draw - it is borderline for a 2 day race weekend with lots of starts (8 per day at least, and only a few minutes running time). But, has not let me down yet and is 2 years old. Due to the alarm etc it is on a conditioner all the time when at home. On a good high output alternator it charges fully in 20 mins or so, but of course it never gets this during a race weekend.

Unless you a putting a load of electrical gear in the 914 you should be fine with a dry cell, but I would go at least one size up than you need to have a reserve of power. I carry a jump pack in the pits so can always get myself out of trouble if I need to, but not so fun by the roadside to be let down by your battery. I suppose you also need to think about the possibility of breaking down and leaving the hazards on etc, again LED bulbs will mitigate to some extent what a dry cell might lack in longevity. If you are fitting an alarm it is probably a no-no for practical reasons.

But, it is probably the easiest 13 kg saving you can make, and that is a big chunk.

Hope that helps
Wayne

Bosch silver every time for me.

middlefour1 wrote:Bosch silver every time for me.

23e Heure has a Bosch Silver in his 914 and it's really taken a beating over the last few years and has been drained flat on more occasions that it probably should have. However it always charges up perfectly and works. Because of this it'll be what I put in my car once completed.