16 Volt AGM Batteries

[Dave Schultz]

Race cars, especially those using high power mega-kabillion Jules ignitions like MSD's 7AL are often needing more battery than a 12volt -- or even a couple of 12volts. I run one of these 16 Volt AGMs in my www.BigRedRam.com

NMCA's Fastest Street Car (and none of them really are) Magazine had a pretty good article on 16 Volt AGM batteries. I don't think they'll mind that I scanned it to share hear.

www.moparstyle.com/images/AGM16-1.pdf
www.moparstyle.com/images/AGM16-2.pdf

[fastdiesel]

We have always run a standard 12 volt battery and an alternator (even on the old dragster, 7's at over 170MPH, w/ MSD 7). We've tried all the SUPER GIZMO batteries ..... 16 volt (why not 18, or 24?), Optmi(junk), Predator(garbage)...they're not durable...one season and they're scrap.

It's not high tech, a 45 amp nippo alternator and one Group 27 Exide...consistency, no charging, no voltage drop, run your fan, no worries, never. It's worth a couple of horsepower and a few pounds, not having another thing to think about! Cheep too. I like low tech, simple, worry free and CHEEP!

Sometimes we charge between rounds if we're bored. Charger on 10 amp charge for about 15 minutes and the "fully charged" light comes on. I love it!

[Dave Schultz]

I agree that Optima is junk -- although I have a pair in my www.vitaminc-racing.com car with a 7AL2 without a generator. However -- I short shift that car at 6500

In the www.bigredram.com car -- I've had my second (single) 16V in 7 years. This one is a three year old AGM, no alternator, 7AL3 -- but I ask more of my ignition with 7500+ shifts.

In the black Dodge that Dallas drives -- we were running run a pair of the WalMart 12V batteries, without an alternator, and 7AL2. This has a big motor needing to be twisted higher and had breaking up at higher RPMs. We didn't run a alternator because it has a vacuum pump and the real estate was limited. Even with a pair of fully charged 12V -- the requirements of the 7AL were not met after driving to the lanes and moving up; doing the burnout; electric fan, water pump, and transcooler; etc. We just figured out how to squeeze an alternator in the car and now get a consistent 14.2 Volts.

It would appear that in higher HP and RPM motors -- the MSD 7AL needs closer to 13 volts -- and a 12V system without an alternator is lacking. It is for those high RPM cars, that can't or don't run and alternator -- that should consider a 16V system.