experience with 16 volt batteries

[oneowner73]

I haven't had a good experience yet. Been to the track twice and both times had to charge the battery to load up to go home. Was low enough it would only click the starter. First time only made 3 passes. Second time only 2 passes. Each time I had a few starts to set timing first time and to set launch control rpm after changing carbs the second time. The second time the battery had been on the charger all night and was not fully discharged before charging. I only have a 355 sbc roller motor so it shouldn't be a huge job to start it. Doesn't crank long and starts easily. Also did not have problems with this setup with a 12 volt battery. I had been led to believe that charging between rounds would not be necessary. Anybody else had less than spectacular results?

[gimmemud]

What kind of battery are you refering to? We run the Turbostart 16v gel type battery with great results, also have the charger that is recomended with that battery.

[obsessedtruck]

Better have your battery tested first. Sounds to me like a junk battery. It can't hold a charge. If that passes test your car for a battery draw that can be draing down to nothing. To do the 16 volt thing you'll need a second battery of 12 volts to operate all the accessorys otherwise you have real good chance of frying them like the tach.. But have the battery tested first.

[oneowner73]

The battery is a Vbattery 16 volt and the proper charger. I will bring a amp probe home from work and check all of my draws just to be on the safe side. I feel the battery might be at fault also but the tech guy said the voltages during and after charging were perfect. He wanted to know the voltage before charging but due to needing to load the car to go home, I had to charge for 15-20 minutes to start and load the car. If it happens again I will get him this reading. Everything I've read says the pumps, gauges, fan and ignition will be fine unless you charge without pushing the cut off switch off. Will a load tester for a 12 volt battery put enough load on the 16 volt?

[obsessedtruck]

The tester i honestly can say. I am not sure. I would try it and see what it does. I would still check for draws though.

[gimmemud]

The Turbostart gel battery has 12 and 16 volt terminals, Starter, water pump, fan, fuel pump is on 16v, all ignition and nos electronics are on the 12v terminal.

I would think you have a bad battery if it doesnt hold up long.

[troyreed]

I have had the same problems. Sent my battery back to Jeg's they sent me another one and I still have the same problems.

[cepx111]

Sounds like a bad battery to me too. A quick check for a draw is to unhook the negative cable from the battery and connect a test light inbetween the cable and the battery, with all loads turned off the test light should not light up, if it does you have a draw somewhere, then start pulling fuses till it goes out which will help narrow it down.
Goodluck Charles.

[oneowner73]

Upon reinstalling the 12 volt battery and rechecking the draw I found that the 6AL box and delay box with throttlestop and launch control solenoids was pulling over 4 amps. I had wired these so they were on whenever the main power switch was on. Those have now been put on a circuit that is only on when the ignition switch is on. Works well with the 12 volt system. Will have to reinstall the 16 volt battery and recheck and try at the track.
Brian

[partsmore]

We have been monitoring your forum.

Brian, Thank you for reminding us all to check for draw on battery.
A continuous 4 amp draw is a fair load.

Please contact us if you have any problems.

We have had less than 5 warranty batteries in 2.5 yrs,
and aim to keep it that way with durable products and education.

Warranty has been doubled on new purchases, because of this history;
when used with the charger we recommend. Most concerns are related to the charger or procedure. We continue to discourage the use of the TS charger because of these issues.

The 12 volt load tester will work, but wont last long......

Let me know if you have any problems!

Also, Check out the NEW 12 & 16 volt battery kit that weighs less than 20 #'s. All new technology and design.

www.batteriesareus.com

TheVbattery Company tech

TRGAREED: Please contact us, we have your battery here,
and it charges and load tests fine. WE want to resolve this.

[marshalllhancock]

Make sure if it is a dry cell battery that you don't use a wet style charger. I fried a turbo start this way. The chargers have adjustment to compensate for this and since doing this, I have had no problems from over charging the battery. I know that you said you thought that you had found the problem. I just wanted to post this up for anyone else that might read this thread. This was a problem that I brought on myself and was an expensive learning process. Maybe this will save someone else that expense.

Good Luck and Race Safe

Hancock Racing

[oneowner73]

Thank You Batteriesareus. I ran the car a few times with the 12volt battery with good results. Will retry the Vbattery when the work schedule allows racing again. Will be in touch with results.
Brian

[oneowner73]

Directed to Partsmore. Got back to the track on Oct. 13th. Found out at 10:30 am at work that I could leave at noon. Ran home and decided to install the Vbattery. I had not had it on the charger recently. I had time when I arrived at the track to charge for an hour and fifteen minutes. It did not reach full charge at that time or any time during the evening. I charged between every run figuring I would eventually get a full charge. When I returned home I placed the battery on the charger for the remainder of the night. Checking on the battery at approximately 10:00 am, I found the red light flashing on the charger indicating that the battery had been on the charger more than 8 hours without fully charging. I disconnected the charger.
The next weekend, the 20th, I knew I could go to the track when I left work on Friday. I put the charger back on for the night to come out Sat. morning to find the green light on indicating a fully charged battery. At the track I made 2 passes and put the charger on. The green light was flashing indicating that charge was being taken. I expected the battery to charge fully but it never did. I kept putting the charger on between passes. I would shut off the main power switch when ever possible. I bought this to reduce the time on the charger but so far I haven't realised much difference. I am considering the purchase of a 16 volt alternator but don't know what voltage it will charge at and how it will effect the electronic equipment. Am I expecting to much from my 16volt Vbattery ?
Thank You Brian

[topsportsman1]

Has anyone tried one of these batterys?

http://www.batteriesareus.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65_146&products_id=9160

http://www.batteriesareus.com/bmz_cache/0/0cd1916816141b139446ea162035da86.image.733x550.jpg

[Racefab57]

Tom $925FOR A FU@#!%BATTERY!!!! Oh my god!David.

[oneowner73]

Talked to Batteriesareus and sent battery and charger in for testing. Battery was fine and upgraded to another charger. Will see how it works in the spring. They are good people and working with me to sort out my problem.
Brian

[oneowner73]

Update: Same problems with updated battery charger. It is a very nice charger and will charge 12 and 16 volt batteries. Works well when I have to take out the 16 volt and replace it with my old Optima 12 volt so I can race. My battery supplier did check my 16 volt battery again and said nothing was wrong but sent me back one of the 32LB. 16 volts. This battery has less cranking capacity than the 52LB. battery. Will now have to get a 16 volt alternator to use the 16 volt battery at all. Guess I will get a Powermaster alt. that has an adjustable regulator so I can change it also when changing batteries. Probably will purchase another brand of 16 volt battery at some time in the future.

[oneowner73]

Almost forgot that one the t&t with the 32LB. battery my car picked up with the 16 volt over the 12 volt. Went from a 9.97 to a 9.89 ET. I had run two passes with the 12 volt at 9.98 and 9.97. Switched to the fully charged 16 volt after the cool down and went 9.89 on the first pass. Before the 16 had fully charged they made last call to the lanes and I took the charger off while still charging at 8 amps and slowed to 9.93. I drove back to the trailer and shut the car off to talk to the friend I had just run. When I tried to start the car to load it grunted and clicked and did not start. I reinstalled the 12 volt and it fired right up to load. After loading I checked the voltage on the 16 volt battery to find it showed 16.65 volts and would not start the car.
Tried again at another track with the 16 volt. Fully charged at home. Loaded car, unloaded car, drove around pits warming up and ran fan and water pump to coll down. Drove to the lanes only to have a no start in the lanes. Four starts and a short cool down and no start. Car would always start on 12 volt so I got the tools and switched the cable to the 12 volt post on this battery thinking that maybe somehow my starter just plain didn't like 16 volts. Still no good. Still showed 16.67 volts when removed to reinstall the 12 volt battery. Seems to have volts but no amps.

[TheRabbit]

Been thinking about switching to 16 volt. I read this thread and am still curious what you guys think?

[whitey70ss]

but its got a 1 year warranty!!!!! :lol:

[TheRabbit]

Well $660+ later I bought a battery and charger today. I'll let you know how it goes.

[TheRabbit]

Charged up the new battery and put it in. Man does it turn the motor over so much faster and easier! No comparison to 12 volt. Not even 12 volt with two batteries! Fan and water pump also turn faster.
No race for 2 weeks, but will let you know how it goes.

[hammertime]

Charged up the new battery and put it in. Man does it turn the motor over so much faster and easier! No comparison to 12 volt. Not even 12 volt with two batteries! Fan and water pump also turn faster.
No race for 2 weeks, but will let you know how it goes.

which setup did you go with ?

[TheRabbit]

PowerMaster S1000 and the 12/ 16 volt charger.

[hammertime]

thinking of trying the lightweight powermaster and 16v charger, seems like jegs may be the cheapest ?

I have 14.8volts with my alt and 12v setup, more for cranking then anything for me, added comp it cranks a little harder

[BEAST477]

Just remember David, if it aint broke don't fix it.

[TheRabbit]

thinking of trying the lightweight powermaster and 16v charger, seems like jegs may be the cheapest ?

I have 14.8volts with my alt and 12v setup, more for cranking then anything for me, added comp it cranks a little harder

A 12volt system want come close to the starting power of a 16volt.
My 632 bbc is 15.8 -1 comp and it turns over like the plugs are out!!

[hammertime]

Just remember David, if it aint broke don't fix it.

lol I am always looking for that edge :D

[BEAST477]

Just remember David, if it aint broke don't fix it.

lol I am always looking for that edge :D

Yeah I know. I was just messin'. :lol:

[hammertime]

Just remember David, if it aint broke don't fix it.

lol I am always looking for that edge :D

Yeah I know. I was just messin'. :lol:

new comp starts a bit harder then before, starts ok just not as good as I like, and not a fan of using a start retard

[hammertime]

sounds like this guy isnt having good luck with the vbattery either

http://www.racingjunk.com/category/19/Dragsters/post/1552986/do-not-order-16v-battery-.html

[TheRabbit]

I'd rather buy it in person too. Somtimes mail orders have some supprise charges!

[TheRabbit]

Finally had a race since I put the 16 volt in. No way would I run a 12 volt again. The 16 volt battery and charger are expensive, but worth every penny.

[I972Nova]

I am really leaning towards a 16 volt battery. Looking at the PowerMaster S1000. I have ruined 3 flywheels and 2 starters with my 15:1 small block and I think this may be the answer.

[dparker]

12 volt with alternator much better. Usually if you have a good starter and have it aligned right and are still breaking flywheels its because your moter is kicking back.

[TheRabbit]

Don't have room for an alt. Vacuum pump and a dry sump in a Toyota doesn't leave much room for anything else. And a 12volt with 4 batteries will never give you the starting power of 1 16 volt battery

[chevyfireball]

I run two 16v batteries and put on the charger between rounds. Can't risk a voltage drop off.

There has been a whole lot of discussion concerning V batteries on
http://www.promodzone.com/showthread.php?t=16456 and also
http://www.promodzone.com/showthread.php?t=15815 and also
http://www.promodzone.com/showthread.php?t=11890

These threads orta put you off ever touching a V battery. Worked for me!