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Optima battery in 911 SC
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Orchard Park, NY
Posts: 10,522
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I got this from an exchange with Alan DuBoff at Rennlist some time ago.
--Wil Ferch Fri, 24 Mar 2000 06:36:37 -0800 Author: Alan DuBoff Subject: Upgrading to Optima w/template for mounting plate Body: I have seen a few pieces of information on the Optima battery, and I think these batteries are really good. They don't leak, and they won't gather corrosion around the battery terminals either. This is something that anyone on the list can do, even if you are not the type of person that likes to change their own oil, you can still perform this easy upgrade to an Optima battery. I have created a template to produce a plate for a '74-'89 911 to mount the Optima battery. This is for a standard 800U or 800S, I don't know about the other models. Sorry, I don't know how to get one in another style car, the classics need to mount the Optima on it's side so it will fit I've read, and I don't know about the 964s or 993s. I bought a plate from AJ-USA as I didn't want to reinvent the wheel, but when I saw what I got for $31, it seemed a little high... For starters, you can try and print the bitmap (it's in Windows Bitmap format since most folks use it...I use Unix/Linux, and can probably create some other format files, but I can't get them to print out the proper dimensions. These bitmaps will print in either Adobe Photoshop, or the Image program that ships with Windows NT 4.0 (I have no idea about Windows 98 or Windows 2000, I use Unix/Linux most all the time). If you print the optima_sizes.bmp out and the sizes don't match, you will not be able to use the template. The other template which is named optima.jpg is just cleaner with no dimensions and less clutter.. You can make a plate out of anything, one person on the list told me they created one with plastic, and I think plexiglass (my reccomendation, as it's pretty easy to cut and drill) would work fine, or even plywood, pressboard, or you can use aluminum like the AJ-USA plate I purchased. While aluminum works well, it's not easy for most DIY folks to fabricate in their garage typically. You should use stainless steel flathead bolts with nyloc nuts. You can get them at your local hardware store (I like to buy from West Marine, since boating folks use a lot of stainless and they have a good selection). NOTE: if you do use aluminum with stainless bolts, it wouldn't hurt to add a dab of alumilastic or similar that can be gotten at most any marine chandlery, I got myself into the habit of using it as the two metals can cause electrolisys of such...here is a pic of it: http://www.SoftOrchestra.com/porsche/optima/alumilastic.jpg 1/4" bolts that are 1 1/2" long should be fine. Countersink the bottom side of the plate, so the heads will sit flat. The plate should be 12 inches long (305cm). and 6 5/8 inches wide (168 cm). I am using .bmp as it is fairly common and should print out from a variety of graphics programs, but check the sizes. You will need to save these files, use shift-lmb in Netscape. http://www.SoftOrchestra.com/porsche/optima/optima_sizes.bmp http://www.SoftOrchestra.com/porsche/optima/optima.bmp Line the template up on one edge. Here is a picture of the AJ-USA plate: http://www.SoftOrchestra.com/porsche/optima/ajusa_mount_plate.jpg Here is a picture of the Optima battery next to the mounting plate: http://www.SoftOrchestra.com/porsche/optima/optima_and_mount_plate.jpg The Optima battery mounted to the plate: http://www.SoftOrchestra.com/porsche/optima/optima_mounted.jpg The old battery. Note that mine was not attached to the mounting bracket anyway, but it looks like it was holding it in place anyway: http://www.SoftOrchestra.com/porsche/optima/old_battery.jpg A new ground strap was needed that was just a couple inches longer. My local auto parts store (Winchester Auto in the SF Bay area) had a 9 inch ground strap for $4. Here it is next to the old one: http://www.SoftOrchestra.com/porsche/optima/new_9inch_ground_strap.jpg Here is the new Optima battery installed: http://www.SoftOrchestra.com/porsche/optima/new_battery.jpg And of course, back in stealth mode, hiding in the trunk: http://www.SoftOrchestra.com/porsche/optima/back_in_stealth_mode.jpg -- Alan DuBoff Software Orchestration, Inc.
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Wil Ferch 85 Carrera ( gone, but not forgotten ) Last edited by Wil Ferch; 09-19-2003 at 09:31 AM.. |
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Planet Eugene
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So who knows how to mount one in a '73??
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Whats the Optima model # that folks use in their SC/Carrera?
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Charlie Stylianos 1982 SC Targa www.Dorkiphus.com - (The Land of the NoVA/DC/MD Porschephiles) |
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I would recommend a RedTop I really like mine Seems to have much more power than a regular battery, never seems to run down, and doesn't leak! ...Best price I could find was PepBoys. If you rarely drive it, you should probably get the Deepcycle or YellowTop
From the Optima Website: http://www.optimabatteries.com In any vehicle or equipment that will use the battery only for Starting, Lighting, & Ignition requirements and has a properly working alternator, the OPTIMA Red Top™ Starting Battery will perform extremely well, often providing up to two times longer life than conventional batteries. If the vehicle has few or no after-market accessories and uses a stock or upgraded alternator, the OPTIMA Red Top Starting Battery is the appropriate choice. Remember, it is possible for the customer to have a completely discharged Red Top OPTIMA that will not start their engine; the advantages of the Red Top are that it can accept a rapid recharge and it will recover from discharge many more times. To provide the customer the best OPTIMA solution, it is, necessary to consider both the application and the charging system before recommending the correct OPTIMA. For example, if your customer has a Ford Expedition with an after-market alarm system, which OPTIMA would you recommend? If the customer drives the car every day, the Red Top would be the correct choice, since the amperage drain will be nominal and the battery would be recharged on a daily basis. However, if the customer stores the vehicle for a long period of time with the alarm system engaged, you should recommend the OPTIMA Yellow Top, since the amperage drain over several weeks would damage a Red Top and reduce its life.
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74 Targa 3.0, 89 Carrera, 04 Cayenne Turbo http://www.pelicanparts.com/gallery/fintstone/ "The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money" Some are born free. Some have freedom thrust upon them. Others simply surrender |
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Join Date: May 2001
Location: Peoples Republic of Long Beach, NY
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the Yellow Top deep cycle didn't last a year for me because I use a trickle charger.. it slowly lowers the battery voltage if not used properly, which I didn't
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Ronin LB '77 911s 2.7 PMO E 8.5 SSI Monty MSD JPI w x6 |
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Join Date: May 2000
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 913
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There are multiple red tops now, but the AJUSA installation lit worked great for my 800U.
I remember reading the the "life" or "warranty" of batteries is simply how much space they build into the case for lead particles to settle at the bottom before the pile gets high enough to short out the plates. So, traditional batteries with widely different warranties are usually identical (the article said only 2 or 3 places in the US actually built car batteries), excepts for the dimensions of the case. I have Optimas in all 3 vehicles, and I simply never worry about the batteries at all any more. Olivier
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Olivier Hecht 1982 911SC |
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