Braille project completed

[sam_a156]

My Sunday morning Braille installation project was just completed.

The OEM battery was 15.3kg and the lightweight Braille replacement (B14115) 5.3kg => 10kg saved (minus a few hundred grams for the mount kit).

Does anybody else here have experiences from this Braille model? Any reliability issues in daily use? I intend to keep this as my "summer battery", the OEM will go back at the same time with the winter tires. Will post some experiences later...

Cheers,
Sam

[OJM]

That's crazy - it looks lost in there!

[sam_a156]

Luggage space was just increased by several litres

[THEWORKSMINI]

How does the weight compare?

[sam_a156]

Right, I used the "continental" kilograms - sorry

OEM 33,7lbs
Braille 11,7lbs

Saving 22lbs

[MINI-Morgan]

Nice. Im guessing it cant be lead acid then! Calcium?

[sam_a156]

Braille Carbon Fiber Battery Specs
Braille Battery Installed

Casing: Carbon Composite Shell & Polymer Plastic
Weight: 11.5 lbs
Length: 5.8
Width: 3.4
Height: 5.8
Pulse Cranking Amps: 904
Cranking Amps: 486
Cold Cranking Amps: 360
Amp Hour Rating: 15

More details:

Braille Carbon Fiber Lightweight Battery [BR-B14115C]

(Though I would be cautious using this shop - I ordered the stuff online assuming that they will be shipped from the UK. Not so, they shipped from the US...and I got burned big time with the import taxes)

Ps. Yes, calcium!

[OJM]

That's a bit bad - I'd complain about that. Considering you're accessing the site from a UK domain name, and they have a "fully stocked warehouse in the UK", I'm sure they can't ship from the US and have you pay the import taxes - unless they specify that they ship from the US, but I can't see anything.

Kick up a fuss mate!

[MINIAC]

Quote: Originally Posted by sam_a156 (original)

Does anybody else here have experiences from this Braille model? Any reliability issues in daily use?

Read this post on NAM.

[sam_a156]

Quote: Originally Posted by OJM (original)

That's a bit bad - I'd complain about that. Considering you're accessing the site from a UK domain name, and they have a "fully stocked warehouse in the UK", I'm sure they can't ship from the US and have you pay the import taxes - unless they specify that they ship from the US, but I can't see anything.

Kick up a fuss mate!

Thanks!

In fact I have Used the same arguments too and they were listening.

They have been quite flexible & responsive up to this point and promised to compensate the taxes. I just sent them the documentation...now waiting for their response. We will see.

[sam_a156]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINIAC (original)

Read this post on NAM.

I believe that I saw this long time ago. It still left some room for limited optimism (and I am an optimist by nature ).

I will just have to wait and see. However, I am pretty sure that a winter battery this is not and would not expose it to below freezing temps.

[Paul@1320]

Quote: Originally Posted by sam_a156 (original)

Right, I used the "continental" kilograms - sorry

OEM 33,7lbs
Braille 11,7lbs

Saving 22lbs

Sam Its only old people like me or our American cousins who still use lbs

[sam_a156]

Update: I was traveling for 2.5 weeks during which the car was not used. Came back yesterday...and the battery was flat. The doors etc. were still working, but the starter motor did not work. Luckily after using jump cables to start the car and then charging the battery everything seems to be fine again.

This may or may not have something to do with Scangauge...I remember reading that somebody had also managed to drain his battery and suspected that Scangauge had something to do with it. Or then just the alarm system has managed to empty the battery during this time...

In any case, seems that the reservations regarding the daily use of these batteries may be justified. For now the Braille stays on and I will just unplug the Scangauge if I plan to keep the car in the garage for some time.

I will keep you posted.

Cheers,
Sam

[Silent1]

2.5 weeks on a small battery like that is asking a lot, they're more of a race battery, not an everyday one, they will lose a charge quickly.

[sam_a156]

Well, I won't argue with that.

But still, the marketing saga goes like this:
"...The Spec B14115 is also perfect for daily street use. Braille developed the B14115 to excel at racing and to easily power street vehicles equipped with A/C, stereos and power accessories...."

At least I have one more reason to drive more often...to charge the batteries

Ps. at least they are supposed to tolerate deep charging/abuse quite well - we will see