Lithium ion battery for the Hellcat

[covidcommander]

Saw they have a 1600cca and a 1300cca

Is the 1600 CCA worth the extra money?

 

[2ndgen]

Looks like the Kepworth LifePO4 batteries actually do have a built-in BMS, so gets my vote.
Seen here in this teardown video

 

[catdad]

Saw they have a 1600cca and a 1300cca

Is the 1600 CCA worth the extra money?

The speed the 1300cca spins the engine over, there is no reason for the 1600cca.

 

[catdad]

Ok so I'm jumping on the bandwagon and just ordered one of these, hope it arrives quickly like some of you experienced too! Two questions...so does this new one not have a vent tube? Also, what have the rest of you done with the old battery core? Thanks for any help.

You can take the battery core to advance and they will give you a credit or gift card. I dont remember hooking up the vent tube. Ill look tomorrow, should be sealed.

 

[Taxinator]

Ok so I'm jumping on the bandwagon and just ordered one of these, hope it arrives quickly like some of you experienced too! Two questions...so does this new one not have a vent tube? Also, what have the rest of you done with the old battery core? Thanks for any help.

No vent tube needed for lithium. My vent tube is tucked away in the same area, but obviously not plugged into anything.

 

[covidcommander]

Looks like the Kepworth LifePO4 batteries actually do have a built-in BMS, so gets my vote.
Seen here in this teardown video

How important is the bms? Guessing thats what keeps the lithium from catching fire or cooking

 

[2ndgen]

How important is the bms? Guessing thats what keeps the lithium from catching fire or cooking

Absolutely imperative. Charging LifePO4 batteries directly off the main circuit absolutely destroys them--and then they fail suddenly, completely, and possibly catastrophically--you will have zero power. (contrast to how a lead acid fails--it gets weaker over time--you usually have /some/ power even when it needs to be replaced)

LifePO4 is safer--it won't ever catch fire, but it will lose ability to hold a charge and become a doorstop. It might get hot, not sure on that, but they are definitely much safer than Li-ion.

 

[vortecd]

Saw they have a 1600cca and a 1300cca

Is the 1600 CCA worth the extra money?

The more capacity you go the more it will weigh. Mine weighs 15 lbs. Same height and width of the stock battery but shorter
https://www.hellcatforum.org/threads/light-weight-batteries.8538/page-4

 

[vortecd]

We have a new scale and it has been pretty good. For some reason with the battery I'm getting 13.8 14.3 and 14.5. I weighed a tire this week at 15.4 and weighed again today at 15.4. Then tried a few more times and had 15.2. The tire is the m/t 27×6×17 et front radial

 

[JDSHellcat]

Just ordered mine. Thanks for the info. Need to shave some weight after adding the rollbar and chute

 

[covidcommander]

Absolutely imperative. Charging LifePO4 batteries directly off the main circuit absolutely destroys them--and then they fail suddenly, completely, and possibly catastrophically--you will have zero power. (contrast to how a lead acid fails--it gets weaker over time--you usually have /some/ power even when it needs to be replaced)

LifePO4 is safer--it won't ever catch fire, but it will lose ability to hold a charge and become a doorstop. It might get hot, not sure on that, but they are definitely much safer than Li-ion.

Confusing, some say lithium ion and some say lithium iron. Unless that's a typo. Still Confusing with the option of choices.

 

[2ndgen]

LiFePO4 the Fe = Iron. probably a typo.

 

[covidcommander]

LiFePO4 the Fe = Iron. probably a typo.

Makes sense now thanks

 

[Slowkitty]

I use this one. Zero issues so far. Just have to keep it on a trickle charger if I'm letting the car sit over a week or so. weighs about 5lbs.

 

[2ndgen]

Looks like the Kepworth LifePO4 batteries actually do have a built-in BMS, so gets my vote.
Seen here in this teardown video

I tried to buy a Kepworth off Amazon. It gave me a ship date about 2 months out. Well, that ship date came and went, and then a few days later they just cancelled the order out. So... vaporware I guess.

 

[DGatzby]

I tried to buy a Kepworth off Amazon. It gave me a ship date about 2 months out. Well, that ship date came and went, and then a few days later they just cancelled the order out. So... vaporware I guess.

They have the same thing up now and had it when a couple of us bought them. They arrive within a week. Did you place an order for one and it did not ship?

 

[2ndgen]

They have the same thing up now and had it when a couple of us bought them. They arrive within a week. Did you place an order for one and it did not ship?

Yes, I ordered one. Never shipped even when the ship date range came and passed.
Now the same listing shows another nearly 2 month wait were I to try again.

 

[DGatzby]

Yes, I ordered one. Never shipped even when the ship date range came and passed.
Now the same listing shows another nearly 2 month wait were I to try again.

That does suck. The battery is the shit if you can score one.

 

[Unholy707]

My Walmart battery is going strong. Battery has been disconnected for over a month. Car sits all the time. Not a bad replacement

 

[Jimmy N.]

My '18 OE battery is still going strong. Never been disconnected.