The votes are in on the battery size increase and experimental batteries.
As of the 2010 racing season we will be allowed to carry 73 pounds of "gel" lead acid batteries. The simple definition of gel is a lead acid battery that will not leak with a hole in it. With the new changes you will be able to run optima yellow top d35 series batteries (published weight of 36.4 pounds each) with a total of 1240 cca available or you can run one 35 series and one 34 series red top (total of 69.5 pounds) with a total of 1910 cca available. The rule change will allow and increase of 90 cca over last year if you are running Optimas, we likely should see new records set in the next season with the power increase. I do not know how to convert the ratings to amp hours, can someone please step in and answer that one? With the extra weight there should be a lot of other more powerful batteries that will now pass the standard. If you know of them please post them in the battery section.
There is also going to be "experimental" batteries allowed. I do not have the specifics for this change, someone please comment on the new changes here.
It is my understanding there are no other rule votes going to happen this year. I will lock the 2010 discussion threads soon as they are now going to be moot. I will start a 2011 section to address the next window that changes can happen. Hopefully with people posting here we will have a long range memory of the issues that arise.
churd said
Oct 31, 2009
When does this rule go into effect? In other words, if there is a sanctioned race in April 2010, are the yellow tops allowed?
What's the "official" date?
electrathon said
Oct 31, 2009
The changes take effect as of Jan 1. The idea is we have the fall to vote on last years issues, then the changes happen before the race season starts.
electrathon said
Oct 31, 2009
Here is a copy of the email that came out from Mike Hodgert:
Hi all,
The votes for the two battery rules are in and tabulated.
INCREASE THE WEIGHT TO 73 POUNDS: PASSED
--YES 81 votes from 28 teeams NO 23 votes from 11 teams
ALLOW AN EXPERIMENTAL CLASS OF BATTERIES: PASSED
--YES 79 votes from 27 teams NO 25 votes from 12 teams
The number of teams and votes cast was one of the highest in the last several votes. I also am really glad to see the discussions going on about batteries and other various aspects of Electrathon. To keep this open dialog going PLEASE continue to express thoughts, ideas, opinions, etc. on our new forum at 'electrathonamerica.activeboard.com' which is monitored by Aaron.
There should also be a new updated Electrathon America web site up very soon. We are just waiting on the past web master to pass on the information to switch everything over to the Jeff, the new web master---keep checking for the new page. Once it is up please send information about your team, local events, etc. to Jeff so they can get posted.
One more thought, If you or someone else would like to become an Electraton America board member please pass this information on to me --mhodgert@bethel.k12.or.us- and I will get a list together and have another membership vote to have you officially placed on the board. We would like to have one person from each state or race area if possible. I know one person expressed interest in a message about the batteries but I can not find that message now so please resend that information as well.
Thanks again for all of you that voted and expressed your opinions and thoughts. Again lets continue the discussions and thought on electrathonamerica.activeboard.com
Talk to you all soon,
Mike Hodgert
Anonymous said
Nov 2, 2009
Looks like we all have to buy new batteries if we want to be competitive. My understanding is the yellow tops will not have the power as the same weight red tops so we are back to using red tops just heavier ones is that correct?
churd said
Nov 2, 2009
jeff Blackman wrote:
Looks like we all have to buy new batteries if we want to be competitive. My understanding is the yellow tops will not have the power as the same weight red tops so we are back to using red tops just heavier ones is that correct?
Here is a comparison of all of the optima batteries. Click on the blue arrow to download the PDF comparison chart HERE.
Looking at the chart, the legal redtops in use now give you 44Ah as a C20 rating, and the yellowtops will net you 48Ah.
Any redtop with a C20 rating higher than 44 is too heavy to fit the new rule by at least 3lbs.
And yes. To stay competitive, we all need to buy new batteries. Fire up the fund raising machines!
As of the 2010 racing season we will be allowed to carry 73 pounds of "gel" lead acid batteries. The simple definition of gel is a lead acid battery that will not leak with a hole in it. With the new changes you will be able to run optima yellow top d35 series batteries (published weight of 36.4 pounds each) with a total of 1240 cca available or you can run one 35 series and one 34 series red top (total of 69.5 pounds) with a total of 1910 cca available. The rule change will allow and increase of 90 cca over last year if you are running Optimas, we likely should see new records set in the next season with the power increase. I do not know how to convert the ratings to amp hours, can someone please step in and answer that one? With the extra weight there should be a lot of other more powerful batteries that will now pass the standard. If you know of them please post them in the battery section.
There is also going to be "experimental" batteries allowed. I do not have the specifics for this change, someone please comment on the new changes here.
It is my understanding there are no other rule votes going to happen this year. I will lock the 2010 discussion threads soon as they are now going to be moot. I will start a 2011 section to address the next window that changes can happen. Hopefully with people posting here we will have a long range memory of the issues that arise.
What's the "official" date?
Looking at the chart, the legal redtops in use now give you 44Ah as a C20 rating, and the yellowtops will net you 48Ah.
Any redtop with a C20 rating higher than 44 is too heavy to fit the new rule by at least 3lbs.
And yes. To stay competitive, we all need to buy new batteries. Fire up the fund raising machines!