problems with Odyssey Batteries

[bensdive]

Hi
Anyone had problems with Odyssey batteries I have as by second battery They seem to fail after about 18 months. Which would be Ok but I have been told they don't live up to there warranty As its 2 or 3 year warranty Would like to get any feed back
All the best
Ben

[Tusker]

Haven't bought any for a while - the last one would be 5 or 6 yrs ago, still going strong.

Yes they cost more but they do last twice as long.

But

They don't like winching. That seems to cook them. Winching shortens their life markedly.

So I use them in the sports cars, but not in the Defender.

Regards
Max P

[awabbit6]

I have one similar to the PC625 (http://www.odysseyfactory.com/specs.htm) that I use as a starting battery in my Datsun 1200 club competition car. I purchased the battery in Feb 1998 and apart from discharging when not used for a couple of months, its great. I gave it a charge last week (after sitting for 6 months) and just went out and hit the key. Works perfectly after almost 10 years! So to answer your question, I have found mine to live up to expectations and more. While it doesn't get used much now, I was in the car competing most weekends for at least the first 5 years.

Having said that, my dad had the same battery in his Lotus 7. He only got about 4 years out of his. Must be Lucas electrics that kill them! ;);)

[BrettKing]

I have a Defender 200Tdi with two - a SLI and leisure (for the fridge and other general stuff). Had them in for 2 years and still both going strong. Don't have a winch, so can't comment on that side of it. Would happily replace with the same if I had to.

Cheers,

Brett

[PAT303]

I just replaced mine after 8 years.Best $268 I've ever spent.Just got a Gel 1000cca for $368. Pat

[Tusker]

Just a postcript to this.

At the weekend I wheeled out of the cobwebs an MG I haven't touched in about 6 yrs. The Oddessy in it would be 8 or 9 yrs old.

The battery still had some charge in it - the SU fuel pump clattered away as normal, fuel gauge registered, and oil pressure light as bright as ever. Not bad.

There's just a chance that a charge may be all that's needed - we'll know when we attempt to start it up I guess.

Regards
Max P

[Pedro_The_Swift]

I have one similar to the PC625 (http://www.odysseyfactory.com/specs.htm) that I use as a starting battery in my Datsun 1200 club competition car. I purchased the battery in Feb 1998 and apart from discharging when not used for a couple of months, its great. I gave it a charge last week (after sitting for 6 months) and just went out and hit the key. Works perfectly after almost 10 years! So to answer your question, I have found mine to live up to expectations and more. While it doesn't get used much now, I was in the car competing most weekends for at least the first 5 years.

Having said that, my dad had the same battery in his Lotus 7. He only got about 4 years out of his. Must be Lucas electrics that kill them! ;);)


Just a postcript to this.

At the weekend I wheeled out of the cobwebs an MG I haven't touched in about 6 yrs. The Oddessy in it would be 8 or 9 yrs old.

The battery still had some charge in it - the SU fuel pump clattered away as normal, fuel gauge registered, and oil pressure light as bright as ever. Not bad.

There's just a chance that a charge may be all that's needed - we'll know when we attempt to start it up I guess.

Regards
Max P



C'mon guys,, you cant talk about sporty cars you own and NOT post pics!!
:rulez:

[awabbit6]

Sorry Pedro:)

I'll have to take some more photos of the Lotus with some engine detail.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/technical-chatter/6102d1200274432-problems-odyssey-batteries-dsc01896.jpg

Be still my beating heart----:eek::wub:



Luv the rad cap on top of the manifold;)


oh,, and its a funny lookin 1200,,,,:p

[awabbit6]

Luv the rad cap on top of the manifold;)


What ever it takes to get a big engine in a small hole ;);)



oh,, and its a funny lookin 1200,,,,:p

I never claimed that the engine was a 1200! :angel:

[Lucus]

Hi
Anyone had problems with Odyssey batteries I have as by second battery They seem to fail after about 18 months. Which would be Ok but I have been told they don't live up to there warranty As its 2 or 3 year warranty Would like to get any feed back
All the best
Ben

Hi Ben, I have a PC925 in my xr6 turbo ute (due to space limitations) and have no end of problems with it.

What sort of dual battery controller are you running? If you have any residual current draw at all when the car is off the battery will flatten in a couple of weeks.

The problem is by charging the battery with the car alternator, you dont put a high enough charging current into the battery you only top up the "float charge" this is on approx 10% to 20% of the batteries total capacity. So now that your only topping up the float charge it discharges even quicker.

The solution is to put it on a high amp chrager and charge it at a very high rate to break up the crystals that form in the cells. The will allow 80 to 90% of the stated capacity back into the battery.

I only had .5a of current draw in the ute and this completly flattened the battery in less than 3 weeks. The solution for a car that isnt daily driven is to fit a trickle charger. Once again though if the battery has been deep cycle the trickle will only restore the float charge.But as long as you trickle charging current is higher than the residual current you wont deep cycle the battery

Odyssey state there batteries will handle 50 to 80 deep cycles (ie completly flat) so the good new is you may be able to save an odyssey battery if you are able to charge it at a high enough rate.

I have attached the odyssey tech guide it might help you out.


cheers
Luke