What killed this PC680? - Page 3

Brantel · #21 05-17-2013, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gregmarlow

If you can get up to KVJI, Abingdon VA, I've got one that's still got some life you can use. I just pulled it before my motorcycle crash and its on my bench in my hangar.

Greg,

BatteryMart.com has my replacement on the way. I will have it on Tuesday. I can't fly this weekend so I should be OK.

Thanks very much for your offer however!

dlloyd3 · #22 05-17-2013, 06:06 PM

My bass boat has three batteries and an onboard charger, variable rates, every so often it does something different for sulfidation if left plugged in all the time. The first four years it seemed like every six months a battery went bad, would not hold a charge. I never caught it doing anything it shouldn't but came to suspect the charger. Replaced it with another and two years later have not had any more battery problem whatsoever.

9GT · #23 05-17-2013, 08:17 PM

In 1997, the battery in our one year old wave runner gave up. I ran down to the near by Battery's Plus store and had them test it. Sure enough it was toast. He suggested the Odyssey PC535? and even though it was three times the cost of the one that went bad, he said I would be happy with it and it will last for years. Well, its 2013, 16 years later and its still going strong. Never had a charger on it and even forgot to bring it in the house to keep it from freezing a winter or two. Six years ago I purchased a new ZTR mower. That battery also lasted only one year. Replace that with an Odyssey. I never remove it off season so it spends its winter in a freezing garage and again after 6 months and no charge, it works just fine every spring. I aways wonder about the hocus pocus charging theories of these batteries and wonder about its value. Maybe its different cranking over these large engine's on our planes? In any case I intend to keep mine off a charger unless it needs it.

Pmerems · #24 05-17-2013, 08:30 PM

I have the same battery and charger. Every time I think I need to trickle charge it I hook up the charger and it indicated is fully charged. Never had any indication of a weak charge after the plane was sitting for 4-5 weeks in the paint shop. I have never kept it on a maintenance charge. Most of the time I fly once a week.

It is about 6 years old and the plane has been flying for 2 1/2 years. Car batteries don't last very long in the Arizona heat, but I am impressed with the PC680 so far.

Food for thought.

Walt · #25 05-17-2013, 08:34 PM

I will only use a charger if the battery is run down, then take it off as soon as its charged.

hgerhardt · #26 05-17-2013, 10:43 PM

My previous PC680 also had a relatively short life of 2 years. So, I emailed Enersys and asked what to do about it... and they replied to rejuvenate it, which I outlined in this post a few years ago. Worked surprisingly well.

Heinrich

Bob Redman · #27 05-18-2013, 01:02 AM

G'day Brian,

I have replaced a continuous duty solenoid supplied by Vans. The battery was showing the same symptoms as yours. Took a while to find but, with battery switch off, the solenoid was leaking small very current to earth and eventually the battery (2005) could not turn the prop despite frequent charging.

New solenoid, new Odyssey, all good so far (12 months).

Regards,

gasman · #28 05-18-2013, 03:14 AM

My 680 is on it's 10th year. And load tests out within spec's. It never sets more than 4 weeks between flights.
Firewall mounted with full metal jacket..... No lightning holes cut.

hydroguy2 · #29 05-18-2013, 07:53 AM

Only 3 yrs on my PC680, no problems either. I only put the Smart charger on it if I know I am going to place a drain on it while messing with the avionics while in the hangar. So not very often, but did leave the Master on for 10 days once and drained it completely. 0 volts which means a Smart charger will not charge it. I figure the 680 was toast....but I broke out my old school Sears charger(my dad was getting rid of it back in 1980), 20 minutes later there was enough voltage the Smart charger to do its business. Left it on overnight and TaDa it's alive. No problems in almost 2 yrs since.

So I'm in the no charging unless it needs it.

Disclaimer: my electrical load is very simple compared to many

Sam Buchanan · #30 05-18-2013, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hydroguy2

Only 3 yrs on my PC680, no problems either. I only put the Smart charger on it if I know I am going to place a drain on it while messing with the avionics while in the hangar. So not very often, but did leave the Master on for 10 days once and drained it completely. 0 volts which means a Smart charger will not charge it. I figure the 680 was toast....but I broke out my old school Sears charger(my dad was getting rid of it back in 1980), 20 minutes later there was enough voltage the Smart charger to do its business. Left it on overnight and TaDa it's alive. No problems in almost 2 yrs since.

So I'm in the no charging unless it needs it.

Disclaimer: my electrical load is very simple compared to many

Your experience is very close to mine. Ten days with the master on, PC680 was totally flat, I assumed it was gone for good. Battery Tender Jr. wouldn't run on it so out of desperation I left a dumb 750mA charger on it for 24 hours. Next day the battery was back and has been in service for a few years since. Amazing battery that receives no special maintenance from me.