Too many issues with my Odyssey battery. Has anyone switched to a stronger battery.
Too many issues with my Odyssey battery. Has anyone switched to a stronger battery.
UIKeyInputLeftArrowThere seem to be many that have great luck with Odyssey, and a few that don't. Unfortunately I'm one of the latter. I'm on my third one and cannot figure it out.
PC925 in a -10.
It IS mounted on its side (Odyssey says that's okay, but is it really?)
Voltage measured with a good voltmeter, at the battery terminals, is 14.1-14.2 volts with the engine running. Is this too low?
I make a fair number of 30-40 minute flights. Are these too short?
I do not run a trickle charger. I have used an Odyssey approved "optimizer" (I think) charger a few times to bring it back up to fully charged.
Symptom: voltage measures 12.8 (fully charged). Turn on avionics, engine off. Within 2 - 3 minutes voltage is down to 12.0. After that, it continues to decrease but at a much slower rate. It's as if it's lost the top 40% of its capacity. It does always start just fine.
UIKeyInputLeftArrow
By chance, do you locally ground the battery and use the airframe for grounds?
Carl
There seem to be many that have great luck with Odyssey, and a few that don't. Unfortunately I'm one of the latter. I'm on my third one and cannot figure it out.
PC925 in a -10.
It IS mounted on its side (Odyssey says that's okay, but is it really?)
Voltage measured with a good voltmeter, at the battery terminals, is 14.1-14.2 volts with the engine running. Is this too low?
I make a fair number of 30-40 minute flights. Are these too short?
I do not run a trickle charger. I have used an Odyssey approved "optimizer" (I think) charger a few times to bring it back up to fully charged.
Symptom: voltage measures 12.8 (fully charged). Turn on avionics, engine off. Within 2 - 3 minutes voltage is down to 12.0. After that, it continues to decrease but at a much slower rate. It's as if it's lost the top 40% of its capacity. It does always start just fine.
Coming up on my sixth year with the Odyssey. Many on our field have equally impressive results. Do you, by chance, keep it on a tender? They don't seem to like that.
This Odyssey 680 is 2 years old and is about toast. Today when I turned on the EFIS it showed 12.2 volts. After raising the flaps and turning on the electric fuel pump it dropped to 12.0 V. Its been about 10 days since I've flown last. My flights are about 45 mins long. Alt volts are 14.6V after start up. I'm considering a battery tender on a timer to see if I can milk it for a couple more months. Just postponing the inevitable.
Any battery can loose capacity, especially if it is abused. As example, was the battery ever run flat, like when you leave the master on? Anytime this happens or if you need to "jump" the plane assume the battery dead - pull it and let it have its new life in a lawn tractor. No Odyssey battery should ever need a tender.
BTW, a PC-625 is a little lighter and has a little more ah capacity compared to a PC-680. I run two of these in each plane I built to make sure I hit my design electrical capacity for IFR work.
Carl
I'm using EarthX now. Love it. Will never go back.
...I did notice the old one shows 220 CCA on the label, the new one shows only 170. Same p/n, etc... Anybody know anything about this?
I order my batteries online through Battery Mart. My one yr old Odyssey PC680 also failed to hold a charge more than than 12.2 v. When I called to order a new one, as a side note the rep stated that Odyssey does not recommend the PC680 for aircraft use but they make the Hawker SBS J16 recommended for aircraft. Same size as PC680. Came in the mail today. $173.65 including shipping.
I order my batteries online through Battery Mart. My one yr old Odyssey PC680 also failed to hold a charge more than than 12.2 v. When I called to order a new one, as a side note the rep stated that Odyssey does not recommend the PC680 for aircraft use but they make the Hawker SBS J16 recommended for aircraft. Same size as PC680. Came in the mail today. $173.65 including shipping.
I swap out my 680 every other year as a IFR precaution. All 680 batteries are not created equal, even that exact same models. My new battery, this spring, is better then the last one ever was. I currently have about four old 680s that I keep charged for use around the farm. They are great in lawn mowers!
I think two years from now there will be enough experience in the field for me to try a different type. I remember when a 680 was considered new and scary.
After taking with various battery suppliers here at Lakeland I'm going with the Earth x 900. I think the Fuel Injection engines just need a stronger battery because of the difficulty starting. As far as the Lithium battery exploding, the Earth x is high tech with many safe guards. I think we will be seeing more in the future.
Thanks for the input.
Anyone using an EarthX or similar battery needs to read the following thread:
http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=148476
It appears there may be a failure scenario with a battery that has an automatic disconnect that many have not considered.....and could be very expensive.
I'll be honest and say I really don't understand how these batteries work. On my CHARGER, it charges at 14.7 volts until fully charged. After that, it drops back to a 13.5 volt float charge. What happens if I run my alternator at 14.7 volts, after the battery is fully re-charged? Is there a risk of boiling the electrolyte? How high is too high?
I think I can answer my own question. I previously worked off the Odyssey warranty page, where it said "alternator must put out between 14.0 and 14.7 volts". But it sounds like the low end of this range is not very good for long battery life. Since I have a Plane Power with nonadjustable regulator, I'll see if I can fool it with a series diode in the sense line.
I gave up on Odyssey batteries, as the newer ones aren't nearly as long lasting as my first one. I was running out of room in the basement to store the dead ones.
I'm currently using a Full River FT230, which is a drop-in replacement, with the same dimensions as the PC680. Full River was recommended to me by an Australian RVer. I haven't had it in long enough to come to any conclusion, but I have no complaints with it yet.