Odessey Batteries, confusion?!

Joined: 28 Oct 2002 Location: Sydney

OK, got a brochure of the Odessey range. Now, in the brochure it says they are "true deep cycling batteries", but also hold the ability to be completely flattened and recharged, and it wont harm them, which means they can also be used as a cranking battery (???). They also charge like any other normal lead acid battery.

Reason for asking is, im am trying to decide whether to buy one to use as the 3rd battery (ie, small but powerful, as i have limited space in the engine bay) and run it in parallel with my 2nd battery (will give total CCA of about 950-1000), OR get the biggest mofo Odessey, the ES 1500 (??), which is JUST a bit larger in dimensions compared to the Exide Extreme battery thats there ATM. It has 930CCA. Also, the big mofo may not fit in the battery tray (.!).

Has anyone used Odesseys??

Phill

Joined: 22 Jun 2003 Location: Location: Location: Location:

I think maybe your confused a bit on this. Deep cycle batteries DO have the ability to be flattened a certain amount of time before being damaged.
It's the cranking batteries that get stuffed up quickly if they are flattened.
Having said that, it's best to try not to flatten any batteries to get the maximun life out of them. I've had my deep cycle battery for over 4 years and it's still going strong.

Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Location: Sydney

i have 2 tiny little 650cca units, happy with them so far Smile

Joined: 28 Oct 2002 Location: Sydney

Yeah i have never heard a bad word about them. I have figured i can fit a ES12V650 just behind the air filter in my 80 series. Now, can i run a dry cell battery (the odessey) in parrellel with my lead acid 2nd battery (the Exide Extreme)?? The local auto electricain said it would be A OK, but just want to get "2nd opinions".....

This would bring my total CCA (of the 2 AUX batteries) up to 875CCA (the ES12v650 has a pulse current of 650A and a CCA of 245A).....

......i dont know Confused

Phill

Joined: 19 Dec 2003

I've had 'em in a few cars. They're a good thing, except in the 4wd...

The technology came out the Gulf War Version 1. Instant starting for choppers and stuff that hadn't been used for a while. They are halfway between a starting & a deep cycle, can be used for both.

I've got the big one in an old V8 I only fire up every few months, perfect. The smallest is in a race car, again it can be a while between race mtgs, and it usually turns over a 13:1 1.6 litre. No probs there.

But a pair of them didn't last so well in the 4wd. Dunno why. Just didn't last any longer than a normal wet cell. I've heard they don't like the rapid discharge with winching, that shortens the life, and it fits with my experience.

I've switched to red & yellow top optimas, and 3 yrs later, they're looking good.

So I'd go Optimas over Odessies if you're winching.

Regards
Max P

Joined: 28 Oct 2002 Location: Sydney

Max,
I plan on running the odessey in parallel with my 2nd (AUX) battery, and using these 2 AUX batteries to run all my accesories, and the winch. the reason i have chosen the Odessey is cos i can fit it in the small space that i have. I wont (well, hopefully i wont have to!) be using the winch that often, so maybe/hopefully it wont destroy the odessy ???

I spose i can just try it and see what happens......

Phill

Joined: 19 Dec 2003

Go for it if you don't do much winching. The Odessies are a good 2nd (& 3rd!) battery - they're smaller, & you can mount them vertically or any way except upside down.

Although..

I'm no sparky, but I'd be wary of setting it up with a wet cell battery. One or the other will be chronically undercharged or overcharged if you're going to run a simple solenoid type isolator.

I'm curious why your sparky says its OK...

Regards
Max P

Joined: 26 Oct 2002 Location: Brisbane

Ask a Harley owner what they think of oddesy's most don't like them cause the vibrations kill them. Also if you are using them to run accesories look at the amp hour rating not the CCA as it irrelevent, oddesy's don't have a big capacity in that respect (the es12v1500 is only 75 amp hour from memory) Also if they are dead flat you need a special 15volt high current charger to recharge them and Warranty is also a shitfight it you have probs

Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Location: Exmoor England

Strange that!
As they are standard fitment in all British army Land Rovers,
have massive cranking power
the PC1200-1700 are the ones suitable for a vehicle battery