Battery to replace Odyssey PC 680 ( now ODS-AGM16L)

Paul LeClair

Paul LeClair

Administrator
Staff member
Location
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
the Odyssey Pc 680 in my 79 1200 Mirage has died after many years of great service. No brainer, I went to order a new PC680 (using its new name/model number) only to find the Canadian Master Distributor is out of stock, "supply chain issues" like so many other things these days. no idea when he might have stock again...

so, what are folks using for decent long life high output battery these days? My 79 1200 has one of John Wilson's IIS charging system and ignitions still working fine after all these years.

Suggestions for a decent battery? I am going to call around various local battery shops tomorrow morning, or for that matter I have two more PC680's, one in the RGS and the other in the other 1200, so I can swap battteries around for a short while if I have to, just a bit of a pain......

Paul LeClair
 
I’ve installed a Motobatt MBTX30U in the RGS. Goes well.
I’ve heard some people say that Motobatt is rubbish but I’ve never had a problem, several batteries in various machines all gave 5+ years service.
 
Just bought a Deka etx16 for the 3c, $250 Au. Should be easy to find they are for Harley's. Get 8-10 years from a Deka, all other brands giving trouble at work, even yuasa having issues, motobatt, dynavolt, SSB, all rubbish. Quality seems way down last couple of years.
 
The factory fitted battery in my BMW has lasted nigh on a decade. I will check what make it is as it has outlasted any others I have, including odyssey.
 
martymoose said:
Just bought a Deka etx16 for the 3c, $250 Au. Should be easy to find they are for Harley's. Get 8-10 years from a Deka, all other brands giving trouble at work, even yuasa having issues, motobatt, dynavolt, SSB, all rubbish. Quality seems way down last couple of years.
Click to expand...
Deka etx16 died after 5 years in my Le Mans. SSB LiFePo in the Laverda still going strong after 8.
 
I am using a Shido LiFePo as well on my 1976 1000 3CL, which is working great for me BUT I have noticed that it really needs 10 deg+ C or more to deliver proper power. Tried to start the bike in the winter in my workshop and it barely reved the engine. Started the heater in my shop and 20 minutes later it started the bike easily. Not sure if a LiFePo batt. is fit for Calgary, Alberta. Apart from that, they are as costly as the Odyssey batteries. Another important point is to ensure that charging voltage is no higher than 14.6V!!

Cheers,
Alex
 
Lithium batteries , well all batteries I believe when tested for specification classification are tested at 20 degrees.
Lithium batteries in layman terms go to sleep the colder it gets more than other batteries, lead acid , gel type etc.
I'd be interest to know what type of voltage/regulator you have fitted to your bike?

Andy
 
Hello Paul, of depleted battery profile, bit like life at times, fully charged then it goes flat, never to be regained, change it out. Some background, read no further should technical be not required.

Battery, really a series of battery, 6 flooded cells at nominal 2,25V per cell = 13,5V at charge float. Use 20degrees C for ideal. Dependent on plate chemical composition, these days, bump it up to 2,27 = 13,62V. Notable being not all cells charge up at the same rate, with a constant voltage charger you may well reach nominal rounded out 13,8V ( allows for losses in wiring ) one or more cells being undercharged, ie slow decline and failure of that cell. Never seen a 12V battery with all cells failing ( using a hydrometer for SG ). One size fits all solution then is to run a constant voltage RR at 14,2 14,4 V Shindengen SH530 run this range. Used to bench test each RR sent out on iis systems, in pencil will be written what actual regulator threshold for that particular SH530. Somewhat long winded way of indicating how a battery may fail.

Stick with flooded cells only today, as many years of experience is useful, not done any work on Lithium secondary cells to speak of. Most motorcycle charging systems are a trade off, CV or constant voltage type.

As an aside, mentioned previous, a long lasting battery is not conducive for regular cash flow at a manufacturer. Quality has a price, short interval product say 2 years will cost less out the factory door, reputation a trade off in the high quality or lower quality. Why i make the choice of treating a battery as a consumable, aggravating as it may be, not convinced a modern battery represents the old same model battery, same manufacturer. Others decide for themselves, biggest factor is not being stranded when a battery fails mid life cycle and your stranded, there is no savings then, its a caveat on low cost battery changed each 2 year period. HTH j.
 
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/380704480069?hash=item58a3c15b45:g:iW8AAMXQMmJROKgr is the Shindengen Mosfet r/r I am using on all three Laverda triples, as well as my 1978 Kawasaki 650

SHINDENGEN MOSFET FH020AA REGULATOR/RECTIFIER KIT NEW GENUINE SHINDENGEN​


thanks for all the input, I am going to wind up buying whatever is in stock locally, there is an EastPenn Canada distributor local to me who carries the Deka line of batteris, that is what I have in my Harley Electra Glide https://www.eastpenncanada.com/motorcycle-and-powersport-batteries I will swing by there ansd see what they have in stock to fit the Laverda triple.

Paul LeClair

​

 
Good advice on the sellers ebay url Paul, the early ( 15+ years ago ) FET RR had an anomaly of poor regulation at lighter load side demand. Not that it means much now these days, as it were. You must be bit of a auto electrician wizz these days, well done you. How i ended up pressing triple cranks, no other choice, dictated a pressing jig be constructed, learn quickly. j.
 
phoned around today, found two shops in Calgary that each had one Odyssey Pc680 left in stock. The first one I talked to wanted a $100 premium over normal retail as he told me they were out of stock everywhere. I told him greedy gouging a..holes would get their karmic just deserts in due course and to forget about any future business from me. Didn't seem to bother himn even when he checked his computer records to confirm I have bought 13 batteries from him over the past four years..... The second shop, which is now my official battery supplier going forward, charged me normal retail and waived the 5% GST as a bonus.......

Hi John

those Sindenghen Mosfet regulator rectifiers from that eBay seller are a great upgrade for an older bike, and so far all 4 that I have installed have been problem free. Easy to install, if I can do it anyone can. I am still electrickery challenged, but I can follow clear instructions, no problem(y)

Paul LeClair
 
KERMIT1200 said:
Lithium batteries , well all batteries I believe when tested for specification classification are tested at 20 degrees.
Lithium batteries in layman terms go to sleep the colder it gets more than other batteries, lead acid , gel type etc.
I'd be interest to know what type of voltage/regulator you have fitted to your bike?

Andy
Click to expand...
I have fitted an adjustable regulator rectifier from Sachse Elektronik, allowing to adjust the max output voltage.

Cheers,
Alex
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top