Odyssey..a remarkable journey ! But never on Sunday

My 3CL has run with lead acid batteries for many years, the last el-cheapo one lasted 5 years with only topping up the cells when needed and making sure the battery posts were greased. Never had any issues with starting or cutting out, perhaps the third charging coil that came with the DMC1 does the trick. Also have the battery sit on a thick mouse pad in the tray and never had any issues with cracks.

Now I have a AGM Gel battery with 17Ah in use and it seems to work fine as well, done over 1200k's in the last few weeks with mixed driving and haven't even gotten around to replace the recitifier diode with a regulator (that I have). If I'm not mistaken Piet has been running a AGM Gel battery for ages on his 3C as well.

 
There seems to be some confusion over battery types. So here's a very brief outline ...

Lead-acid batteries come in 3 main configurations
- Flooded cell, where the lead plates hang in a tub of liquid electrolyte
- Gel cell, where the electrolyte is mixed with a thickening agent so it has a gelatinous consistency
- AGM, where the electrolyte is soaked into fibreglass mats clamped between the lead plates

In all of the above batteries, the electrolyte is sulphuric acid and the plates are lead. So the chemistry is the same, only the architecture differs.

Cheers,
Cam
 
Well given that Joe has a 1980 Jota and I've got a 1980 Jota how come my one seems quite happy with it's Odyssey 680 & Joe's isn't ?
As far as I can make out his bike is boggo standard but my one has a more modern Reg/rect and a Witt. Alternator is standard on my bike.
Battery lasted 3 years & several good long rides on the Jota & continues to work happily on my Beemer.
I'm struggling to see how the battery is at fault.
Logically like.

Robbie
 
Hi Robbie,

As things stand Robbie it could cut power completely on a bike at night on a bend. So whether it's the bike or the battery I have to elucidate  ;)

Fortunately for me I was on a straight safe bit of road when it went. I'm not the only owner who has had problems with these batteries. So is there a compatibility issue..
We are talking about a battery..a new one ..fully charged...being ridden for 10 miles and then going bang. Please tell me how you think that is the fault of my bike. Please tell me what my Jota could have done to a new fully charged Odyssey to cause it to break down internally and cut my bikes ignition in ten  miles.  I could have bought the cheapest battery on the planet and not had this trouble.
Look back at the posts and you'll see..I'm not the only person to have a problem.

joe
 
shedbob said:
Well given that Joe has a 1980 Jota and I've got a 1980 Jota how come my one seems quite happy with it's Odyssey 680 & Joe's isn't ?
As far as I can make out his bike is boggo standard but my one has a more modern Reg/rect and a Witt. Alternator is standard on my bike.
Battery lasted 3 years & several good long rides on the Jota & continues to work happily on my Beemer.
I'm struggling to see how the battery is at fault.
Logically like.

Robbie
Click to expand...

I did a ride on my Jota from Coventry to the Isle of Skye and the Mull of Kintyre. I did a 450 mile single day ride on the Iron Butt rally, I didn't have any problems at all with an old lead acid battery that had sat on the shelf for two years. The only problem I have had is with the Odyssey Battery.

It is better to find out what is actually happening..
joe
 
Odyssey batteries seem to die quickly..fine one day and wont start the next..then fine..then dead forever. Give them about five years, maybe less. I don't think they have the same quality as years ago.
 
My Mirage had an Odyssey pc680 fitted when I bought it (must be near on coming up to 5 years ago I think) and was great until a couple of weeks ago when I accidentally shorted it out. No ignition light, no electrics,smoke from the battery, casing bulging and battery red hot. Battery was removed and put one side until I could check things out, fault was found, sorted and in the meantime I had use of a friends Triumph Tiger (good bike by the way). Put the Odyssey on my optimiser charger last week and it took a full charge and appears to be working well still - no complaints from me!
 
The pc680 on my Jota is about 1 year old...seems to lack cranking power...may have bbeen affected by the charging system pre sachse ignition with alternator upgrade...but its going to the shop for testing this Sat..if need be back to Odessey, cos it aint safe to rely on...nearly left me at the roadside on the way back from FOTB..
Nick7
 
i don't know if you can use an optimate to charge an odyssey but i have used it to help two friends 'fix' their batteries with good results - one an agm that was only about two years old and the other a 4-5 year old lead acid. left the optimate on for just over a week and they seemed fine and still working!
 
Nick pc680 is what we put in the Zanes, i reckon theyrea bit small for thr "real" bikes

I run the Dekka in the tripple not sure what size it is etx16 or 18  i think but no dramas, with the btz or sachse ignition
 
I put my Optimate on the AGM Yuasa battery on POP as the charge was a bit low.
Usual practice, after a day or so it was back to green light and top up trickle charge as it deemed fit.
2 days later the battery was completely dead.

I read that AGM and gel batteries do not get on with conventional chargers, so I assume even an Optimate, left connected (as I do with all my lead acid batteries) will eventually fry them.
Do they charge too rapidly?

Anyone know what type of battery is recommended for AGM and gel batteries?
I have 2 gel batteries so I don't want to fry them too.
 
For the AGM battery on the boat I have a 4 stage smart charger, made by Battery Fighter, it has worked fiine for my Lifeline AGM battery for at least 7 years now, it never over charges it. El; cheapo float chargers are not good for any battery, especially AGM ones.

For the bikes I have a BMW plugpack charger which seems to work fine although I don't have to use it much as both the Lav and BMW seem to be getting used enough to keep the batteries charged, but the few times I've used it no problems.

The thing to be aware of is not to use the cheap float chargers, use an intelligent 3 or 4 stage one. Preferable one that has either a switch for AGM or works it out itself which the Battery Fighter ones do.

There's a good read here, sure it's marketing but it rings true:-

http://www.master-instruments.com.au/Data%20Sheets/Chargers/SLA%20Chargers/Battery%20Fighter%20Charging%20Explaination.pdf

The unit I use on the yacht is the BFA-012 and stays permanently connected, although the smaller ones would do for the bikes.

http://www.batteryfighter.com/product.html#BFA


 
My Deka came with a free charger - didn't even look to see what brand it was until your post - is a Battery Fighter - BFJ - 012. Does the trick nicely.
 
In this houshold we gave up on optimate and Oxford chargers/conditioners, they all packed up (3 units) and they all cooked a battery or two each.What we do know now, is hardly bother at all!
but if we do then we just use a 7day plug in timer, set to come on for three hours one day per week, and a mini plug type battery charger, for very small batterries, about a tenner for the pair.Works a treat.and there are 3 track bikes, and at least 3 sports bikes plus a Laverda or two in the houshold, there are also items like caravan, digger, welder, tractor, all have batteries and all get the same treatment, or lack of whichever way you see it.
CLEM

Optimate sucks!
Oxford sucks!
Odyssey sucks! (as far as I can tell from posters, never had one myself)
 
Hi Clem, sure we all have different experiences with different chargers and batteries etc but I was honestly amazed that 1) My Oxford Oximiser(?) managed to recharge my Odyssey battery back from a smoking, bulging wreck and 2) The Odyssey appears to be holding the charge and working fine when I thought the local scrap yard would have been the next step for it! Therefore I cannot condemn either.
 
The Optimates' look good as they are an intelligent charger. You should be able to leave them on a battery permanently and keep it in top shape.
 
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