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Topic: Odyssey Heavy Duty Commercial Battery - Thoughts? (Read 724 times) previous topic - next topic

Odyssey Heavy Duty Commercial Battery - Thoughts?

Looks like I have to replace my starter batteries on my 400 Cummins - and I was wondering if anybody out there has used Odyssey batteries for their coach. They are pretty pricey and since this coach is new to me - I'm ok spending the extra money as I don't know much about the battery history etc. - figured start from fresh.

Anybody out there use Odyssey for starting batteries. Here are some specs on Amazon.

Cold Crank Amp (CCA)- 1150;
Better warranty: Limited 3 and 4 year full replacement warranty – not pro rata; Longer service life: With 3-10 years of service life.
Longer cycle life: 70 percentage longer cycle life compared to conventional deep cycle batteries, up to 400 cycles at 80 percentage depth of discharge- high stable voltage for longer periods of time
Faster recharge: The highest recharge efficiency of any sealed lead battery on the market, capable of 100 percentage recharge in 4 - 6 hours; Mounting flexibility: Non-spillable design
Vibration resistance- design protects against high impact shock and mechanical vibration; Extreme temperature tolerant- Operating temperatures from -40 degree Celsius (-40 degree Fahrenheit) to 45 degree Celsius (113 degree Fahrenheit).

My only concern would be if my alternator would be ok charging a quasi deep cell/starter battery combo - is what it looks like to me.

Pat

Re: Odyssey Heavy Duty Commercial Battery - Thoughts?

Reply #1 –
I know nothing specifically about the brand (good or bad), so take my comments for what they are worth.

Kinda pricey for start batteries - you'll need two of them, I guess...

Odyssey PC2150T Battery | 12 Volt 100 Ah Battery

Despite all the fancy selling pitch, they are basically just AGM batteries, so your alternator should have no problem charging them.

Odyssey 31M-PC2150 Marine Dual Purpose Battery
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Odyssey Heavy Duty Commercial Battery - Thoughts?

Reply #2 –
Can i ask the proverbial dumb question.  You have a 12 year old motorhome.  Why would you not replace the obviously good quality batteries with something else?
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Odyssey Heavy Duty Commercial Battery - Thoughts?

Reply #3 –
Thanks - great points. They are pricey for just starter batteries. I'll keep doing some research.

Re: Odyssey Heavy Duty Commercial Battery - Thoughts?

Reply #4 –
They are not just the normal type batteries as high eng. My Brother has been using them on his 94 gv for couple of years and good so far. He has them laying on their sides in a slide out tray and are going great.
The Buses in BC Canada use them and he was given them by supplier to test them in his coach use.
Maybe pm my Brother for his opinion as I think he may be the only one on forum with first hand knowledge.
His name is geoffh on forum
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Odyssey Heavy Duty Commercial Battery - Thoughts?

Reply #5 –
Thank you, I'll reach out to him.
Pat

Re: Odyssey Heavy Duty Commercial Battery - Thoughts?

Reply #6 –
I installed Odyssey Group 34R; 1500 PHCA; 880 CCA; 1050 MCA; RC Min. 135; L-10.85 in.; W-6.76 in.; H-7.82 in.; w/Tin Plated Brass SAE Auto Posts in my dingy, Lexus GX470, a couple months ago, so far so good.  Specs were better than what I found in other brands.
97 U295 40, Build #5040, 6C8.3 325 HP
Oregon Continuous Traveler
Samsung Residential #RF20HFENBSR,
Xantrex SW2012, (3)AGM8D Hse, (2)AGM Grp24 Eng, Victron BMV-712, 1800w Solar 4 LG & 2 Sunpower
Extreme Full Body Pt w/hdlmps, new furn/floor, 4 down Lexus 2004 GX470 AWD curb weight 4,740 lbs
Prev: 1990 Barth, 10L 300 2 yrs; 91&92 Monaco Signature, 10 yrs, 10L C 300 &  6C8.3 300; 1997 ForeT 6C8.3 325 since May 2017.  Employed by Guaranty RV 14+ yrs.  Former VW New Car Dlr/Service Dlr, Sales Mgr, Rv Sales, and Service Adviser from 1968-2017
"Don't criticize what you can't understand" Bob Dylan

Re: Odyssey Heavy Duty Commercial Battery - Thoughts?

Reply #7 –
Quote from: pibutler –
Looks like I have to replace my starter batteries on my 400 Cummins - and I was wondering if anybody out there has used Odyssey batteries for their coach. They are pretty pricey and since this coach is new to me - I'm ok spending the extra money as I don't know much about the battery history etc. - figured start from fresh.

Anybody out there use Odyssey for starting batteries. Here are some specs on Amazon.

Cold Crank Amp (CCA)- 1150;

Faster recharge: The highest recharge efficiency of any sealed lead battery on the market, capable of 100 percentage recharge in 4 - 6 hours; Mounting flexibility: Non-spillable design

Pat



Pat, my Bull Manure detector goes off every time I read this statement.  The chemical reactions inside a lead acid battery stay the same no matter how you re-arrange the deck chairs.  Four hours from "0" to 80% with a constant voltage power supply that can supply all the current the battery will accept, is a yes.  From 80% to 100% takes time and a lower voltage.  AGM battery design sacrifices the last 10% of battery charge to achieve that non-spillable design.  Gelled electrolyte batteries sacrifice that four-hour charge rate for deep discharge capability and vibration resistance.

Don't worry about your engine driven alternator, Pat, it runs at whoopee every time you drive at night, and most days traveling after you've run down the house batteries dry camping.  Art Joly, Toolmaker.
1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.

Re: Odyssey Heavy Duty Commercial Battery - Thoughts?

Reply #8 –
2 years ago when my start batteries were bulging I replaced them with Group 31 Truck start batteries- maintenance free from a truck stop.  950 CCA each and $105/each.  I have seen them on sale as low as $80/each.  Still working great with no boost switch.
Do what makes you happy.          ^.^d
Ted & Karen
2001 U270 36' - sold after 12 years full timing

Re: Odyssey Heavy Duty Commercial Battery - Thoughts?

Reply #9 –
When Foretravel moved the engine batteries from a compartment to the engine bay they changed the batteries to spiral wound optimas.

The spiral wound design handles heat better and vibrations. 

Physically hot batteries should be charged at lower voltages.  That would require a separate alternator and/or  a temp compensating voltage regulator like a heart freedom system that used a link 2000R panel.

So we are overcharging our engine start batteries almost always while driving.

I think the odyssey's are a similar design to the spiral wound optimas but in a flat plate design.

Off road racers use the spiral wound optimas for the vibration and heat rejection abilities.

You can certainly pay less for a battery that will start your motor but my experience is that they last a fraction of the time that the optimas do.

Roughly same cost per year?  The higher quality optima seems to have a tighter fit between the battery post and the case so less chance of corrosive gasses being leaked from that area and damaging the cabling ends?

"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Odyssey Heavy Duty Commercial Battery - Thoughts?

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Ted & Karen –
2 years ago when my start batteries were bulging I replaced them with Group 31 Truck start batteries- maintenance free from a truck stop.  950 CCA each and $105/each.  I have seen them on sale as low as $80/each.  Still working great with no boost switch.
Do what makes you happy.          ^.^d
Echo Ted. Our 60 lb 31 series conventional Duralasts 950CCA were about $100 each with discount for buying three. Cummins 8.3 only needs two. The heavier the battery, the better it is in most cases so check weight in the less expensive batteries. Some are 55 lbs. They should last about ten years. Our last set did.

AGM are nice with the advantage that with the batteries disconnected for storage, they will stay at 12.7 for a very long time. On the other hand, they do not like to be flattened and may not recover from that.

Have never used the boost switch to start. If you have the CCAs and clean terminals, you will never need to.

Pierce

Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Odyssey Heavy Duty Commercial Battery - Thoughts?

Reply #11 –
Odyssey makes one of the best batteries available anywhere. They are one of the few that use pure virgin lead, similar to datacenter or telco backup batteries that last decades.
95 U300SE

Re: Odyssey Heavy Duty Commercial Battery - Thoughts?

Reply #12 –
I just read the specs and the battery does weigh in at 77 lbs compared to our 60 lbs so an advantage as is the 1150 CCA vs our 950 CCA but they claim a 3 to 10 year lifespan so the same as ours. They get 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon so that's pretty good. Read the reviews.The downside seems to be the $377/ea price tag. If it's in the budget, why not? On the other hand, if you are on a tighter budget, two or three (depending on engine) conventional 31 series will turn the engine over just as fast and last as long for less than half the price. Our 31 series 3 x $110 = $330 .  The 31 series Odyssey at $377 x 3 = $1131

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Odyssey Heavy Duty Commercial Battery - Thoughts?

Reply #13 –
Thank for all the great input, I think for basic  starting batteries my shop recommended I go with some Group 31 NAPA's at a fraction of the cost. I'll save the money and focus on getting additional AGM batteries for my coach - I currently have 3 and maybe I'll add another one.

Pat

Re: Odyssey Heavy Duty Commercial Battery - Thoughts?

Reply #14 –
Pat,
Sorry in advance, I have not read all the responses. A good friend of mine who owns a Jeep customizing shop, who is a very VERY! good mechanic prefers the Odysseyy over any other.
I have a 06 Jeep that I purchased from him. At times the jeep sat for 3-6 weeks at a time without running. About 10 year old Odyssey battery starts the jeep every time. Once, While in Europe for a while I let the Jeep sit for 2 months. When I got back the battery was death. My friend advised that I use a trickle charge 1-2am charger for 2-3 days. I did that. The Odyseey battery recovered and is still in my Jeep (this story is 3 years old)
I like Odyssey.
Good luck with what ever you do,
Al


Former 2003 GV U295 (6230) (2015 - 2025)
Former 94 GV U225 (2013-2016)
 

Re: Odyssey Heavy Duty Commercial Battery - Thoughts?

Reply #15 –
I put in the oddsseys on my last sailboat as house batteries. I used the ones from Sears which are made by Oddssey. Very good battery. I use one in my Jeep, also Sears branded Oddssey. I would replace my engine start battery with optima red tops again though. Or a super capacitor start unit.
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired