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PC-680 Performance
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kboatright1(at)comcast.ne
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 6:15 pm Post subject: PC-680 Performance

Over the years, the Odyssey PC-680 has gotten very  good reviews for its small size and high cranking amps.  So, about 3 years  ago, I selected one to replace a 4 year old Concorde battery.

  

 My first Odyssey battery became weak after just  under 2 years.  The vendor replaced it under warranty.

  

 Today, my ~14 month old replacement battery barely  turned the engine over on a 80 degree day. Sure, the aircraft sat outside in 45  degree weather last night (Thomasville GA Fly-in - a really fun one), but the  airplane had 8 hours of South Georgia sunshine to warm up, so is isn't like the  battery was chilled or anything.

  

 To get to the point, what is the RV-list's  collective experience with this battery?  I know it is light and has good  cranking power when new, but I'm interested in what sort of longevity people are  seeing. Is it lasting 1 year, 2 years, more, or less?  I'd hate to go back  to the Concorde, but I'd prefer that to a battery that goes soft after less than  two years.

  

 KB

    [quote][b]

walter(at)tondu.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 7:46 pm Post subject: PC-680 Performance

On 10/13 10:07, Kyle Boatright wrote:



 >    To get to the point, what is the RV-list's collective experience with this

 >    battery?  I know it is light and has good cranking power when new, but I'm

 >    interested in what sort of longevity people are seeing. Is it lasting 1

 >    year, 2 years, more, or less?  I'd hate to go back to the Concorde, but

 >    I'd prefer that to a battery that goes soft after less than two years.

     

Since the battery is relatively cheap, just above $100, I replace it 

at every annual.  This gives me peace of mind knowing I have a fresh

battery and I now have a decent backup or something to play pass the 

electrons with in the shop.



I always connect to a trickle charger after each flight just to keep

it tip-top.  I've never had a battery issue now in two years.  ymmv.

-- 

Walter Tondu

http://www.rv7-a.com - Painting

http://www.evorocket.com - Empennage

capsteve

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 111
Location: NIAGARA FALLS NY

Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 9:26 pm Post subject: PC-680 Performance

in 2000 i purchased a pc680 for install in my 6a before it  was completed. i used it to test and power up systems during final  assembly. first flight in 2001- fast foreword to 2007, still going strong. I've  left the master on twice in its life killing it completely. it seemed to  recharge without incident. now i haven't done any discharge calculations to find  out its true capacity, but it has no problem starting the o-360 after 10 days of  inactivity. i have never used any trickle charger and don't remember having to  jump start it when it wasn't my fault. I'd say it's probably hands down the best  battery I've ever owned.( i even have one in my kids battery powered ride on  truck) I'm using a B&C alternator and lr3 regulator using standard wet cell  voltages. 

  

 Steven dinieri

 iflyrv10.com

 capsteve(at)adelphia.net (capsteve(at)adelphia.net)

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  



   From: owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com  [mailto:owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Kyle  Boatright

Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2007 10:08 PM

To:  rv-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: PC-680  Performance

 

 Over the years, the Odyssey PC-680 has gotten very  good reviews for its small size and high cranking amps.  So, about 3 years  ago, I selected one to replace a 4 year old Concorde battery.

  

 My first Odyssey battery became weak after just  under 2 years.  The vendor replaced it under warranty.

  

 Today, my ~14 month old replacement battery barely  turned the engine over on a 80 degree day. Sure, the aircraft sat outside in 45  degree weather last night (Thomasville GA Fly-in - a really fun one), but the  airplane had 8 hours of South Georgia sunshine to warm up, so is isn't like the  battery was chilled or anything.

  

 To get to the point, what is the RV-list's  collective experience with this battery?  I know it is light and has good  cranking power when new, but I'm interested in what sort of longevity people are  seeing. Is it lasting 1 year, 2 years, more, or less?  I'd hate to go back  to the Concorde, but I'd prefer that to a battery that goes soft after less than  two years.

  

 KB

[quote]



href="http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV-List">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV-List

href="http://forums.matronics.com">http://forums.matronics.com



[b]

lifeofreiley2003(at)yahoo
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 5:01 am Post subject: PC-680 Performance

Hey Walter,



I could use one of the rejects for testing. 



Darrell

---

PGLong

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 37

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 5:12 am Post subject: PC-680 Performance

I've had my PC-680 going on 5 years. Did run it flat once with the master  left on. Didn't seem to affect it as it would had it been a lead acid battery. I  never need to trickle charge it. Left last winter in the hangar without flying  for five months. Put the charger on to see how it was in the spring and the  charger indicated it was at full charge after 5 seconds of charge time. I  personally can't say enough good about Odyssey's products.   

 Pat  Long

PGLong(at)aol.com

N120PL

RV 4

Bay City, Michigan

3CM



Do  Not Archive





S>  [quote][b]

_________________
Pat Long
RV-4, N120PL
Bay City, MI

tcervin(at)valkyrie.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 6:58 am Post subject: PC-680 Performance

The Odyssey battery in my RV6-A is 4 years old and  still cranks the 0-360A1A over just like day one! I have the B&C  alternator & regulator which I feel is the key reason the battery  is always ready to go. 

     After shutting down and attaching the  BatteryMinder the green light starts flashing within a minute.......probably not  needed. I live in Ohio and run a Reiff preheater with cylinder bands in the  winter.

                                                                                                                                                                               Tom in Ohio (10G)   

 [quote]   ---

Vanremog(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 9:37 am Post subject: PC-680 Performance

In a message dated 10/13/2007 10:31:27 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  capsteve(at)adelphia.net writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		  in 2000 i    purchased a pc680 for install in my 6a before it was completed. i used it to    test and power up systems during final assembly. first flight in 2001-    fast foreword to 2007, still going strong. I've left the master on twice in    its life killing it completely. it seemed to recharge without    incident. 	


 

 ==================================

  

 I always put the Power Sonic two stage charger on mine when not flying  because I have a "keep alive" circuit in my am/fm radio that uses just a little  power to retain the memory.  Mine last for several years each with this  treatment.

  

  

  

 N1GV (RV-6A, Flying 869hrs, O-360-A1A, C/S, Silicon  Valley) 



  [quote][b]

walter(at)tondu.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 10:12 am Post subject: PC-680 Performance

On 10/14  5:53, Darrell Reiley wrote:



 > I could use one of the rejects for testing. 

 

I've donated all of the older ones but have one left that I use as

my tester/backup battery.  If you want to wait till next July (scheduled

annual) you can have the next off the firewall.



Have only had two annuals so far and gave both to local builders.

-- 

Walter Tondu

http://www.rv7-a.com - Painting

http://www.evorocket.com - Empennage

lessdragprod(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 10:54 am Post subject: PC-680 Performance

Hi Kyle,

 

 I have an Odyssey battery in my RV-6A.  I was told that it needed to be charged at 14.2 volts.  If it was charged at a lower voltage, it would gradually loose capacity from being undercharged.

 

 I don't have a source for the 14.2 volts.  I didn't find it on the Odyssey battery website.  Anyone know where the correct charging voltage is documented?

 

 Regards,

 Jim Ayers

 

 --

rcnewman(at)mycingular.bl
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 12:09 pm Post subject: PC-680 Performance

I found some excellent information on charging of AGM seal lead acid batteries on the panasonic web site.  If I remeber it takes a little digging on their site, but its there.   I believe the charging voltage depends primarily on chemistry type. (Ie sla-agm) and temperature.  



-bob newman

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T



--

lifeofreiley2003(at)yahoo
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 1:36 pm Post subject: PC-680 Performance

Thanks Walter! I will stick a note on the calendar. They do come in handy on the work bench for sure.

I guess we'll figure out the details then.

 

Regards,

 

Darrell



---

jeffpoint

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 72
Location: MKE

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 1:47 pm Post subject: PC-680 Performance

Ditto what others have said about charging voltage.  AGMs like a higher 

voltage.  I don't have the paperwork handy, but I believe it was 14.2 or 

14.4.  If you regulator is set below 14 (likely scenario) than that 

would explain the short life.



Jeff Point

RV-6 flying

RV-8 building

Milwaukee

 	  Quote: 	
		   *



 *

_________________
Jeff Point
RV-6
Milwaukee WI

kboatright1(at)comcast.ne
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 4:48 pm Post subject: PC-680 Performance

The next issue is how does one go about adjusting the Ford voltage regulator 

I installed per Electric Bob's suggestion?



KB



---

sbuc(at)hiwaay.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 6:01 pm Post subject: PC-680 Performance

Kyle Boatright wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 The next issue is how does one go about adjusting the Ford voltage 

 regulator I installed per Electric Bob's suggestion?


	


Kyle, the Ford regulator is keeping my PC680 charged just fine, voltage 

to the battery is ~14.3.



Don't know why your 680 died an early death, but that doesn't seem to be 

the norm. As inexpensive as the regulators are, you might just replace 

it if the output is too low.



Sam Buchanan

ronlee(at)pcisys.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 6:56 pm Post subject: PC-680 Performance

Look it over for an adjusting screw.



Then monitor the charging voltage when the engine is running

---

lifeofreiley2003(at)yahoo
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 7:02 pm Post subject: PC-680 Performance

That depends on which Ford regulator you installed. The older tall units have an adjustment screw under the cap. Most of the short cap units are pre-set, not to be adjusted. If it's adjustable, a run up and volt meter will give you the charge output. You adjust the screw in for more output.



Darrell

---

michael(at)robbins.us.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 8:56 pm Post subject: PC-680 Performance

 	  Quote: 	
		   Over the years, the Odyssey PC-680 has gotten very good reviews...

I had a PC-625 in my 180 hp IO-360 RV-8 for five years and it was still going strong when I replaced it last month.  I never used a trickle charger.  Maybe they have a QC issue.
	


Mike Robbins   [quote][b]

sbuc(at)hiwaay.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 4:50 am Post subject: PC-680 Performance

Darrell Reiley wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 <lifeofreiley2003(at)yahoo.com>

 

 That depends on which Ford regulator you installed. The older tall

 units have an adjustment screw under the cap. Most of the short cap

 units are pre-set, not to be adjusted. If it's adjustable, a run up

 and volt meter will give you the charge output. You adjust the screw

 in for more output.


	


The VR166 type Ford regulator (mid-70's LTD) that 'Lectric Bob shows in 

some of his schematics and many of us use is solid-state and doesn't 

have any adjustments. Since it only costs about $10 it is easy to 

replace if it has drifted out of spec. But they seem to be very reliable 

units and mine has been fine for eight years.



Sam Buchanan

seiders(at)bellsouth.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:32 am Post subject: PC-680 Performance

Kyle,

 Don't know about Odyssey. I use a garden tractor battery . Get them at auto stores. Cost about $32. Change them out at 2 year intervals. No problems thus far in 5.5 yrs flying..

 Dick RV6A



 

 At 10:07 PM 10/13/2007, you wrote:



  	  Quote: 	
		  Over the years, the Odyssey PC-680 has gotten very good reviews for its small size and high cranking amps.  So, about 3 years ago, I selected one to replace a 4 year old Concorde battery.

  

 My first Odyssey battery became weak after just under 2 years.  The vendor replaced it under warranty.

  

 Today, my ~14 month old replacement battery barely turned the engine over on a 80 degree day. Sure, the aircraft sat outside in 45 degree weather last night (Thomasville GA Fly-in - a really fun one), but the airplane had 8 hours of South Georgia sunshine to warm up, so is isn't like the battery was chilled or anything.

  

 To get to the point, what is the RV-list's collective experience with this battery?  I know it is light and has good cranking power when new, but I'm interested in what sort of longevity people are seeing. Is it lasting 1 year, 2 years, more, or less?  I'd hate to go back to the Concorde, but I'd prefer that to a battery that goes soft after less than two years.

  

 KB

LloydDR(at)wernerco.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:45 am Post subject: PC-680 Performance

http://www.odysseyfactory.com/

 is their website and they have their own charger, I took  the part number and did a search on Google and saved a bit of money over the  factory site. I use two of the batteries and always keep them charged full up,  as I have an electrically dependant engine.

 Dan

 N289DT RV10E Flying



   From: owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com  [mailto:owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of  lessdragprod(at)aol.com

Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2007 2:43  PM

To: rv-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: Re: PC-680  Performance

 

Hi Kyle,



I have an Odyssey battery in my RV-6A.  I was  told that it needed to be charged at 14.2 volts.  If it was charged at a  lower voltage, it would gradually loose capacity from being  undercharged.



I don't have a source for the 14.2 volts.  I didn't  find it on the Odyssey battery website.  Anyone know where the correct  charging voltage is documented?



Regards,

Jim  Ayers



--

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