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Sun Oct 03, 2010 9:46 am

My Odyssey PC 1200 auxillary battery died, it is only 3 years old and I probably deep cycled less than 50 times during its life (more like 25 times). What kind of life are the rest of you folks getting out of this battery?

Sun Oct 03, 2010 2:02 pm

My first one lasted about as long, and I had deep cycled a few times by accidentally leaving the fridge in 12v mode. I later discovered I was never truly charging it back to capacity because the GW set up was restricting. I think the HD relay was allowing 5-10 amps through and therefore the battery was rarely receiving a full charge.

On my second one now, installed 11/08, and use a Yandina combiner/isolator which allows significantly improved charging capabilities. I also "top it off" with a battery charger overnight about once a month as well.

I'm only on two years right now, but it's still holding for long periods of use and shows 12.8 at rest. I'll know in a year if the improved charging rate makes a difference in the life of the battery.

Sun Oct 03, 2010 4:53 pm

I'm well into 3 years now, but I rarely tax it ~ not sure I've ever deep cycled it. Maybe once or twice.

I do use trickle chargers for both batteries as a habit. That seems to work well as far as making sure it stays charged.

B.

Tue Oct 05, 2010 7:22 pm

I had a long conversation with the customer service rep for Odyssey batteries. Bottom line is you have to charge the PC 1200 on 8 amps or more and at least 14.2V. Anything less and you are sulfating it and it will eventually die like mine did at only 3 years old. This is not exactly spelled out in the manual that comes with the PC 1200. Most of our old Westy's aren't up to this charging task, and you would have to plug into a very specific and expensive charger once back at home to top it off. I can probably get 3 years out of a cheap regular lead acid battery, maybe a few more out of one that is a deep cycle. I'm not going to get another Odyssey.

Tue Oct 05, 2010 8:30 pm

I have had my PC1200 and Go Westy Aux battery set-up since September 2006. I have the Harbor Freight 45 watt solar panel set charging continuously. When I checked it last month it was 14.3 Volt. I have never had a problem with it. Maybe having the solar hooked up all the time keeps it topped out. I will be going out next tuesday to Saline Valley for two weeks andI will be taxing the battery for charging, dvd, lights etc. I usually check voltage every day while we are out. Refridgeration is on propane.

Have fun, David C
1987 Wolfsburg Daily Driver
1987 Syncro Gl_Country Homes Top_Westfalia Interior_Custom Racks front and back
1986 Syncro Sunroof_Working On
1987 Syncro Westfalia_No Engine_Project
1987 Gl_Donor

Tue Oct 05, 2010 9:31 pm

odyssey has 4 year warranty on it. i just spoke to one of the reps at the factory, very nice people. if you have your receipt, you can get it replaced.

Tue Oct 05, 2010 10:32 pm

I'm on a second Odyssey battery. The first one last about a year and was replaced under warranty. I have the GW Aux battery setup. Im looking at different options as I'm not happy with this setup

Wed Oct 06, 2010 4:38 am

whynotvw wrote: odyssey has 4 year warranty on it. i just spoke to one of the reps at the factory, very nice people. if you have your receipt, you can get it replaced.

Yes, they will probably replace it. I would then have to get a solar set-up as noted above, or get another expensive charger (I already have the Battery Tender that charges AGM) and plug it in every time I get back from a trip. For my needs, a battery that requires less care and feeding would be a better fit. My main starter battery is 7 years old and still going strong, I only occasionally put it on a cheap trickle charger during winter months, and I used it for a couple of years while camping before I added the second battery. In hindsight, a better assessment of my particular needs (and more details from Odyssey) would have saved me a bundle on my second battery, and given me more AH. I don't think the newer solenoid type GW 2nd battery kits is a problem because your probably not going to get 14.2v at 8 amps or higher out of the stock Westy charging system anyway. As others have done you need to get the right shore power charger or solar set-up to get the potential life out of the PC 1200.

Wed Oct 06, 2010 5:35 am

What voltage are you getting from your alternator at the battery terminals?

I'm not attempting to talk you into anything, more just information for other readers - but if you can get 14.2v at the terminals (I'm seeing 14.4 from the alternator) and add a simple combiner (surepower or yandina) instead of the relay or solenoid kit in order to allow more amps to flow, you really wouldn't need to add anything special to the mix. Normal driving should be more than sufficient to charge the batteries with the occasional trickle charge for good measure.

Good to know about the 14.2v and 8amp threshold. I believe many were lead to believe the kit would simply drop in place and would be effective for many years. There are probably more than a few people frustrated with the results. Hope yours works out.

Wed Oct 06, 2010 5:58 am

Hmmm...guess I better disconnect my blue wire.

From the Yandina 100 combiner manual:

2. VOLTAGE REGULATION
If your alternator is set for a lead-acid starting battery
and your auxiliary battery is a sealed AGM or GEL battery,
the voltages applied can destroy it. The BLUE Hi Voltage
Shutoff lead is normally left disconnected but it can be
connected to an AGM or GEL battery positive terminal to turn
the combiner off when it reaches 14.2 volts to protect it from
the higher voltages. It will then cycle regulating it at 14.2
volts.

Wed Oct 06, 2010 6:43 am

Just found this link .....

http://www.davebarton.com/AdjustableVoltage.html

This would get the V up to spec, and you still need to ensure 8 or more amps, and if your Westy sits for long periods over winter like mine, you'll need the right charger or solar. So, it can be done, but as the previous poster noted, not exactly a drop-in. So about $200 for the PC 1200, ??$ for the Yadinda & wiring, $100 for the right charger, and $24 for the adjustable Voltage Regulator. All this for a 44 AH auxillary battery. Hmmmm. I'm heading to Wal-Mart (and I'm going to pick up that adjustable VR too).

Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:47 am

The SurePower and Yandina do not allow more amps to flow than relays or solenoids do. It is the size of the wires used that determines this. If whatever kit has wires that are too small diameter for the length, the amps will be limited by that, not by the relay. Yandina and SurePower combiners ARE relays. Relays come in different sizes and one that is too small can still allow the same amps as one that is bigger, it will just melt in the process if it's amp rating is exceeded for to long. The amp rating is for how many amps it can carry without damage. The wire sizes between the batteries and alternator are the controlling factor for charging.

The Yandina C100 includes long built-in wires that you are not allowed to shorten. This is because Yandina is using these relatively small diameter wires to reduce the amps that flow through the C100 and this lets them use a relay that is of relatively low capacity. This balanced setup works well for most people but won't charge the aux battery as quickly as a relay/solenoid matched to larger wires can.

Mark

1621 wrote: ..........

I'm not attempting to talk you into anything, more just information for other readers - but if you can get 14.2v at the terminals (I'm seeing 14.4 from the alternator) and add a simple combiner (surepower or yandina) instead of the relay or solenoid kit in order to allow more amps to flow, you really wouldn't need to add anything special to the mix. Normal driving should be more than sufficient to charge the batteries with the occasional trickle charge for good measure. ...........

Wed Oct 06, 2010 11:03 am

My PC1700 & PC1500 have been fine for 4 years now I think. My alternator puts out almost 15V and 200A. I don't use any combiner, they are wired in parallel. I wish I knew the PC1700 fits before I bought the PC1500, when it is time for new ones I am going to get two PC1700.

Fri Aug 30, 2013 9:58 pm

Any updates on these batteries?

Fri Aug 30, 2013 10:39 pm

mine is 10 years old and just fine

you do need to keep it on a special type of float charger when the vehicle is not used frequently

Fri Aug 30, 2013 11:09 pm

dbcdad wrote: I have had my PC1200 and Go Westy Aux battery set-up since September 2006. I have the Harbor Freight 45 watt solar panel set charging continuously. When I checked it last month it was 14.3 Volt. I have never had a problem with it. Maybe having the solar hooked up all the time keeps it topped out. I will be going out next tuesday to Saline Valley for two weeks andI will be taxing the battery for charging, dvd, lights etc. I usually check voltage every day while we are out. Refridgeration is on propane.

Have fun, David C
1987 Wolfsburg Daily Driver
1987 Syncro Gl_Country Homes Top_Westfalia Interior_Custom Racks front and back
1986 Syncro Sunroof_Working On
1987 Syncro Westfalia_No Engine_Project
1987 Gl_Donor

Well mine died in June 2013. I lost one of my HF panels. I never had a problem with it until then. It has 6.0 volts. It saw about 10 trips in which we stayed for 1 to 2 weeks at each time without starting the van.
Have fun, David C
1987 Wolfsburg Daily Driver
1987 Syncro Gl_Country Homes Top_Westfalia Interior_Custom Racks front and back
1986 Syncro Sunroof_Working On
1987 Syncro Westfalia_No Engine_Project
1987 Gl_High top work van

Sat Aug 31, 2013 6:35 am

I use my van one month a year, and the other eleven months the two batteries sit with the negative terminals disconnected. No chargers, no running the engine, nothing. This past summer, I reconnected the terminals and the batteries instantly read 12.7.

When it's driven and I have the opportunity, I plug the van in to run my three-stage float charger, but that's only a few times during that month, and never during the other eleven. No hiccups at all, and I anticipate getting years of use out of these. Bottom line, I'm an Odyssey convert until the next best thing comes along.

Sat Aug 31, 2013 1:18 pm

I thought that mine was the oldest installation of an Odyssey PC1200, going back to March of 2006, but if randywebb's is 10 years old, it isn't. That said, with the blue wire in place, my Yandina, and the Schumacher trickle-charging both batteries every time I'm connected to shore power, the battery appears to be fine and holding charge.

I hooked a de-sulphating charger to it with the Yandina turned off last summer, the device reported the Odyssey unsulfited and functioning perfectly. When I cashed in the lead-acid starting battery that had come with Winston last year, at the FLAPS, it tested at 100%.

More data to assist your conclusions!

Best!

Sat Aug 31, 2013 6:28 pm

Im on my 2nd Odyssey 1200 battery in my 85 Westy with GW solenoid kit.

I never trickle charged them, and they both died in less than 2 years.

The van sometimes sits for 3 months at a time. It always starts, but my house battery is dead again. Im a slow learner.

My hunch is the Odyssey would be happier with a trickle charger connection, either solar or shore power..

Sat Aug 31, 2013 6:53 pm

I use a Braille charger for all of my batteries.
They are by far the most efficient of any charger I have dealt with.
Not cheap for sure.

http://www.braillebattery.com/

I have a few Braille batteries taken from Porsches and now reside in my converted vans.

http://www.braillebattery.com/index.php/braille/product_batteries/b10049

Very trick :wink: