Battery spec translation

[Ronkom]

Curious, The only battery spec in my 20-year-old California models shop manual reads "12v w/a capacity of 30 Amp-hours" This is followed w/ detailed instructions that are obviously for a "flooded" lead-acid battery. How does that "translate" into a spec for an AGM  battery? Following advice I picked up somewhere along the line I put an Odyssey PC 625 rated at "18 Ah 220 Cold Cranking Amps" in my '74 Eldorado. It never had any hesitation spinning the motor, but it died after 4 years....not lasting near as long as I'd hoped. (They advertise 3-10 years). The Eldo has the alternator kit installed, so the charging system is "up to snuff"  I have replaced it w/ a Duracell 20HL-BS AGM rated at 18Ah-310CCA. I now have a proper AGM battery charger, but for the first couple years the Odyssey got  maintailed/topped-up w/a simple trickle-charger, could that have been a factor in it's  early demise?
ronkom

[Wayne Orwig]

The Odyssey PC625 should be fine.

If you used an unregulated trickle charger, that is easily the issue. If you continuously overcharge an AGM, the safety valves will open and dry out the battery. If you want to use a cheap charger, use a cheap flooded cell and add water occasionally. If you want to use anything sealed get a good smart charger. (good, as in not a Battery Tender  )
 

[Chuck in Indiana]

the Odyssey got  maintailed/topped-up w/a simple trickle-charger, could that have been a factor in it's  early demise?

Not only a factor.. the factor. Odysseys do not like them, Sam I am.  There is a many page thread on the care and feeding of Odysseys on the V11 forum. You are better off if you don't have a proper charger to do nothing rather than trickle charge them. I've just let them sit for months out in SoCal between uses, and they've lasted 10 or more years.

[wirespokes]

I'll second or third that. Better to do nothing than leave on a trickle charger. Disconnect the negative lead and let it sit. Even after a year it'll be strong enough to start the bike.

[moto-uno]

  Why all the remarks on what not to use and no suggestions about specific chargers . I've used a very old 1 amp trickle charger
for literally decades . Never a problem with the older lead-acid or AGM batteries , however I do use my Fluke meter to check , and
if the voltage approaches 15v , it's time to remove the charger . I have a 12 year old H-D battery ( was too weak to crank his monster
motored bike ) , it still starts my Toyota Tercel :) . So it can't be that bad a charger . And yes I know they don't even recommend
checking an AGM battery any more often than every 3 months , quite an improvement from days of yore , but holy crap are they ever
expensive. My Yuasa YTX 24HL-BS cost me (employee discount) $186.00 Canadian (the northern peso ) ! Peter

[guzzisteve]

I've been using an Industrial battery, AGM 34AH  ,   http://www.sunxtender.com/solarbattery.php?id=1

Made to be recharged for back-up computers system, wheelchairs, sun storage grid. U1 group(lawn mower size)
Last one lasted 14yrs, this one in EV is 10yrs old and will crank starter all day, stays charged very a long time. USA made around $120
Batteries Plus has a made in China one, same thing for $90, I got one of those for sidecar rig 3yrs ago, crank all day, no maintenance, no issues w/any of these industrial batteries.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I've been using an Industrial battery, AGM 34AH  ,   http://www.sunxtender.com/solarbattery.php?id=1

Made to be recharged for back-up computers system, wheelchairs, sun storage grid. U1 group(lawn mower size)
Last one lasted 14yrs, this one in EV is 10yrs old and will crank starter all day, stays charged very a long time. USA made around $120
Batteries Plus has a made in China one, same thing for $90, I got one of those for sidecar rig 3yrs ago, crank all day, no maintenance, no issues w/any of these industrial batteries.

Where do you buy them?

[guzzisteve]

Here's one finder for Lifeline batts--https://lifelinebatteries.com/find-a-dealer/?address=30011

That is for this one--
https://lifelinebatteries.com/products/marine-batteries/gpl-u1t/

Here's another same battery mfg different sticker , all by Concord aircraft batt
http://www.sunxtender.com/distributors.php

For this U1 group batt---http://www.sunxtender.com/solarbattery.php?id=1

And then they make this one, same thing for wheelchairs     http://concordebattery.com/chairpdf/AGM-1234T.pdf

If you look up Concord they make more than aircraft batts.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I'm just saying.. but Concord aircraft batteries suck. Maybe their other stuff is ok?

[guzzisteve]

I figured they might, so far the other stuff been perfect for 10yrs.  They are called UPS Batteries, lots of batt mfg make them like Panasonic, Eveready for a few.  The stuff is way better than a MC batt. You can get them at Batteries Plus.

[Murray]

Here's one finder for Lifeline batts--https://lifelinebatteries.com/find-a-dealer/?address=30011

That is for this one--
https://lifelinebatteries.com/products/marine-batteries/gpl-u1t/

Here's another same battery mfg different sticker , all by Concord aircraft batt
http://www.sunxtender.com/distributors.php

For this U1 group batt---http://www.sunxtender.com/solarbattery.php?id=1

And then they make this one, same thing for wheelchairs     http://concordebattery.com/chairpdf/AGM-1234T.pdf

If you look up Concord they make more than aircraft batts.

Aircraft batteries are genrally crap very low Amp/hr ratings usually the bare min and even smaller if they have to only spool up a small turbine.

There is a significant different between a crank battery and a deep cycle mainly in the plate spacing for a start battery the amp/hr rating is not really relevant, the CCA rating is far more important and no the two don't directly relate to each other they also take a shed load longer to recharge. For an 1100 two valve Guzzi I'd suggest a min of 150ish CCA more is always better. Deep cycles don't tend to last very long in start applications.

Cold Cranking AMPs (CCA)

[moto-uno]

 I'm not too sure if I'm getting more or less confused concerning other suggested battery chargers for AGM batteries .
What is wrong with Battery Tenders in reference to keeping batteries up to snuff in the off season ? I'm not too sure
most are looking for the biggest ,fastest booster charger , just something to maintain a full charge when not riding often.
Peter

[Murray]

I'm not too sure if I'm getting more or less confused concerning other suggested battery chargers for AGM batteries .
What is wrong with Battery Tenders in reference to keeping batteries up to snuff in the off season ? I'm not too sure
most are looking for the biggest ,fastest booster charger , just something to maintain a full charge when not riding often.
Peter

My understanding is the battery tender brand never actually switches off and cooks the battery. For maintenace you don't need a big charger I've had fairly good sucess with the Ctek branded stuff the couple of float chargers I have I think are rated to about 800ma (0.8amp). I've got a 15amp as well for when stuff is actually flat.

[Wayne Orwig]

I'm not too sure if I'm getting more or less confused concerning other suggested battery chargers for AGM batteries .
What is wrong with Battery Tenders in reference to keeping batteries up to snuff in the off season ? I'm not too sure
most are looking for the biggest ,fastest booster charger , just something to maintain a full charge when not riding often.

From years of occasional comments that people have made, I am convinced that some models of the Battery Tender brand get 'stuck' on charge and cook the battery. Lots of 'my 1 year old battery was fine last week and I hooked it up the Battery Tender, and now it is dead'. Maybe I am reading too much into it. Don't know. But I have seen that a lot, and there are a lot of other good chargers made for AGM batteries.

Another issue is when an AGM battery actually needs charged, it needs some amps. At one time Odyssey called out the Battery Tender Jr. as been a problem in that respect. Stating that you need a charger with some serious amps to bring the AGM back to life. They did state that the smaller charger was OK to KEEP the battery topped up though.

So you want a smart charger. You likely want one that states it works on AGM batteries. And you likely want more amps then a 1 amp trickle charger in case you ever want to charge a battery that is a bit weak. Odyssey states a 6 amp charger for a PC545 (as used in the EV) is good. Point is, a wimpy little charger may be a bad thing.

I used a cheap smart charger called a Battery Minder on my EV and got 12 years from the battery.