Battery Minder quality

rbickford

You and I have similar weather (I'm Western MD).
Per Skip's advise, you do need the Odyssey PC625. My '09 started just fine in the morning. Rode to work, temps about 35 all day, would not start when I went to leave (OEM battery). He says we shouldn't need the Tender, but I'm not convinced yet, had the Odyssey less than a month. If we get a cold snap, could have zero nights and not above 20 in the days, for a week or 10 days.
I will say I've never seen Skip get it wrong.
I've got a Tender just in case. I won't use it until the Odyssey fails.
 

I bought an Odyssey PC625 week before last when my stock one died (I found out later it was run down due to my leaving my heated seat on all day!). Was working on my stereo for the rear yesterday and, I think, I left it on too much without running it. It was also really cold yesterday even in the garage. To make a long story short, the PC625 wouldn't start her up this morning. So I put the stock battery back in which has been resting for 10 days and she started right up. Needless to say, I ordered a Battery Tender Jr. from Flipmeister.com this morning! My wife says, maybe this means I shouldn't be riding all winter! Go figure!
 
I am no expert on the subject but I have heard that the Odyssey battery requires a different charging algorithm. Odyssey makes chargers specifically for their batteries.

If you do some searching you should be able to find some info here or the other site on the Odyssey charging requirements. There is a member who is quite knowledgeable on the subject and recommends the Odyssey and one other charger (not the Battery Tender) specifically for the PC625.
 

Thanks. I'll do a search. I guess I can still use the Battery Tender for the Stock Battery!
 
The Jr works fine with the PC625, its the old style trickle chargers that ruin them. The Jr shuts off when charged, trickle chargers continue to pump all the time and will burn up the electrolyte gell. Trickle chargers work good for lead acid batteries so long as you replaced the water boiled off from the bubbling, but it crystalizes gell medium.
A good rule of thumb to determine if a charger is too old to use on gell .... if it has a mechanical timer, it's too old. If it has LED's and shuts off on its own, it should be fine ... especially if it's LED's change color to display charge status. It boils down to the charger has to be smart enough to monitor voltage and shut off when full.

Even with the Odyssey and charger, if the bike sits long enough it won't easily start right away. Especially in the cold. These things just don't hold fuel pressure very well. I've tried the key cycling thing, the throttle open thing and whatever else I could think of ... if it sits in the cold a couple weeks, it just doesnt want to start. I make sure it gets started each week now, that seems to be the only thing that works.
 

I need to find the Headlight fuse. I've run into problems whenever I am working on the bike and testing Audio systems or load a Tune. Things that require me to keep turning the key on and leaving it on for several minutes. It's been during those periods that I have had trouble starting the next day.
 
I lifted the following from a post by G-Man on that other site. It contains information on the charging requirements of the PC625. If you have more questions, go over there and PM Gary.

Here is the deal on the PC625 Battery.
Forum members have asked that do a quick Batteries 101.
Four basic types of Lead-Acid Electrolyte SLI Batteries in order of technology type lowest to current.
1. Flooded or aqueous
2. Gel
3. AGM - Absorptive Glass Mat
4. Dry Film
The PC625 is Dry Film. While the specification numbers on the PC625 are quite impressive it is surprisingly unlikely that any of us will obtain the true benefit of this battery.
PC Series Batteries are a combination Starting and Deep Cycle Battery without really compromising either characteristic....BUT!!
It requires a specific charge profile.
Battery types 1,2 & 3 provide reasonable performance being charged between 13.23 (Float Charge), 13.80 (Acquisition Charge) or 14.20VDC Auto Equalization (AE) - "fast charging".
The PC625 Dry Film Electrolyte has it's own unique optimum charge profile as follows; 13.60 Float and 14.70VDC AE and Acquisition.
If you can't develop the above charge profiles either with a vehicle charging system or regular 3-Step Battery Charger re-charging than the PC625 is NO BETTER than the older technologies...certainly NO Worse!!
Then the PC625 simply becomes a regular but good battery with high instantaneous starting current the most obvious victim of under charging.
In order to obtain the specified and incredible; AH, CCA, MCA, 5 sec Starting Amps and Reserve Time capabilities the PC625 MUST be charged as stated.
What does this mean to you??
If you are considering a PC625 you need to check your Alternator/Rectifier/Regulator output with an accurate DVM, at the battery and under normal electrical load.
If above 13.80VDC you are pretty good to go. Under that don't spend the extra $$$ on a PC625.
I don't know what the average Rocket charge voltage is.
I have the Dakota Digital Quad gauge on my Rocket.
It includes a VERY Accurate DVM measuring right at battery.
My Rocket charges between 13.90 & 14.10VDC.
I also regularly use a 3 Step, 20A Battery Charger with a charge profile recommended by Odyssey.
Truth be told I designed a family of 3 Step Chargers [20Amp to 80Amp] specifically for the PC Series Battery in concert with Enersys (Odyssey parent).
Some members have communicated to me that the PC625 is giving them what is believed to be a low system voltage. Possible? I guess, Probable? we shall see.
This condition could exist if the Rocket Charging System isn't up to the requirements for the PC625. A quick DVM test will provide the clues as to what is going on.
If you all would like I will continue this thread on what to look for in a battery charger - the Good - The Bad - and the absolute horrible...& other battery stuff.
BTW: The OEM Yuasa is actually a very good battery as MC and PWC Batteries are concerned....KUDOs to Triumph for not doing it on the cheap.
Hope this helps.
If you can't charge the PC625 the way it needs in order to achieve the level of battery performance - Second To None!!- just get the OEM replacement and save considerable $$$.
 
GPMAZ said:
I lifted the following from a post by G-Man on that other site. It contains information on the charging requirements of the PC625. If you have more questions, go over there and PM Gary.
Click to expand...

I ordered one of these: [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Brand[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Model[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Quanity[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]Odyssey UltimizerOMAX-6A-1B1

I'm thinking this will work. Since I have two active batteries now, I'll use this on the Odyssey and the Tender on the Stock.
 
That's the one I ordered. Of course, now that I have the Corbin seat I'll be selling it along with the battery. Luckily, I too still have the Battery Tender to use with my stock battery.

Seems to be a pattern here....
 
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