Hey Everyone,
A couple of years ago I installed a PC 545 Odyssey battery to replace my 5 yr old stock battery. I'm at a point where I should probably replace it as today I went to the car to set the clock in my Alpine radio and it shut down before I could get the clock set. Fortunately the battery had calmed down enough before I tried to come home from work and the car started. It's ok if I don't let it sit too long or shut the car off at a light with the lights on (before it warms up to Auto Stop). When it craps out, I can roll start the car, but even though I have dash lights, it won't charge and I don't have power assist on the steering. After a few minutes the car will quit all together.
So, did anyone ever find an exact replacement for the 12 volt stock battery? I spent a fair amount of time using the search function, but it is difficult to find what I'm looking for. It looks like the PC545 is getting more difficult to find and is a lot more expensive than it used to be. I really don't want to add 30 lbs to the car unless I have to.
Thanks,
robert
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Robert Frost is "The original Bad Bob, not Dirty Bad Bob from New Mexico."
From the "Life and Times of the Judge Roy Bean"
2000 Citrus #2757 206,000mi.
Bob, did you realize we've been slowly murdering our PC545s? The dc-dc converter on my 2002 outputs exactly 13.8v (70degF), which is too low to keep the Odyssey AGM battery happy. Periodically (about once a month) manually recharging it at 14.65v seems to revive it for a while - you might try that first before you replace yours. That 13.8v would be ideal for a Gel battery, but the smallest I've been able to find weighs 23lbs. JoeS.
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2002 Silver MT, MIMA, FAS, hand throttle, lmpg 77.7
2006 Red MT, lmpg 73.2
1967 Saab96V4 Original Owner
Two Corbin Sparrow EVs
1965 Saab EV Conversion
2012 Mitsubishi iMiEV
Dodge Ram (small) pickup EV
Thanks Joe!
I didn't know that would be a problem. I have an Odyssey Ultimizer charger that I bought for another application that I can use. Do you know if I can just attach it to the battery and charge it without having to do anything (like disconnecting the battery) ?
robert
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Robert Frost is "The original Bad Bob, not Dirty Bad Bob from New Mexico."
From the "Life and Times of the Judge Roy Bean"
2000 Citrus #2757 206,000mi.
Just a little while ago, my Odyssey PC545 gave up the ghost, after three years. I had the Insight in the dealership for service and it refused to start the car (I believe they kept the door open and ran it down), so they called all gleeful and excited to tell me. When they tested it, the battery would no longer hold a charge. After assuring me they would replace it with a "genuine" Insight battery (which I knew was not going to be true), they put in a Civic battery, which fits the area perfectly, but it's black and heavier than the original battery and way heavier than the Odyssey, of course. Intelligence-insulting service advisor then swore it was the correct battery replacement (Liar! Liar! Pants on fire!) and I didn't want to argue, so I'm back to a normal lead-acid battery instead of my little Odyssey for the time being. And I took it back to Batteries Plus to see if indeed it was done for, and they said basically what JoeMultihuller said... so I left it with them for recycling.
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Driving on down the road in my 2001 CVT, going "Boogety Boogety" ...and until avatars are provided, my car looks just like the original silver Insight on the header, above... =)
Bob - I have permanently mounted an Anderson connector and merely plug my charger directly into it. No need to disconnect the battery. JoeS.
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2002 Silver MT, MIMA, FAS, hand throttle, lmpg 77.7
2006 Red MT, lmpg 73.2
1967 Saab96V4 Original Owner
Two Corbin Sparrow EVs
1965 Saab EV Conversion
2012 Mitsubishi iMiEV
Dodge Ram (small) pickup EV
I've read all the past posts on PC545 v 680, and I am still a bit confused . Would installing a PC680 solve the above problems? About 2 years ago I replaced my original stock battery that came w/ the car w/ a 545. I haven't noticed any problems from a layman's point of view. My Insight has been recalling a lot, but my 2000 still has the original 144v in it, so I attribute it to that. I heard to 680 is overkill and heavier, so I went for the 545. From what I've read, the 545 is more than sufficient to run the Insight. At the risk of reviving old threads, is there really any benefit to using the 680 v. the 545?
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Fuel savings (at $2.60/gallon) to date since "retiring" my Pontiac Firebird for my Insight during 10/04: $3,000+. Gallons of gasoline saved=1,000+
The PC545 is just fine unless you park and run the radio for a long time. Both the PC545 and PC680 are high-quality AGMs. The problem I've addressed has to do with the 12v charging voltage (13.8v) being a little low for AGMs - or, for that matter, for the stock flooded-lead-acid battery as well - which is why I think the OEMs die a little prematurely. Another thing I like about the AGMs is that they don't emit any corrosive fumes into the engine compartment. JoeS.
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2002 Silver MT, MIMA, FAS, hand throttle, lmpg 77.7
2006 Red MT, lmpg 73.2
1967 Saab96V4 Original Owner
Two Corbin Sparrow EVs
1965 Saab EV Conversion
2012 Mitsubishi iMiEV
Dodge Ram (small) pickup EV
I'm happy with the 545 other than it is now kind of marginal. I ordered a connector that will fit with my Odyssey charger so I'm hoping that by charging it once a week or so will take care of it.
The 545 I bought 2-1/2 yrs ago cost $78. Now they are $120 or so. Not sure if they are being phased out or not, but I have a PC625 in my airplane, and it was $89, so that could be an alternative as well. I imagine I'll have the same problem with the airplane battery since my alternator output is less than 14V.
robert
__________________
Robert Frost is "The original Bad Bob, not Dirty Bad Bob from New Mexico."
From the "Life and Times of the Judge Roy Bean"
2000 Citrus #2757 206,000mi.
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Odyssey PC545 Replacement
. Would installing a PC680 solve the above problems? About 2 years ago I replaced my original stock battery that came w/ the car w/ a 545. I haven't noticed any problems from a layman's point of view. My Insight has been recalling a lot, but my 2000 still has the original 144v in it, so I attribute it to that. I heard to 680 is overkill and heavier, so I went for the 545. From what I've read, the 545 is more than sufficient to run the Insight. At the risk of reviving old threads, is there really any benefit to using the 680 v. the 545?
