Part two response about charging Odessey (or Sears Diehard Platinum) AGM batteries:
"Hello Craig,
Here is some additional information about ODYSSEY TPPL technology charge maintenance for your reference.
Proper charge maintenance is critical to maximizing the life and performance of the ODYSSEY battery. ODYSSEY Battery 101…
Please note that most batteries are considered fully charged at 12.6-12.7V OCV. The usable energy of the ODYSSEY battery is from 11.2V (0% state of charge) OCV to 12.84V OCV or higher.
For a more accurate Open Circuit Voltage (OCV) reading, the voltage should be checked at the battery after a minimum of 8 hours rest period with no loads after the inflated surface charger has dissipated from charger, alternator, or stator charging.
A load can be applied to remove the residual surface voltage but it is best to wait 24 hours before testing. When the battery goes below 10.0V OCV, you are getting into the chemical part of the battery and can cause permanent damage. At less than 8.0V the ODYSSEY limited warranty deems the battery over-discharged due to abuse or neglect.
The ODYSSEY charger/maintainer can maintain the battery indefinitely in or out of the application. If the battery becomes over-discharged (below 11.0V) then the sooner the battery can be fully charged more likely it can be recovered. If the battery remains connected to the application during storage (winter storage for example) or extended periods of non-use, then a maintainer charger would be required to counteract any parasitic loads.
The list of ODYSSEY program approved 12V chargers is linked on the ODYSSEY website Product Support page due to the many great chargers that are programmed for the vast majority of batteries on the market that prefer low amp charging and lower float voltages that do not fully charge or maintain the ODYSSEY battery properly.
Printed on the top label of the battery are the charging voltage ranges recommended for the ODYSSEY battery. The recommended charging current for an ODYSSEY battery is 40% of the 10 hour amp hour rating of the battery for cyclic applications (about 25A for a single 62Ah rated PC1500), a constant float voltage of 13.5-13.8V and no constant voltages exceeding 15.0V in any kind of de-sulfation/reconditioning/equalize mode.
When charger at greater than 15.0V constant voltage the battery can overcharge, overheat, and/or go into thermal runaway. Maintaining the battery in float mode at less than 13.5V will bring the battery down into an undercharged condition and maintain it in an undercharged condition causing premature sulfation and premature failure. Lower amp (less than recommended charging current based on the battery size) maintainers that have the correct float voltage requirements can be used to top off and maintain any ODYSSEY battery that is already at a very high or full state of charge and to counteract the parasitic loads of the application.
For seasonal applications (non-daily use applications that set for more than 3 days in a row consistently) frequent use of an approved maintainer that meets the charge voltage requirements noted in the previous paragraph is highly recommended during the season.
The preferred storage method is to fully charge the battery before storing and disconnect the battery from the application (shelf storage mode). Stored in or out of the application with no loads, the battery would not require charging for up to 2 years at 77°F or until it reaches 12.0V, whichever comes first. The self discharge rate increases significantly for temperatures above 25°C (77°F). For every 10°C (18°F) temperature increase the storage time to recharge is decreased by half. Charge maintenance is critical to maximizing the life and performance of the battery. Freezing will not harm the battery and self discharge rates reduce significantly at colder temperatures.
It is recommended that the ODYSSEY battery be charged if it is less than 12.65V when put into use (cranking) per the ODYSSEY Owner’s Manual (link provided on website Literature page for your reference).
Most standard alternators/stators are not meant to be deep discharge recovery chargers and can damage the alternator/stator as well as not fully charging the battery if the battery becomes deeply discharge. Jump starting is OK with the understanding that the preferred method of charge recovery is to us a charger for the reason previously stated to charge the battery back up to a high or full state of charge to ensure that the battery is getting fully charged with by the charger or the application with use.
The Cyclic Charge Voltage range printed on the top label of the battery is the recommended voltage at the battery from the applications charging system (alternator or stator). At less than 14.0V the battery may not be getting fully charged for infrequently used applications. You can verify that the battery is getting fully charged with use by checking the voltage at the battery at least 8 hours after application use (or off charge) and if the battery voltage is not at least 12.84V then the battery is not considered fully charged. Voltage readings taken right off charge or after use (alternator/stator charging) will be inflated and inaccurate so for a more accurate OCV reading, you should wait at least 8 hours before checking the voltage (OCV) with 24 hours being preferred.
For a house load (deep cycle) application the minimum recommended charging current for any ODYSSEY battery would be at least 40% of the batteries 10 hour amp hour rating. Float would have to be between 13.5-13.8V and I would recommend that with any charger, including ODYSSEY branded bench chargers that you allow for the charger to float for at least 8 hours after the charger indicates a full state of charge to ensure that the battery is getting fully charged or leave the charger on from use to use throughout the season and in the off season, fully charge the battery and disconnect from the application and the charger to prevent over discharge during storage due to parasitic load which can include the charger if it is connected but not on.
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Kathy Mitchell
ODYSSEY Sales/Support Representative
Phone: 660-429-7551
Toll Free: 888-422-0317
Fax: 660-429-1758
Email:
kathy.mitchell@enersys.commailto:kathy.mitchell@enersys.com
Web site:
www.odysseybattery.comhttp://www.odysseybattery.com/
Corp site:
www.enersys.com "
Regards,
Craig