Odyssey Battery Charging

[Louisiana Overland]

I have a group 34 odyssey battery. I have also installed the hkb voltage booster. When I bought the battery I also bought a Powermania Turbo M108E onboard charger. It was one of the “approved” chargers on their site. I finally installed the charger yesterday. Im just looking for guidance on whether to use the “lead acid/agm”, “gel”,,or “AGM+” setting on the charger. Its an 8amp charger. The lead acid/agm mode charges at 14.6v and floats at 13.5v. The get mode charges at 14.1v and floats at 13.8v. The AGM+ mode charges at 14.7v and floats at 13.6v. I used it today at the lead acid/agm setting, but wondering if another mode would be healthier for the battery. Any suggestions?

 

[SlickTRD]

Odyssey and Northstar AGM batteries are considered AGM+

 

[Louisiana Overland]

Odyssey and Northstar AGM batteries are considered AGM+

Ahhh... thanks. I just read a lot of charging info on the odyssey website and see that as long as it doesnt exceed 15v I should be ok.

I was considering swapping to a group 31. My concern was that leaving a fridge on overnight would shorten the battery life by taking it down to 80%. This would be less likely with a group 31. I have a higher amperage charger that I may put on it to see if it will come back up to full charge. It did show full charge after running the onboard charger through its cycle, but I still need to see what the voltage reads after sitting awhile. And I will change the mode to AGM+.
Thanks again.

 

[SlickTRD]

Ahhh... thanks. I just read a lot of charging info on the odyssey website and see that as long as it doesnt exceed 15v I should be ok.

I was considering swapping to a group 31. My concern was that leaving a fridge on overnight would shorten the battery life by taking it down to 80%. This would be less likely with a group 31. I have a higher amperage charger that I may put on it to see if it will come back up to full charge. It did show full charge after running the onboard charger through its cycle, but I still need to see what the voltage reads after sitting awhile. And I will change the mode to AGM+.
Thanks again.

Consider a 27F from Northstar. This way you don’t need to extend your cables for a group 31. 27F has less capacity than 31 but they are close.

 

[jdm-v35]

Odyssey and Northstar AGM batteries are considered AGM+

I don't think this is correct. They would be considered regular AGM batteries as far as I know. I believe that AGM+ batteries want to be charged >15v which would damage an odyssey.

 

[SlickTRD]

I don't think this is correct. They would be considered regular AGM batteries as far as I know. I believe that AGM+ batteries want to be charged >15v which would damage an odyssey.

Powermania


Battery Type SelectorTurbo M & ME allows user to select different types of 12V DC batteries to charge. The factory setting is at "Flooded Lead Acid / AGM Charge Mode". The other two charge modes are "Gel Charge Mode" and "AGM+ Charge Mode". The AGM+ Charge Mode is approved by Odyssey for recharging its high-power AGM batteries.

 

[jdm-v35]

Powermania


Battery Type SelectorTurbo M & ME allows user to select different types of 12V DC batteries to charge. The factory setting is at "Flooded Lead Acid / AGM Charge Mode". The other two charge modes are "Gel Charge Mode" and "AGM+ Charge Mode". The AGM+ Charge Mode is approved by Odyssey for recharging its high-power AGM batteries.

I wonder if Odyssey has an AGM+ series? I use a Noco and it charges AGM+ at 15.6v. My odyssey instructions said never exceed 14.9v charging or it will cause damage. I am using the Extreme 34R. NOCO AGM charges at 14.8 which is ideal for what they recommend per the manual. The NOCO does have a completely different charging mode for leadacid, AGM and AGM+/lithium though. Not combined leadacid/AGM like that powermania.

 

[SlickTRD]

I wonder if Odyssey has an AGM+ series? I use a Noco and it charges AGM+ at 15.6v. My odyssey instructions said never exceed 14.9v charging or it will cause damage. I am using the Extreme 34R. NOCO AGM charges at 14.8 which is ideal for what they recommend per the manual. The NOCO does have a completely different charging mode for leadacid, AGM and AGM+/lithium though. Not combined leadacid/AGM like that powermania.

Odyssey/Northstar AGM build profile is very different from other brands. Much higher density - you can tell by comparing weight and energy capacity with other brands. Thinner lead plates and more of them. I’m like 95% sure all their extreme batteries are AGM+. I honestly cant recall where I found out that Ody/X2 batteries were AGM+ but it was like two years ago when I was trying to figure out the difference as well. I searched and searched until I was satisfied that AGM+ charge mode would not prematurely damage my battery.

 

[jdm-v35]

Odyssey/Northstar AGM build profile is very different from other brands. Much higher density - you can tell by comparing weight and energy capacity with other brands. Thinner lead plates and more of them. I’m like 95% sure all their extreme batteries are AGM+. I honestly cant recall where I found out that Ody/X2 batteries were AGM+ but it was like two years ago when I was trying to figure out the difference as well. I searched and searched until I was satisfied that AGM+ charge mode would not prematurely damage my battery.

I believe they are still only normal 12VAGM. I just double checked and Straight from the odyssey owners manual PDF

"To fully charge a 31-PC2150 and 31-800 battery that is routinely discharged deeply, a minimum of 40 amps are required with charger voltage within the range of 14.1V to 14.7V. It is imperative not to exceed 15.0V as this will cause the pressure valves to open and out-gas hydrogen, oxygen and water from inside the battery. This will shorten the life of the battery and cause premature failure. Some portable chargers exceed 15.0V, especially two-wheel garage chargers, so charging voltages should be verified by measuring the charging voltage during the time when the charging amperage is reducing from full output. The deep cycle charging voltage must be within 14.1V minimum to 14.7V maximum."

I think it depends on your charger, but make sure it is not >15v

 

[Louisiana Overland]

Aside from the onboard powermania charger I have a noco. The agm+ setting on the noco exceeds 15v which is NOT safe for the odyssey. The agm+ setting on the powermania is below 15v, which is fine. The noco is a very nice charger, but the “cold agm” setting is preferred on it i think.

 

[SlickTRD]

I believe they are still only normal 12VAGM. I just double checked and Straight from the odyssey owners manual PDF

"To fully charge a 31-PC2150 and 31-800 battery that is routinely discharged deeply, a minimum of 40 amps are required with charger voltage within the range of 14.1V to 14.7V. It is imperative not to exceed 15.0V as this will cause the pressure valves to open and out-gas hydrogen, oxygen and water from inside the battery. This will shorten the life of the battery and cause premature failure. Some portable chargers exceed 15.0V, especially two-wheel garage chargers, so charging voltages should be verified by measuring the charging voltage during the time when the charging amperage is reducing from full output. The deep cycle charging voltage must be within 14.1V minimum to 14.7V maximum."

I think it depends on your charger, but make sure it is not >15v

The powermania charger explicitly says its an AGM+ battery. I’m comfortable with my research to consider it an AGM+. If you are not, you should dive deeper for your own peace of mind. Perhaps contact Odyssey and Noco directly.