Odyssey down, Optima in

[tsombrero1]

My Odyssey PC1200 is less than a year old and it won't take a charge. I ran it down a few times and I guess it was too much for the pup. I replaced with with an Optima Yellowtop, the much-hyped deep-cycle batt.

If you search the forums for Optima advice you'll find everything from "Yeah it fits in no problem!" to "I ain't cutting into my mf'in van for no mf'in battery" and "dude, I ruined it". So I gave it a whirl. Here's an actual pic that shows the notches you have to cut in the metal under the seat. Mind you this is freakin gute Deutsche Steel and it took me 30 minutes with a Dremel and a jigsaw.

If you have swivel seats you definitely have to install it on its side. I did not wanting to risk cutting off the posts and wrecking a $200 battery. I don't see any other way around cutting those two fugly notches. I painted over them to stave off rust.

There is room to use the side terminals but just barely. I had to insulate it from the batt compartment lid, and fabricate a hold-down.

Meanwhile the Odyssey is powering a small fan in the greenhouse

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Tennessee Sombrero

1988 Westy, Syncro-nated
2003 Aprilia Caponord (now with Jif)
Atari 2600
1970 Earthbound Humanoid

[Rodknock]

It seems that running these type of batteries down is an expensive DOH!. Having just installed my Odyssy, I think a low battery alarm is the way to go. Just have to find one.

[Dogpilot]

Actually, a a relay that would trigger at below 11.5 volts and cut off power. Problem is, something to handle the amps would eat power on its own. I was depressed when I realized I had killed my optima. Now I have voltage gauges everywhere.
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Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G

[tencentlife]

Someone gave a link to some LVD's for the RV crowd that could be a good solution to stoning your cabin battery. There are also small solar charge controllers aplenty that incorporate load control. So if you're also going to have a PV panel, you can roll all the controls into one. The prices are pretty reasonable. Some even have programmable day/night on/off controls, so you can have the van's porch light come on at dusk!


Just some examples:

Here's the LVD's link from that other thread:
http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-converters/battery-brain.htm

A programmable LVD:
http://www.solarconverters.com/ss-1.htm

A 20A version of a really dependable solar charge controller with LVD:
http://www.affordable-solar.com/morningstar.sunsaver.20l.12v.charge.controller.htm

Shop around, there are many versions of these type of components.
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Shop for unique Vanagon accessories at the Vanistan shop:
https://intrepidoverland.com/vanistan/

Please don't PM here, I will not reply.

Experience is kryptonite to doctrine.