Odyssey PC-680 in 1150GSA

Interesting development with my 02 1150GSA. Last October, I purchased a new PC-680m (metal case) to replace a 9yr old PC680. Installed it and have had no issues since....until.

After a long trip through Oregon, I parked the bike and started riding my R75/5 just to give it some attention. After about 3 weeks I went to get the GS ready for an upcoming trip to Yellowstone NP and no juice. Hmmm. 3 weeks isn't really long enough to drain a battery in good condition. Hmmm. I did have an issue on my OR trip where my left TS wasn't working the last morning. I rode home with it in that condition. Once home I determined bulbs were good but no voltage getting to sockets. I have a Kisan SM-5 installed and I swapped the stock flasher back in. Voila. TS functional. SM-5 was less than a year old. Hmmm.

Well, I plugged the GS into the Battery Tender and it showed that it was charging. Left it alone for a day and came back to it. No bueno...no juice at all. When I looked at the charger it was not indicating that it was charging and it was very hot to the touch. I suspected the charger had gone bad. No worries I have another one. Plugged that in and no bueno again.

Obviously, this is pointing at a bad battery. It's less than a year old so replacement should be covered. Just wondering how common the PC680 is to a failure like this? Have things changed. This one replaced a 9-yr old one (I know I jinxed myself) and I sold a GS that had one still in spec at 3 yrs old.

Is there something else I should check?

PC680's are used often in light experimental aircraft. I have been reading more and more about early failures of them...

I've not used the metal case ver., but the reg. pc680 batteries served me well for years. A 6-8 amp float charger keeps the battery topped up when necessary, and I disconnect the neg. (-) lead whenever the bike will sit for more than a week or three.

My bet is you got a bad battery. It happens. Might not hurt to confirm the alternator output with a voltmeter.

That battery really needs the voltage regulator mod to be maintained at 100% charge

And the kisan signal minder triples the bikes normal draw when it's sitting

Roger_04 documented all of that a few years back

its starts getting good around post #31

//www.xczmw.com/f/threads/starter-or-battery-redux.1399142/

In my experience with several pc680s in a variety of BMWs from that era, when they go they go abruptly. I had one fail after less than a year - it was working one day (on a long trip, so it had been used consistently for six months since installed) and not at all the next. Had it replaced under manufacturer’s warranty by a dealer near where it died.

The only other one I replaced it made it about nine years of irregular use before replacement. It was still starting the bike just fine but the bike was displaying abs faults often associated with slightly low battery voltage (which did go away with the new battery).

So, for me personally that’s a like a one is six or seven early failure rate - I suppose that’s high, but in the same time I’ve replaced maybe four bike batteries in bikes that don’t take any odyssey size and had one of those fail in just a few days...so that’s even worse!


Why the metal jacket model? Bike too light?

FWIW, I've had good luck with this Odyssey clone in my own 1150 for a couple of years now...Full Throttle 230 AGM. Admittedly, aSchumacher Electric 8-Amp Battery Charger, which I bought on sale for only about $20, gets rotated among bike & car batteries with occasional regularity. At least I try.

When I bought the clone, though, the price differential between it & the reg.PC 680 from Odysseywas more compelling, maybe $25. For only $10 or so I'd stick with the Odyssey if doing it again.

I’m aware of both issues. Almost added the Voltage Regulator from a previous EME order but decided not to because “the battery was virtually new and I wasn’t noticing any issues...”

The Kisan SM has a healthy draw (see my attempts to wire in a garage door opener to the TS cancel switch— door just kept opening and closing because of the constant presence of voltage). Kisan was removed during the 3 weeks and stock unit installed due to failure. I mentioned the issue with the SM5 failure because I suspect I had a battery “event” that caused the failure. Don’t know.

will now consider the voltage regulator mod/upgrade. I’m pretty attached to the SM5 features though.

Yep, WAAAAYYYY too light....LOL

That’s what was in it before and I just put the same thing back in. It’s funny, I remember thinking about what advantage the metal sleeve provided at the time and found some obscure benefit. I bought it from a FLAPS and the metal sleeve was available for pick up in two days versus weeks for the non-metal. That was enough benefit for me.

The metal case version is literally the same battery slipped into a red metal case. It’s adhered to the battery so no removing it. Makes for a snug fit.

I modified the battery tray to fit an odessey pc625
On my r1100gs

I got really good service out of it
But I stopped buying them when they were no longer $73 from my local battery shop

I have had excellent success with all models of Odyssey batteries.
It is of advantage to have a charging system capable of 14.5-14.7v to get maximum service life out of them.

Check the parasitic load on your bike - the Kisan TS module is known to drain batteries.
The is a mod that can be done to fix this.
Roger 04RT has a thread here on how to change the 12v supply over to switched thru the ignition.

I just found Roger's post on this mod. I've never seen that but will definitely have the replacement modded. Thanks, GS Addict!

So, took the battery back to the FLAPS. Bit of resistance...

"We don't carry that brand." -- 'Well, I bought it here last October and it's still listed on your website.'

"We can't test that kind of battery..." --- 'Umm...it's a standard 12-volt battery.'

"We'll just order a replacement." -- "OK"

"Since it's Special Order, you'll have to pay for it up front and then we'll refund your money when you pick it up." --- 'What?! That doesn't make any sense."

"It's the only way we can place the order. Your money will be fully refunded when you pick up the battery which should be here tomorrow." --- 'If that's the only way, I guess it's fine.'

因为我有她需要repla的“M”电池cement to be the exact same (I told her I didn't need the metal sleeve). $165 after tax. I paid $113 last fall for the exact same battery -- that's why I got the M version the non-M was $130+tax. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

I had to send the Kisan unit back to be repaired. I sent an email through the company website and never heard back. Called the 800 number and "hello?" Must be running it out of his house. Probably won't have that back for the trip but that's the least of the concerns.

I've also had a PC680 gone south due to irregular use in about 2/3 years. It definitely needs the voltage regulator mod.

Thanks for that info. Mine did not suffer “irregular use” during my ownership other than the 3 week recently. Still points to the battery but since the shop wouldn’t load test it that has not been confirmed.

Thanks. Likewise, I haven't tested said battery so I could never be 100% positive on the diagnosis. Still, seems plausible that a battery indicating charging needs at 14.xx V (can't remember the correct spec) would struggle with the original alternator not giving enough power to properly keep it in charge. The PC680 should technically not be installed on a non modified alternator. Many users don't seem to have had problems though...

I have a +10yrs old PC680 in my K1200RS.Unmodified alternator that charges at ~13.5V.Never had a problem and loadtest at over twice the rated CCAs.
I used to take it to the Odyssey dealer for loadtests with a dedicated Odyssey brand loadtester but he sold the business and the new guys are clueless so I use my HF loadtester.
In any case if a charge is required I use my approved by Odyssey 8A charger with the "pure lead" charge setting.
As per the Odyssey manual.....recharging a PC680 requires a 6A charger.Anything less may damage it.

How often would you use an external charger over 10 years ?

I went through 2 680s in a month. The one before those lasted quite a while. The Batteries Plus guys load tested them each time and they came up weak. Bad batch? Bad luck? Bad quality now? Who knows...
I did some digging and found Odyssey has specific minimum charging voltage requirements and a pdf of approved chargers. Out of the many non Odyssey brands of chargers listed, my battery tender model was NOT on it.
I bought an Odyssey charger and all is good.
Just search approved odyssey chargers pdf.

Not too often.Occasionally used a non-approved but at the correct charge/float Voltage 2A tender for a top up in the off season.

我买了充电器3年前和现在使用它p up the Odyssey or run the conditioner mode.Mind you 8A so does all my batteries and altough it has the pure lead/Odyssey setting I did not buy it specifically for a single battery.

NO tendering any batteries here.K1200S guy learned that lesson a couple years ago when lightning hit his house,went right through his tender and blew up all his bike's electronics.