Odyssey battery......
Discussion
I use one in my Griff, not noticed any shortage of power or cranking ability. I routinely pull off the neg lead when I put the car away so the battery holds charge well. I still need to re-jig my footwell to take advantage of the smaller size, but I'm contemplating an ECU change with change of loom etc so will probably do it all at same time. It's been fitted for a couple of seasons now and no problems.
I used an odyssey battery for 4 years. It worked well until the cylinder liner issues and me more or less ignoring the car for a year. It then spectacularly failed during charging, but this is not a criticism since it lasted well and it had a hard life. A point of order - they are not "gel" batteries - they are AGM.
Mine was always a little too small a capacity (smaller than the one you are considering) for use as a weekend only car unless it's plugged in to a trickle charger. It only held sufficient charge for starting for 4 or 5 days but if the car were used daily it was not a problem. Like MisterT I fitted an isolation switch for when the car was locked in the garage.
Mine was always a little too small a capacity (smaller than the one you are considering) for use as a weekend only car unless it's plugged in to a trickle charger. It only held sufficient charge for starting for 4 or 5 days but if the car were used daily it was not a problem. Like MisterT I fitted an isolation switch for when the car was locked in the garage.
Odyssey batteries are extremely good quality, but they are still traditional lead acid batteries so all the lead acid rules still apply.
Rule one: "The Bigger The Better"
Rule two: "The Heavier The Better"
It doesn't matter if the plates are pure lead or a cheaper alloy, it doesn't matter if its AGM or traditional wet technology, and it doesn't matter how well the battery is made...you simply can't beat the physics (namely plate surface area) a lead acid battery is governed by because at the end of the day its all down to basic chemistry.
There is no way on God's earth a little battery like the PC 925 will ever have the same amp hour rating as a full sized car battery, even a standard sized budget car battery will beat a PC 925 in the "How long can I leave my TVR and still start it" competition.
But if you find other solutions to the battery drain issue (like a Battery Brain) an Odyssey PC 925 still makes an excellent choice for your RV8 TVR, when fully charged it'll definitely crank it fine it just won't give you as many days of inactivity before the charge level drops off to the extent that the car eventually fails start.
There's absolutely no argument the quality of Odyssey batteries puts them in a league of their own, but if the passenger leg room issue doesn't bother you their proper full sized PC 1500 model is going to be massive step up from the little PC 925.
Rule one: "The Bigger The Better"
Rule two: "The Heavier The Better"
It doesn't matter if the plates are pure lead or a cheaper alloy, it doesn't matter if its AGM or traditional wet technology, and it doesn't matter how well the battery is made...you simply can't beat the physics (namely plate surface area) a lead acid battery is governed by because at the end of the day its all down to basic chemistry.
There is no way on God's earth a little battery like the PC 925 will ever have the same amp hour rating as a full sized car battery, even a standard sized budget car battery will beat a PC 925 in the "How long can I leave my TVR and still start it" competition.
But if you find other solutions to the battery drain issue (like a Battery Brain) an Odyssey PC 925 still makes an excellent choice for your RV8 TVR, when fully charged it'll definitely crank it fine it just won't give you as many days of inactivity before the charge level drops off to the extent that the car eventually fails start.
There's absolutely no argument the quality of Odyssey batteries puts them in a league of their own, but if the passenger leg room issue doesn't bother you their proper full sized PC 1500 model is going to be massive step up from the little PC 925.
Finally finished installing the Odyssey battery. The main object was to free up the tangle of cables and to make access to the fuseboard easier. The unused air-con relays were cut out of the loom to free up more room but other than that the wiring was as standard. Also I never liked having the ECU on top of the battery just separated from the pos. terminal by a piece of carpet! Battery can now be removed without going under the car and the ECU is permanently mounted on the bulkhead. Also the Hot Start/ECU/Fuel pump relays are readily accessible.
Edited by Hedgehopper on Friday 5th December 10:29
Hedgehopper said:
Finally finished installing the Odyssey battery. The main object was to free up the tangle of cables and to make access to the fuseboard easier. The unused air-con relays were cut out of the loom to free up more room but other than that the wiring was as standard. Also I never liked having the ECU on top of the battery just separated from the pos. terminal by a piece of carpet! Battery can now be removed without going under the car and the ECU is permanently mounted on the bulkhead. Also the Hot Start/ECU/Fuel pump relays are readily accessible.
Edited by Hedgehopper on Friday 5th December 10:29
Moycie said:
I like the bracket for the relays at the side. Did you fabricate it yourself?
The panel on the right is a piece of 2mm aluminium screwed to a top and bottom bracket to make it easily removeable.I traced around the three original relay holders and the fuse holder and then cut out the holes so that they were a very tight push fit, they were then stuck in place with hot-melt glue. Car Builder Solutions do a triple relay holder but you would have to re-wire it to the TVR wiring.
Fuses can now be checked visually without any obstruction.
None of the cables and wires were altered other than to cut out the three air-con relay holders. The battery cables fitted just fine other than changing the terminals to 6mm to suit the battery.
The battery needs to be fitted as far to the lefthand side as possible as there is quite a bit of wiring to tuck away behind the relays on the right.
The battery needs to be fitted as far to the lefthand side as possible as there is quite a bit of wiring to tuck away behind the relays on the right.
ChimpOnGas said:
Odyssey batteries are extremely good quality, but they are still traditional lead acid batteries so all the lead acid rules still apply.
Rule one: "The Bigger The Better"
Rule two: "The Heavier The Better"
It doesn't matter if the plates are pure lead or a cheaper alloy, it doesn't matter if its AGM or traditional wet technology, and it doesn't matter how well the battery is made...you simply can't beat the physics (namely plate surface area) a lead acid battery is governed by because at the end of the day its all down to basic chemistry.
There is no way on God's earth a little battery like the PC 925 will ever have the same amp hour rating as a full sized car battery, even a standard sized budget car battery will beat a PC 925 in the "How long can I leave my TVR and still start it" competition.
But if you find other solutions to the battery drain issue (like a Battery Brain) an Odyssey PC 925 still makes an excellent choice for your RV8 TVR, when fully charged it'll definitely crank it fine it just won't give you as many days of inactivity before the charge level drops off to the extent that the car eventually fails start.
There's absolutely no argument the quality of Odyssey batteries puts them in a league of their own, but if the passenger leg room issue doesn't bother you their proper full sized PC 1500 model is going to be massive step up from the little PC 925.
__________________________________________________Rule one: "The Bigger The Better"
Rule two: "The Heavier The Better"
It doesn't matter if the plates are pure lead or a cheaper alloy, it doesn't matter if its AGM or traditional wet technology, and it doesn't matter how well the battery is made...you simply can't beat the physics (namely plate surface area) a lead acid battery is governed by because at the end of the day its all down to basic chemistry.
There is no way on God's earth a little battery like the PC 925 will ever have the same amp hour rating as a full sized car battery, even a standard sized budget car battery will beat a PC 925 in the "How long can I leave my TVR and still start it" competition.
But if you find other solutions to the battery drain issue (like a Battery Brain) an Odyssey PC 925 still makes an excellent choice for your RV8 TVR, when fully charged it'll definitely crank it fine it just won't give you as many days of inactivity before the charge level drops off to the extent that the car eventually fails start.
There's absolutely no argument the quality of Odyssey batteries puts them in a league of their own, but if the passenger leg room issue doesn't bother you their proper full sized PC 1500 model is going to be massive step up from the little PC 925.
...so you would put Odyssey out there pound for pound ahead of a Braille: https://www.braillebattery.com/ ?
Phil
420 SEAC
PeteGriff said:
Really nice job HH. I took the opportunity when my Griff was in for its retrim this year to tidy up wiring etc. I replaced the battery (not a smaller Odyssey but a standard size VARTA) and like you located the loose relays etc into a panel. I actually used a plastic box with a front panel, this I then located on top of the battery with velcro. Why did TVR leave such a mess down there? Regards, Pete
Hi Pete. Do you have a photo of how your foot-well turned out with your standard size Varta in place?
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