Eventually it'll happen to you. You'll wear your battery out, purchase a vehicle
that lacks one, or simply decide that your battery is no longer up to the task.
Whatever the reason, before you buy a new battery for your 4x4, do a little
research first.
Think batteries are batteries? Think that you have no more options than you
had a few years ago? Think again.
You have more options today than ever before, but deciding between these
options means identifying your own unique needs. Do you simply need to start
your vehicle? Do you need to start in extreme cold temperatures? Does your
vehicle draw more amps than your alternator produces? Do you winch frequently
enough to need a deep cell?
When I set out to upgrade the electrical storage system of Project WomBAT, I knew I needed a special battery. I
had little room under the hood, but I wanted a dual battery system that could
start in extreme cold, but also handle the depletion / recharge cycles caused by
the extensive PIAA lighting system and Ramsey Platinum 9000 winch. I needed an engine
compartment miracle to mount two batteries - one for starting, and one for deep
cycling, or I needed to find a special battery. After some searching, I found
that Hawker Energy Products Inc. makes a battery that is tailored to my needs.
Their Odyssey answers Project WomBAT's space/power problem.
Hawker Energy started manufacturing advanced energy cells decades ago. After
years of service to the aviation industry and the military, Hawker recently
entered the off-road market. With batteries matched to products as commonplace
as boat trolling motors, and products as specialized as the US Army's Hercules
transport planes, Hawker brings a significant depth of experience to batteries
for off-road vehicles.
Design
Accessory | amps drawn |
Engine control system | 3-5 |
Heater | 10 |
Air conditioner | 15-20 |
Stock car stereo | 5-20 |
CB radio | 3-5 |
Cigarette lighter | 10-15 |
Wipers | 5 |
Power windows | 10-20 |
Horn | 5-10 |
Starter | 100-300 |
Winch | 100-400 |
Add-on lights (sets of 2) | ? |
???small driving lights | 10-15 |
???large lights (per set of 2) | 15-30 |
High-beam headlights | 12-15 |
Low-beam headlights | 7-10 |
??? Isuzu rated WomBAT's stock
alternator to produce 60 peak amps when new. The motor has to be turning a few
thousand RPMs to make that, too.
??? Full-load winching in and of itself is
enough to induce battery drain even with the most powerful alternator revving to
keep up. But just idling the truck down the trail at idle requires considerable
current draw, especially at night.
??? With your engine running, headlights
on, and a few accessories (heater, CB radio, a few pairs of off-road lights),
you'd be drawing 48-75amps. That's already near the maximum-rated capacity of
many new stock alternators -- and most alternators don't put out their peak
supply figures anywhere near idle. Just locking your hubs, you could be running
down your battery. A good battery has plenty of reserve to handle this kind of
at-idle draw, and handle an occasional deep-cycle every now and
then.
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The Odyssey is a fully sealed,
rechargeable deep cycle battery. Unlike a gel cell, the Drycell uses an absorbed
electrolyte design with glass mat separating positive and negative plates. These
batteries utilize pure lead tin technology, invented and patented by Hawker
Energy over two decades ago. This proprietary design prevents drying that occurs
in conventional 'valve-regulated lead acid' batteries. The design also
eliminates positive terminal corrosion. With this design, Hawker Energy's
batteries avoid the two most common failure modes for conventional batteries,
drying and corrosion.
As a starved-electrolyte design, the Odyssey line, as well as Hawker's
Cyclon?, Genesis?, and Trolling Thunder? lines, earns the USDOT 'dry cell'
classification. Hawker can ship it via UPS, FedEx ,or even by air without a
hazardous materials surcharge. The dry cell design also prevents acid burns,
explosions, and paint damage. The biggest advantage of the Odyssey line, though,
is its ability to serve dual purposes as both a starting/lighting/ignition
battery AND a deep cycle battery. It is the perfect single-unit setup for
'wheeling.
Performance
To say that the Odyssey, or any battery, for that matter,
performed flawlessly to date is not much of an endorsement. A few months reveals
little about how well a battery stands up to repeated discharge and recharge
cycles.
The numbers, however, reveal the PC1700's capabilities. Hawker rates the
largest member of the Odyssey line at a conservative 11
