| Author | Message | ||
     Bill Mallin (Billmallin) Member Username: Billmallin Post Number: 98 Registered: 09-2003 |
Like many of you, I have a lot of crap hanging off my rig that requires a lot of battery juice: winch, lights, blah, blah, blah. I know many of you run dual yellow top Optimas (or dual batteries of any brand) in your rigs (either in parallel or isolated). I found this beast: Hawker ODYSSEY PC1700MJT and was wondering if anyone had any experience with it. Here's a link to the specs: http://www.batterymart.com/battery.mv?p=ODY-PC1700MJT It seems to be a simpler solution, so I am wondering why I don't see much talk about it. Is it a good solution to running dual batteries? I've talked to a few people in our club and they seem to think so, but I wanted to check with this group too. In addition to not having to jack with wiring up two batteries, another nice thing about this is that it will fit in the plastic battery compartment of a DII. Just barely, but it will fit. Thanks in advance for your advice. Bill Mallin Web Dood Houston Land Rover Club http://www.houstonlandroverclub.com 2001 Disco AKA "Sherman" | ||
| Greg Hirst (Gregh) Senior Member Username: Gregh Post Number: 443 Registered: 10-2002 |
Steve Cooper uses a couple Odyssey 1200's in his RRC. I really like his set-up. http://landroverstuff.com/odyssey.htm | ||
| Steve Cooper (Scrover) Senior Member Username: Scrover Post Number: 670 Registered: 09-2002 |
I also have a PC1700 in the back for aux. stuff   SC | ||
| Steve Cooper (Scrover) Senior Member Username: Scrover Post Number: 671 Registered: 09-2002 |
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| Steve Cooper (Scrover) Senior Member Username: Scrover Post Number: 672 Registered: 09-2002 |
The PC1700 is an awesome battery. I think it would hold up for years as a main battery. I use it specifically for the Engel and for AC power. It's constantly drained and recharged without any problems. SC | ||
| Ho Chung (Thediscoho) Moderator Username: Thediscoho Post Number: 549 Registered: 02-2002 |
well bill, there you have it. time to fork out the cash. Ho Chung | ||
| Bill Mallin (Billmallin) Member Username: Billmallin Post Number: 99 Registered: 09-2003 |
I am not sure that I can Ho. EE doesn't sell them and the guilt of buying anything from anywhere else would be too much. And, what the hell are you doing up at 3:12 AM? | ||
| Ho Chung (Thediscoho) Moderator Username: Thediscoho Post Number: 550 Registered: 02-2002 |
man, you do what you gotta do. go get that damn battery. 3:12? it's the damn server acting up. Ho Chung | ||
| Rob Davison (Nosivad_bor) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Nosivad_bor Post Number: 1554 Registered: 02-2003 |
i'm planning on doing a Dual 1700 in my rangie. in a few days. i am clueless why anyone chooses a different battery. rd | ||
| Bill Mallin (Billmallin) Member Username: Billmallin Post Number: 103 Registered: 09-2003 |
That's all I needed to know. Order placed. Thanks again everyone. | ||
| Steve Cooper (Scrover) Senior Member Username: Scrover Post Number: 680 Registered: 09-2002 |
"i am clueless why anyone chooses a different battery" How about the price of a Detroit, for 2 batteries? SC | ||
| Bill Bettridge (Billb) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Billb Post Number: 1437 Registered: 02-2002 |
That PC1700 is too long to fit without some farely hefty surgery to the inner fender. Not a big deal, but just thought I'd throw that out there. Bill PS - I want it too | ||
| Rob Davison (Nosivad_bor) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Nosivad_bor Post Number: 1558 Registered: 02-2003 |
i'm not afraid of that bill. i though i measured and compared the dims off the battery site and it looks like it will fit fine with just minor surgery. metal case battery is nice too. steve, i ended up buying a mantec snorcle just to properly add room for this battery. dont even get into the cost,, hehe. my priorities are all wrong too. i have bald tires and a rotten tailgate. but damn it i want the 2nd battery installed for engel weather. rd | ||
| Bill Bettridge (Billb) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Billb Post Number: 1440 Registered: 02-2002 |
It may fit in a RRC, but I don't believe it will without cutting in a D1 When it is time to retire the yellow top - I'll shoehorn one in somehow. Damn Optima keeps kickin' though. FYI - Optima also has a version essentially equivalent to the PC1700 (but no metal case): http://www.optimabatteries.com/products/pdf/D31A.pdf Bill | ||
| Bill Mallin (Billmallin) Member Username: Billmallin Post Number: 108 Registered: 09-2003 |
It fits in a 2001 DII without doing anything... according to the measurements anyway. My buddy has one in his Defender, and we measured it, and I measured my available battery space, and there is room for it. I probably will need a stronger spring on that side; it's nearly 60 pounds! I'll follow up if there are any issues. | ||
| Rob Davison (Nosivad_bor) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Nosivad_bor Post Number: 1559 Registered: 02-2003 |
snorcle install underway.... and not going well, i think the rack is causing issues. it's gonna have to go. rd | ||
| Chris Nestor (Heavyhorseman) New Member Username: Heavyhorseman Post Number: 5 Registered: 07-2003 |
I have a 92 RRC and am planning to convert to the new 2.8 diesel this fall. My optima battery just went the other day from the cold (-20), but it is time as it is about 4 1/2 yrs old and has been drained several times. Can anyone give me info on which battery ( maybe dueo set-up)to work the best for when I do the engine swap in case the diesel would require something different, or larger?. Thanks | ||
| Frank Dalton (Unscooter) New Member Username: Unscooter Post Number: 20 Registered: 01-2004 |
I'm starting the 2.8 Power Stroke conversion in our '96 NAS Disco 1, in Michigan cold, with a four year old Die Hard. You should be fine with a new Optima (or an Odyssey ;-) I have heard that the new 2.8 Power Strokes will have glow plugs. Also, the M&D kit that I used for the engine conversion was great :-) Frank | ||
| JEEPETR (Jeepetr) New Member Username: Jeepetr Post Number: 25 Registered: 02-2003 |
I looked at the PC1700 for a dual battery set-up in my ’96 Disco, but like Bill said, its way too long to fit without some fairly extensive modifications. If I remember correctly, it’s almost exactly three inches too long for the existing space. It offered 875 CCA, and a respectable 142 min. reserve time. I figured two of them would make for a very nice 284 minute reserve time, but they just wouldn’t fit nicely. Has anyone considered this option? I don’t know about you, but the combined 1750CCA is a nice figure to quote, but considerably more than I can imagine ever needing at once. Reserve time is the major concern in my opinion. I was looking at Lifeline Batteries (Sealed AGM batteries as well) and a six volt model caught my eye. Yes, six volt. It was rated at 492 minute reserve time and 750 CCA (1095A @ 68 degrees or plenty of juice for anything we run on our trucks). The dimensions are a perfect fit for the existing battery position in the Original Disco series, with the need only for longer tie down rods because it is taller (but fits under the hood with plenty of room to spare). I though about one on the Drivers side, and one on the passenger (stock position) side wired in series. Even two PC1700’s in series fall 208 minutes behind in reserve capacity! Two Optima’s even further behind. Thoughts? | ||
| Bill Bettridge (Billb) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Billb Post Number: 1462 Registered: 02-2002 |
Damn Scott, Thats a neat idea. That's one big ass 6-volt - it weighs 8 lbs more than a 12 volt PC1700. Price isn't too bad at about $150/ea I wonder about any effects on the alternator - that's alot of battery to charge and then can charge at up to 4 times the AH rating. But - I'm terrible at things automotive electrical, so what do I know. Bill | ||
| Sheldon Charron (Rifleman) On Probation Username: Rifleman Post Number: 97 Registered: 01-2004 |
Here's all this talk of one battery that fits the Disco II factory battery compartment and puts out more juice than two optima yellow tops, without all the PITA invloved in customizing my rig, and I now I have two new Optima's already sitting on my Garage floor. hmmmm. | ||
| Bill Mallin (Billmallin) Member Username: Billmallin Post Number: 126 Registered: 09-2003 |
All: The 1700 is now in my DII, though not without modification. I wonder why it is that everything I do to that truck always takes 4 times as long and always requires some sort of modification? I guess that is what keeps it fun. Anyway, it's in. I did have to completely remove the negative cable and replace it with a new one. I needed 6" more cable because the terminals are on the front instead of the back and the factory cable is not long enough. There is also that metal attachment on the factory cable that bolts to a nut right outside the battery cover. So, I had to make a wire go from the negative terminal to there as well. Of course no one had what I wanted in 2 gauge wire, so I had to custom make two cables with the supplies I picked up at West Marine. Also, the 1700 is shorter than the factory battery. You have to either flip over the battery mount (which looks like shit) or raise the battery up by placing something about 3/4" - 1" under it because the threads on the studs for the battery holder do not go down far enough. I chose the latter. Like I said, it’s in. I can take a couple of photos if anyone is interested. | ||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 835 Registered: 05-2003 |
Congratulations Bill! | ||
| Bill Mallin (Billmallin) Member Username: Billmallin Post Number: 132 Registered: 09-2003 |
Thanks Jamie... Here's a picture:  ONE BIG BATTERY!!! | ||
| Donald (Dsmcf) Member Username: Dsmcf Post Number: 103 Registered: 11-2003 |
it may be big, but it can still be drained or fail. Sheldon, don't feel bad. You will have a much better setup than this once you have installed a battery isolater with your two new batteries. Right now I am running three batteries. One red top, one yellow top, and one D31M blue top. The red top and the yellow top Optimas both fit side by side in the factory battery box (dremel tool required, but they fit just fine). The 75AH blue top sits in the passenger footwell, for the time being, as an extra precaution, because my alternator is on the blink and I don't want to be stranded. | ||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 840 Registered: 05-2003 |
Donald, I've been running dual yellow tops for several months. I didn't add a battery isolater. I must not need it since I haven't had a single problem with my set up. Do you run one battery at a time on your rover or both of them together? Thanks, Jamie | ||
| Peter Carey (Peterca) Member Username: Peterca Post Number: 46 Registered: 10-2003 |
Jamie, An isolator can give you the ability to have a true 'backup' battery by making sure power is not drawn from it when the alernator is not supplying charge to it. Granted, you can still kill both batteries if not used right. Otherwise, in a setup like yours, you simply have a larger battery capacity by not having an isolator. With two batteries like that you buy yourself more time to run accy. when the alt isn't running (or is on its way out). Kinda like the differnce between a 2D flashlight and a 4D with the same bulb. Rob, just how much are you going to have to cut into the sides? I considered putting two PC1200s into the Disco before I sold it but it they would have stuck about an inch into the fender area. Still, the steel jacket was nice and I ended up buying them...just didn't have the time to get them in before the truck left. They both dropped nicely into the new truck with a Hellroaring Isolator. pwc | ||
| Rob Davison (Nosivad_bor) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Nosivad_bor Post Number: 1586 Registered: 02-2003 |
peter, as i measure it i don't think i will have to cut it. if i'm wrong i will just butcher the inside fender up. unfortunatly my snorkle wont fit with my roofrack on so this has delayed the the installation. i don't have the battery in my possesion yet. i'm waiting for everything else to be finished first. new tires and tailgate might jump ahead of the battery too. BTW got conformation that my truck is a hunter. rd | ||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 848 Registered: 05-2003 |
Peter, Thanks for the explanation Jamie | ||
| Peter Carey (Peterca) Member Username: Peterca Post Number: 47 Registered: 10-2003 |
Does that mean you'll be finding yourself a fancy Hunter sticker for the new tailgate? :-) pwc | ||
| Rob Davison (Nosivad_bor) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Nosivad_bor Post Number: 1587 Registered: 02-2003 |
actually, yes, I am looking for one rob |
