www.odysseybattery.com
13
Publication No: EN-ODY-TM-0002 - February 2015
PARASITIC LOADS
With the proliferation of more and more electronic
equipment in cars, trucks, motorcycles and powersports
equipment, the phenomenon of parasitic loads is becoming
a serious problem.
Parasitic loads are small currents, typically of the order
of a few milliamps (mA) that the battery has to deliver
continuously. Retaining memories and operating security
systems are common examples of parasitic drains on
batteries in modern systems.
On the surface it would seem that such small loads would
not be a factor in the overall scheme of things. However,
since parasitic loads can be applied on a long-term basis
(weeks or months is not uncommon), the cumulative amp-
hours (Ah) extracted from the battery can be significant.
For example, a 10mA draw on a motorcycle battery will
discharge it by 0.24Ah per day. If left unchecked for 30
days, that small 10mA parasitic load will discharge a 20Ah
battery by 7.2Ah – a 36% depth of discharge (DOD).
Regardless of the application, it is important to make sure
your battery does not have a parasitic load; if there is a slow
drain, connect the battery to a float (trickle) charger that
puts out between 13.5V and 13.8V at the battery terminals.
Physically disconnecting one of the battery cables is an
alternate method to eliminate the drain.
SHOCK, IMPACT AND VIBRATION
TESTING
(A) Caterpillar™ 100-hour vibration test
In this test, a fully charged battery was vibrated at 34±1
Hz and 0.075" (1.9mm) total amplitude in a vertical
direction, corresponding to an acceleration of 4.4g. The
test was conducted for a total of 100 hours. The battery is
considered to have passed the test if (a) it does not lose any
electrolyte, (b) it is able to support a load test and (c) it does
not leak when subjected to a pressure test.
The ODYSSEY battery successfully completed this arduous
test.
(B) Shock and vibration test per IEC 61373, Sections 8-10
An independent test laboratory tested an ODYSSEY
31-PC2150 battery for compliance to IEC standard 61373,
Category 1, Class B, and Sections 8 through 10. Section
8 calls for a functional random vibration test, Section 9
requires a long-life random vibration test and Section 10 is
for a shock test. Table 2, in the next column summarizes the
test results.
Table 2: Shock and vibration test results per IEC 61373
CHARGING ODYSSEY
®
BATTERIES
Charging is a key factor in the proper use of a rechargeable
battery. Inadequate or improper charging is a common
cause of premature failure of rechargeable lead acid
batteries. To properly charge your premium ODYSSEY
®
battery, EnerSys
®
has developed a special charge algorithm.
It is designed to rapidly and safely charge these batteries.
Called the IUU profile (a constant current mode followed by
two stages of constant voltage charge), Figure 6 shows it in
a graphical format. No manual intervention is necessary with
chargers having this profile and voltages.
Figure 6: Recommended three-step charge profile
If the charger has a timer, then it can switch from absorption
mode to float mode when the current drops to 0.001C
10
amps. If the current fails to drop to 0.001C
10
amps, then
the timer will force the transition to a float charge after no
more than 8 hours. As an example, for a PC1200 battery,
the threshold current should be 4mA. Another option is to
let the battery stay in the absorption phase (14.7V or 2.45
VPC) for a fixed time, such as 6-8 hours, then switch to the
continuous float charge.
Test
Standard
Requirement
Result
Functional
random
vibration
IEC 61373,
Section 8,
Category 1,
Class B
5-150Hz, 0.1g
rms
vertical,
0.071g
rms
longitudinal,
0.046g
rms
transverse; 10
minutes in each axis
Compliant
Long-life
random
vibration
IEC 61373,
Section 9,
Category 1,
Class B
5-150Hz, 0.8g
rms
vertical,
0.56g
rms
longitudinal,
0.36g
rms
transverse; 5
hours in each axis
Compliant
Shock
IEC 61373,
Section 10,
Category 1,
Class B
30msec. pulses in
each axis (3 positive,
3 negative); 3.06g
peak
vertical, 5.1g
peak
longitudinal, 3.06g
peak
transverse
Compliant
Bulk charge
(RED)
8-hour absorption charge
(ORANGE)
Continuous float charge
(GREEN)
Charge current
Charge voltage
Bulk charge
8-hour absorption charge
Continuous float charge
14.7V (2.45 Vpc)
NOTES:
1. Charge voltage should be temperature compensated at ±24mV per battery per ºC variation from 25ºC
V
oltage
Amps
13.6V (2.27 Vpc)
0.4C
10
min
