Starting, Lighting & Ignition (SLI) Drycell battery guide. Second Edition

Transcription

1 Starting, Lighting & Ignition (SLI) Drycell battery guide Kalyan Jana Western Product Support Manager Hawker Energy Products Inc. 617 N. Ridgeview Drive Warrensburg, MO 64093

2 Table of Contents Preface...4 Introduction...5 Why use ODYSSEY batteries?...5 ODYSSEY SLI battery specifications...8 ODYSSEY battery pulse discharge capabilities...10 ODYSSEY battery extended discharge characteristics...12 Storage and recharge criteria for ODYSSEY batteries...19 (A) How do I know the state of charge of the battery?...19 (B) How long can the battery be stored?...20 (C) Can the battery recover from abusive storage conditions?...21 (1) German DIN standard test for overdischarge recovery...22 (2) High temperature (50 /112 F) discharged storage test...22 Shock, impact and vibration testing of ODYSSEY batteries...24 (A) MIL S-901C shock, high impact test...24 (B) MIL S for mechanical vibrations...24 (C) Ford vehicle vibration test...25 (D) Three axis vibration test

3 Charging ODYSSEY batteries (A) Selecting a charger s voltage output (B) Selecting a charger s current output Rapid charging of ODYSSEY batteries Concluding remarks Some frequently asked SLI battery questions

4 Preface This handbook was created with a view to introduce the reader to the pure lead Drycell technology of the ODYSSEY battery for starting, lighting and ignition (SLI) applications. The benefits that this technology has to offer the user are numerous and this handbook will attempt to highlight them. A second edition has been necessitated by the addition of the PC1700 model to the ODYSSEY family of 12V SLI batteries. Preliminary discharge data and other information on this new battery have been included. It is hoped that this update will prove to be as useful to the user as was the first edition, and continue to help him get the best usage from these batteries. We at Hawker Energy Products Inc. are very proud of the capabilities of this unique battery, and will continue to provide updated information to designers and users of the ODYSSEY line of sealed-lead Drycell batteries for SLI applications. 4

5 Introduction The ODYSSEY battery combines in one box the characteristics of two separate batteries. It can deep cycle as well as provide enormous cranking power it is almost as if a champion long distance runner and a world class sprinter are one and the same person. As will be illustrated in a later section, these batteries are capable of providing engine cranking pulses in excess of 1700A for 5 seconds as well as 400 charge/discharge cycles to 100% depth of discharge (DOD). A typical starting. lighting and ignition (SLI) battery can do one or the other, but not both. It is either a sprinter or a long distance runner; ODYSSEY batteries will do both provide short duration high amperage pulse or low rate long duration drains. Why use ODYSSEY batteries? Guaranteed longer service life The ODYSSEY battery, with an eight year design life and a three-to-eight year service life, saves you time and money because you do not have to replace your battery as often. It is also the ONLY battery that is capable of delivering a large number of deep cycles up to 400 when fully discharged or up to 500 when discharged to 80% 1. Plus, the battery is specially designed for high vibration applications. 1 Detailed performance specifications on the ODYSSEY may be found on a later page 5

6 Longer storage life Unlike conventional batteries that need to be recharged every six to twelve weeks, the ODYSSEY battery will maintain up to 50% state of charge after 2½ years if stored at room temperature (25 C). At temperatures lower than 25 C, storage times will be even longer. Overdischarge/deep discharge recovery The ease with which the ODYS- SEY battery recovers from this type of application abuse is unheard of and the section titled Storage and recharge criteria for ODYSSEY batteries discusses test data on this very important topic concerning SLI batteries. Superior cranking and fast recharge capability The cranking power of ODYSSEY batteries is double to triple that of equally sized conventional batteries, even when the temperature is as low as 40 C. Also, with simple constant voltage charging, there is no limitation on the inrush current, so the user is assured of fast recovery. This characteristic is explored in greater detail later in the section titled Rapid charging of ODYSSEY batteries. Worry-free shipping The sealed Drycell design of the ODYSSEY battery eliminates the need for vent tubes; further, no routine maintenance is required and there is no more fear of acid burns or damage to expensive chrome or paint. Owing to the starved-electrolyte design, the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) has classified the ODYSSEY battery as a dry battery, so it may be shipped worry-free by UPS/Federal Express or by air. 6

7 Mounting flexibility The ODYSSEY battery may be installed in any orientation without sacrificing any performance attributes. Superior vibration resistance ODYSSEY batteries have endured very rigorous tests that demonstrate their overall ruggedness and exceptional tolerance of mechanical abuse. Details of these tests may be found in the section titled Shock, impact and vibration testing. Ready out of the box ODYSSEY batteries are shipped fully charged. Simply install the battery in your vehicle and you are ready to go! With this battery, there is no need to boost charge, add water or clean terminals before installing. 7

8 ODYSSEY SLI battery specifications Item PC545 PC680 PC625 CCA 230A 280A 265A CA at 32 F 300A 360A 350A HCA at 80 F 360A 440A 440A Reserve capacity Terminals 3 M6 M6 M6 (brass stud) Max. installation 50 in-lb. 50 in-lb. 60 in-lb. torque Max. dimensions with metal jacket, in. (mm) L 3.37 (86) 3.12 (79) 3.90 (99) W (terminal side) 7.00 (178) 7.27 (185) 6.70 (170) H (incl. terminals) 5.17 (131) 6.67 (169) 6.89 (175) Weight, lb. (kg.) 12.0 (5.4) 14.7 (6.7) 13.2 (6.0) (with metal jacket) (no metal jacket) Cycle life at 25 C Operating temp. 400 for 100% DOD and 2.45 vpc charge for hr. 500 for 80% DOD and 2.45 vpc charge for hr. 40 C to + 60 C, depending on packaging selected Resistance at 25 C 10mΩ 7.0mΩ 7.0mΩ Short ckt. current > 1,200A > 1,800A > 1,800A Item PC925 PC1200 PC Time in minutes that the battery can support a 25A load 3 All terminals are female threaded maintenance free copper alloy with stainless steel bolts 8

9 CCA 470A 630A 900A CA at 32 F 590A 800A TBD HCA at 80 F 700A 940A TBD Reserve capacity Terminals 6 Brass Brass Brass Max. installation 60 in-lb. 60 in-lb. 60 in-lb. torque Max. dimensions with metal jacket, in. (mm) L 7.05 (179) 6.66 (169) 6.62 (168) W (terminal side) 6.69 (169) 7.87 (200) (331) H (incl. terminals) 5.79 (147) 7.55 (192) 7.68 (195) Weight, lb. (kg) 24.0 (10.9) 35.4 (16.0) 58.7 (26.6) (with metal jacket) Cycle life at 25 C Operating temp. 400 for 100% DOD and 2.45 vpc charge for hr. 500 for 80% DOD and 2.45 vpc charge for hr. 40 C to + 60 C, depending on packaging selected Resistance at 25 C 5.0mΩ 4.5mΩ 3.5mΩ Short ckt. current > 2,400A > 2,600A > 3,500A 4 Preliminary data only 5 Time in minutes that the battery can support a 25A load to 10.5V per module 6 All terminals are brass SAE combination posts with 3/8 top thread 9

10 ODYSSEY battery pulse discharge capabilities The graph titled ODYSSEY pulse discharge per battery shown below demonstrates the extraordinary short duration (pulse) discharge capabilities of the ODYSSEY family of batteries. Note that the discharge figures are shown for an ambient temperature of 25 C and to an end of discharge voltage (EODV) of 7.20V per 12V battery ODYSSEY pulse discharge per battery Seconds to 7.2V at 25ºC (77ºF) PC545 PC625 PC1200 PC680 PC925 PC1700 (est.) 10

11 Two points should be kept in mind when using this battery for such extreme high-rate discharges. First, sufficient time must be given between two successive discharges to allow the terminals to cool down. Second, the graph reflects the capabilities of fully charged ODYSSEY batteries. Unless the batteries are fully charged, one must not expect them to meet these numbers. Finally, all of these numbers are for an ambient temperature of 25 C; if the temperature is significantly different from 25 C, the graph shown above must be appropriately modified. Table I below provides the five, ten and twenty second pulse discharge numbers for the ODYSSEY line of Drycell batteries. Table I Battery Pulse discharge in amps to 7.2V 5 sec. 10 sec. 20 sec. PC PC PC PC PC PC

12 ODYSSEY battery extended discharge characteristics In addition to the excellent pulse discharge capabilities outlined earlier, the ODYSSEY product line is also capable of delivering a large number of deep discharge cycles. This is another area where the ODYSSEY Drycell battery outperforms a conventional SLI battery which can deliver only a few deep discharge cycles. The following five graphs detail the discharge characteristics of the entire ODYSSEY line. The end of discharge voltage in each case is 10.02V per battery, and each graph shows both constant current (CC) and constant power (CP) curves. The tables accompanying each graph give the same data as the graph above it, together with the energy and power densities. The battery run times extend from 2 minutes to 20 hours. 12

13 Watts Amps Hours to 10.02V at 25ºC (77ºF) 0.1 ODYSSEY PC545 performance data at 25 C, per 12V module Run time Watts Amps Capacity Energy Energy and power densities to 10.02V (Ah) (Wh) Watts/lit. Wh/lit. Watts/kg. Wh/kg. 2 min min min min min min min hr hr hr hr hr hr hr hr

14 Watts Amps Hours to 10.02V at 25ºC (77ºF) 0.1 ODYSSEY PC680 performance data at 25 C, per 12V module Run time Watts Amps Capacity Energy Energy and power densities to 10.02V (Ah) (Wh) Watts/lit. Wh/lit. Watts/kg. Wh/kg. 2 min min min min min min min hr hr hr hr hr hr hr hr

15 Watts Amps Hours to V at 25ºC (77ºF) 0.1 ODYSSEY PC625 performance data at 25 C, per 12V module Run time Watts Amps Capacity Energy Energy and power densities to 10.02V (Ah) (Wh) Watts/lit. Wh/lit. Watts/kg. Wh/kg. 2 min min min min min min min hr hr hr hr hr hr hr hr

16 Watts Amps Hours to 10.02V at 25ºC (77ºF) ODYSSEY PC925 performance data at 25 C, per 12V module Run time Watts Amps Capacity Energy Energy and power densities to 10.02V (Ah) (Wh) Watts/lit. Wh/lit. Watts/kg. Wh/kg. 2 min min min min min min min hr hr hr hr hr hr hr hr

17 Watts Amps Hours to 10.02V at 25ºC (77ºF) ODYSSEY PC1200 performance data at 25 C, per 12V module Run time Watts Amps Capacity Energy Energy and power densities to 10.02V (Ah) (Wh) Watts/lit. Wh/lit. Watts/kg. Wh/kg. 2 min min min min min min min hr hr hr hr hr hr hr hr

18 Watts Amps Hours to 10.02V at 25ºC (77ºF) -- preliminary data 1 ODYSSEY PC1700 preliminary performance data at 25 C Run time Watts Amps Capacity Energy Energy and power densities to 10.02V (Ah) (Wh) Watts/lit. Wh/lit. Watts/kg. Wh/kg. 2 min min min min min min min hr hr hr hr hr hr hr hr

19 Storage and recharge criteria for ODYSSEY batteries For any rechargeable battery, storage and recharge are important criteria, and this section develops some useful guidelines that should be followed. (A) How do I know the state of charge of the battery? Provided the battery has not been charged or discharged for at least five (5) hours, one can use the following graph to determine the state of charge (SOC) of the ODYSSEY battery by simply using a good quality digital voltmeter to measure its open circuit voltage (OCV). The graph below indicates that a healthy, fully charged ODYSSEY battery will have an open circuit voltage of 12.84V or higher at 25ºC The open circuit voltage (OCV) numbers on this graph are applicable only if the battery has not seen any activity (charge or discharge) for at least a few hours before voltage measurements are taken. 19

20 ODYSSEY OCV vs. state of charge State of Charge, % (B) How long can the battery be stored? The next graph shows the remarkable storage properties of the ODYSSEY battery. At a storage temperature of 25 C, one can store these batteries for up to two (2) years. As the graph illustrates, the lower the storage temperature, the longer the storage time. The graph also illustrates the large impact of temperature on storage for every approximately 10 C (50 F) increase in temperature the storage time is cut in half. Thus, although the ODYSSEY battery may be kept on the shelf for two years at 25 C (77 F), if the temperature rises to about 35 C the battery may be stored for only one year before it needs a recharge. 20

21 The numbers on this graph are applicable only if the battery is fully charged before being placed on storage ODYSSEY storage time vs. temperature Storage temperature, ºC (C) Can the battery recover from abusive storage conditions? The short answer is yes, the ODYSSEY battery can recover from extremely deep discharges as the following tests demonstrate. 21

22 (1) German DIN standard test for overdischarge recovery In this test, a charged ODYSSEY PC925 battery was fully discharged over 20 hours (0.05C10 rate) to 10.20V. After the discharge 7 was complete, a 5Ω resistor was placed across the battery terminals and it was set aside for 28 days. At the end of 28 days of storage, the battery was charged at 13.5V for only 48 hours. Another 0.05C10 discharge yielded 97% of rated capacity, indicating that a 48-hour charge after such as deep discharge was not sufficient; however, the test is designed to show whether the battery can be recovered from extremely deep discharges using only a standby float charger. A standard automotive charger at 14.4V would have allowed the battery to recover greater than 97% of its capacity. The results of this test prove rather conclusively that ODYSSEY batteries can indeed recover from very abusive storage conditions. This conclusion is further reinforced by the following test which is even harsher than the DIN standard test due to the fact that the battery was stored in a discharged state at a high temperature of 50 C or 112 F. 7 The C10 rate of charge or discharge current in amperes is numerically equal to the rated capacity of a battery in ampere-hours at the 10-hour rate. Thus a 26Ah battery at the 10-hour rate, such as the PC925 would have a C10 rate of 26A. 22

23 (2) High temperature (50 /112 F) discharged storage test In this test two ODYSSEY battery samples were discharged at the 1-hour rate to 9V per module, then set aside for storage at 50 C (112 F) in a discharged condition for four weeks. At the end of four weeks the two batteries were recharged using a constant voltage (CV) charger at 14.7V per battery. As the graph below shows, both samples were able to recover nicely from this extreme case of abusive storage Recovery from high temperature (50 C) discharged storage (Constant voltage recharge at 14.7V per module) Sample 1 Sample Current limit for cycles 1 & 2 : 0.125C 10 Current limit for cycles 3-16 : 1C Cycle number 23

24 Shock, impact and vibration testing of ODYSSEY batteries The ODYSSEY battery has been subjected to several tests that prove the high resistance they have mechanical abuse. (A) MIL S-901C shock, high impact test This is a test that is specified by the United States Navy to determine suitability of equipment to be installed on warships. In this particular test a 26Ah (equivalent to the PC925 but without the metal jacket) battery was installed in a UPS system aboard a Navy MHC51 class coastal mine hunter. The object of this test is to simulate the shock generated by a 16 in. naval gun and a depth charge going off simultaneously. Testing is performed by hitting the UPS, while in operation, with a 2,500 lb. hammer from varying distances. After several such impacts the battery system was tested for proper functioning. The 26Ah battery passed this particular test without metal jackets. Equipping the ODYSSEY batteries with metal jackets will only increase their ability to withstand harsh shock and impact situations that may be encountered in automotive applications. (B) MIL S for mechanical vibrations 24

25 In this test the Drycell batteries were subjected to three classes of vibration exploratory vibration, variable frequency and endurance test. Each class is described below. Exploratory vibration test The UPS unit containing the Drycell battery was vibrated from 5Hz to 33Hz at a table vibratory single amplitude of ± in., in discrete frequency intervals of 1Hz. Vibration at each frequency was maintained for 15 seconds. Variable frequency test The UPS unit was vibrated from 5Hz to 33Hz at 1Hz intervals at different amplitudes. At each frequency the vibration was maintained for 5 minutes. Endurance test The test was conducted at 33Hz for two hours in the x- and y- axes at a table vibratory double amplitude of ± in. The z-axis endurance test was conducted at 33Hz for two hours at a table vibratory single amplitude of ± inch. (C) Ford vehicle vibration test 25

26 Two batteries, equivalent to the PC925 and PC1200 were mounted in a special fixture and tested per the following parameters: Test direction Frequency, Hz Acceleration, g Duration, min. Vertical Transverse Horizontal None of the four batteries showed noticeable failures at the end of the test. (D) Three axis vibration test This test was conducted for Hawker Energy Products Inc. by an independent testing facility. Two batteries, equivalent to the PC925 and PC1200 were mounted in a special fixture and tested in the following manner: Test direction Frequency, Hz Acceleration, g Duration, hrs. Vertical Transverse Test direction Frequency, Hz Acceleration, g Duration, hrs

27 Horizontal Once again none of the four batteries showed any noticeable failures at the end of this test. Summarizing, therefore, based on the tests described in this section there is little doubt about the ability of the ODYSSEY Drycell battery to withstand substantial levels of mechanical abuse. This in itself is a very desirable feature in SLI batteries. Charging ODYSSEY batteries A critical factor in the proper use of a rechargeable battery is charging. Inadequate and/or improper charging is probably the single most dominant cause of premature failure of rechargeable lead acid batteries, and it is entirely appropriate that some time and space be devoted to this very important issue. A good rule of thumb to remember is : FOR EVERY AMPERE-HOUR DIS- CHARGED, ONE MUST REPLACE 1.05 TO 1.10 AMPERE-HOURS TO FULLY RECHARGE THE BATTERY. This rule is particularly critical when the battery is deep cycled repeatedly. 27

28 (A) Selecting a charger s voltage output The charger selection process is primarily determined by the battery system voltage, as illustrated in Table II. Using battery chargers that have output voltages outside these ranges may result in not achieving maximum battery cycle life. Table II Battery voltage Fast charge voltage Standby charge voltage Minimum Maximum Minimum Maximum 12V 14.4V 14.7V 13.6V 13.8V 24V 28.8V 29.4V 27.2V 27.6V 36V 43.2V 44.1V 40.8V 41.4V IMPORTANT NOTE The ODYSSEY battery must not be left connected to a quick charge output voltage for more than 24 hours. Should this be a possibility, use a charger that automatically switches to a standby charge voltage after 24 hours. (B) Selecting a charger s current output Maximum current 28

29 The pure lead technology of the ODYSSEY battery does not require a limit on the maximum output current as long as the charger s output voltage is within the limits described in Table II. Remember that when a fixed voltage is applied to the battery, the output (charge) current will automatically drop as the battery charges up. Even inrush currents as high as four times the battery capacity do not pose a danger to a healthy ODYSSEY battery, provided constant voltage charging is used. Minimum current The minimum acceptable charger current depends on how the battery is used. For repeated deep discharges of the ODYSSEY the minimum inrush current should not be less than the rated capacity of the batteries. For example, if a PC545 battery, rated at 13Ah, is being used, the inrush must not be less than about 13A. Rapid charging of ODYSSEY batteries The pure lead-tin technology of ODYSSEY batteries lends itself extremely well to rapid charging. The graph below shows the exceptional fast charge characteristics of the ODYSSEY when it is charged at a constant 14.7V, at three levels of 29

30 inrush current. This voltage level of 14.7V is very similar to the output of a modern automotive alternator. Table III following the graph illustrates the capacity returned as a function of the magnitude of the inrush 8 current. 200 Rapid charging ODYSSEY battery from 100% DOD 0.8C 1.6C 3.1C Minutes on charge at 14.7V Table III Capacity Inrush current magnitude returned 0.8C10 1.6C10 3.1C10 60% 44 min. 20 min. 10 min. 80% 57 min. 28 min. 14 min. 100% 90 min. 50 min. 30 min. 8 The magnitude of the inrush is defined in terms of the rated capacity (C10) of the battery. Thus, a 0.8C10 inrush implies a current that is 80% of the rated capacity, or 80A for a 100Ah battery. Similarly, a 1.6C10 inrush on a 100Ah battery means that the charge current inrush is 160A (1.6 X 100). 30

31 The table above shows that with a 0.8C10 inrush current, a 100% discharged battery can have 80% of its capacity returned in 57 minutes; doubling the inrush to 1.6C10 cuts the time taken to reach the same threshold capacity to only 28 minutes. Concluding remarks We believe that there is no other sealed-lead battery currently available that can match the ODYSSEY battery for sheer performance and reliability. We hope that the preceding material will help the reader arrive at the same conclusion. Some frequently asked SLI battery questions 1. What is the CCA rating? The cold cranking ampere (CCA) rating refers to the number of amperes a battery can support for 30 seconds at a temperature of 0 F until the battery voltage drops to 1.20 volts per cell, or 7.20 volts for a 12V battery. Thus, a 12V 31

32 battery that carries a rating of 600 CCA tells us that the battery will provide 600 amperes for 30 seconds at 0 F before the voltage falls to 7.20V. 2. What is the marine cranking rating? The marine cranking ampere (MCA) rating refers to the number of amperes a battery can support for 30 seconds at a temperature of 32 F until the battery voltage drops to 1.20 volts per cell, or 7.20 volts for a 12V battery. Thus, a 12V battery that carries a MCA rating of 600 CCA tells us that the battery will provide 600 amperes for 30 seconds at 32 F before the voltage falls to 7.20V. Note that the MCA is sometimes referred to as the cranking amperes or CA. 3. Define the difference between MCA and CCA. The marine cranking ampere (MCA) rating of a battery is very similar to the CCA rating; the only difference is that while the CCA is measured at a temperature of 0 F, the MCA is measured at 32 F. All other requirements are the same the ampere draw is for 30 seconds and the end of discharge voltage in both cases is 1.20 volts per cell. 4. I have heard of an HCA rating also. What is it? The full form of HCA is hot cranking amperes. It is the same thing as the MCA or the CA or the CCA, except that the temperature at which the test is conducted is 80 F. 32

33 5. What is the pulse cranking amp rating? Unlike CCA and MCA the pulse cranking ampere (PCA) rating does not have an official definition; however, we believe that for true SLI purposes, a 30 second discharge is unrealistic. With that in mind, the PCA is a very short duration (typically about 3 to 5 seconds) high rate discharge. Because the discharge is for such a short time, it is more like a pulse. The PCA rating on the ODYS- SEY PC1200 is about 1200 amperes for the 12V battery; for a 12V system (with the two individual batteries in parallel), the PCA doubles to 2400 amperes! No, the ODYSSEY is NOT a gel cell. It is an absorbed electrolyte type battery, meaning that there is no free acid inside the battery; all of the acid is kept absorbed in the glass mat separators. These separators serve to keep the positive and negative plates apart. The key difference between the gel cell and the absorbed glass mat (AGM) cell lies in the fact that in the AGM cell (such as the ODYSSEY ) all of the electrolyte is in the separator, whereas in the gel cell the acid is within the cells in a gel form. In fact, if the ODYSSEY battery were to split open, there would be no acid spillage! That is why we call the ODYSSEY a Drycell! 6. Are these gel cells? What s the difference? 7. I do not understand the Ah rating. Please explain. 33

34 The ampere-hour (Ah) rating defines the capacity of a battery. A typical battery that is rated as a 100Ah battery at the 10 hour rate of discharge is capable of delivering 10A for 10 hours before the terminal voltage drops to a standard value such as 1.67 volts per cell, or volts for a 12V battery. Similarly, a 50Ah battery would supply a 5A load for 10 hours. The PC1200 battery is rated at 42Ah, so it can furnish 4.2A for 10 hours. 8. What is the reserve capacity rating? What does that mean in the industry? The reserve capacity of a battery is defined as the number of minutes that it can support a 25 ampere load at 80 F until its terminal voltage drops to 1.75 volts per cell or volts for a 12V battery. Thus a 12V battery that has a reserve capacity rating of 100 signifies that it can be discharged at 25 amps for 100 minutes at 80 F before its voltage drops to volts. 9. Is ODYSSEY a completely dry battery? Because the ODYSSEY has no free acid inside the battery, it is covered under the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) unregulated wet nonspillable wet electric storage batteries classification and International Air Transport Association (IATA) unrestricted air shipments categories. These batteries may be shipped completely worry-free. Supporting documentation is readily available. 10. You mentioned high impedance. What is it? 34

35 The impedance of a battery is a measure of how easily it can be discharged. The lower the impedance the easier it is to discharge the battery. The impedance of the ODYSSEY battery is considerably less than that of a conventional SLI battery, so its high rate discharge capability is significantly higher than that of a conventional SLI battery. 11. How much current is generated if I accidentally short this battery? 12. Do I ruin the battery if I accidentally drop it? Does it void the warranty? Not necessarily, but it is possible to damage the internal connections sufficiently to render the battery useless. Our warranty applies only to manufacturing defects and workmanship issues; the policy does not cover damages suffered due to product mishandling. As suggested before, the ODYS- SEY battery is a very low impedance product, meaning that the short circuit current can be extremely high. For a PC925 battery, the short circuit current will be of the order of 2,500 amperes. 13. What is so special about pure lead tin technology? Is it a new technology? In a nutshell, the answer lies in the extremely high purity (99.99%) of our raw lead materials, making our product very special. The technology is 35

36 not new; the sealed lead recombinant technology was invented and patented by us back in How come you don t have to winterize your batteries? What s so special about it? In general, winterizing strictly refers to a special maintenance procedure conducted on an automobile engine to insure its reliability during the coming winter season. This procedure essentially checks the engine s cooling system; in addition, the battery is load tested according to a specific protocol laid out by the Battery Council International (BCI). While ODYSSEY batteries do not specifically require this test to be conducted on them, the final decision whether or not to conduct this test is left to the user s discretion. 15. Are these Ni-Cd batteries? Why doesn t somebody make these in Ni-Cd? Wouldn t they charge faster with Ni- Cd? No, the ODYSSEY is NOT a Ni- Cd battery; it is an absorbed (starved) electrolyte sealed lead battery. In general, nickel cadmium batteries are much more expensive to manufacture and recycle, so they are far less cost effective than a lead acid product. A nickel cadmium battery would charge faster than a conventional lead acid battery; however, the ODYSSEY is NOT a conventional battery and its charge characteristics are somewhat similar to nickel cadmium batteries. In fact, with a powerful enough charger, it is possible to bring ODYSSEY batteries to better than 95% state of charge in 36

37 under 20 minutes! That is very comparable to the fast charge capabilities of a nickel cadmium product. 37