Prevost Gurus - the Member Funded Prevost Forum

On paper and based on folks' reviews the Odyssey PC1800-FT AGM's may be a worthy competitor to the Lifeline AGM standard. They don't have quite the cycle life of a Lifeline, but on a performance per dollar basis they compare very favorably.

https://www.amazon.com/ODYSSEY-Marine-Ba...=PC1800-FT

The attached document shows how the PC1800-FT can handle an inrush charging current of 3.1C; this is the highest I've seen next to the Lifeline. The Lifeline can handle an inrush of 5C. Again, the Lifeline is the standard but at the price and given how we use our batteries the PC1800-FT may be sufficient. 3.1C brings the battery to better than 95% state of charge within 20 minutes, charging at this rate is well in excess of the charging capacity any of us have in our buses. 3.1C and 5C is a testament to the low internal resistance of these batteries. Low resistance mean less heat, less power loss, less droop under load, and quicker charging times. The Odyssey has an internal resistance of 3.3 milli-ohms as compared to the Lifeline GPL-4D's 2.15. The PC1800-FT's short circuit amperage is 3800 amps as compared to the Lifeline's 6100 amps. (The Lifeline specs are nominal; actual internal resistance and short circuit amperage can vary as much as +-35%). I haven't found anything that compares this favorably to the Lifeline, especially considering its cost. And... they're made in the USA.

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David
You may want to check with Donny on the price of the lifeline 4d agm batteries you will find their price are as low as the Odyssey 19900-FT. The last time I priced the AGM the best price I got was $450.00, if you are going to buy 6 or 8 4D you may do better. I googled the Odssey price and foun sellers asking $425.00.

link shows they are unavailable

Here they are Ernie:

https://www.apexbattery.com/odyssey-pc18...gQodoHgCnw

Thanks Hish,

Admittedly it's been 7 years since I shopped for Lifeline's. Good to know Donny's prices are competitive. I've been using Odyssey batteries forever. I use them in my property electric gates, my BMW motorcycle, and my lawn mower. They're a favorite in the classic car market and in racecar applications. My local tour bus operator uses them for chassis batteries in their fifty H3 Prevosts. As much as I love the Lifeline, we need a worthy competitor and a second source.

I can't believe how narrow they are. Will have to measure my battery tray for height. Someone added new flooded cells to my coach- what were they thinking?

They're a goofy size Ernie:: 22.87" x 4.92" x 12.46" (LxWxH). Neither a 4D nor an 8D. The standard 4D is: 20.76" x 8.70" x 8.64". I'm not sure if I have 12.46" of vertical clearance in my H3. May have to lay them down and stack them two high. That may be possible.

Erniee
Your Liberty will have 4-8D Gel cell batteries for house, unless someone changed the system you also have a 2500 inverters and are programmed for Gel only.
I would call Troy in Stuart FL and ask for information about your coach.

Hish- my coach came with a new generator that was not wired to the interior switch. It has flooded batteries and the inverters are under the bed. It is a mess but correctable- which we are trying to accomplish. The control box to Webasto was DOA but that has been changed out.

So David, 'splain me in laymen's terms the advantages of these Odyssey batteries. It appears there is no weight advantage. Seems to me that there isn't enough improved performance characteristics compared to a Lifeline to merit a complete reorganization of the battery compartment. The difference in price is about $150 for the lot. Then you have to redo the cables and probably have to buy some new ones for the proper length and fitment.

You know you can buy a good Decca battery (maybe not quite as good as a Lifeline but less expensive too) that fits easily where the Lifelines were.
We haven't even considered the time and labor involved in making the switch.

I've looked at my battery compartment and the difficulty in getting those odd sized batteries to fit and I just think that would be more trouble than worthwhile.

No advantage whatsoever Chuck, none in performance, weight, form factor, or price, just a second source. I like choices. I don't like being held ransom by one manufacture. Having spent my career in the data communications sector, the idea of second sourcing electronics parts is very much ingrained. For instance, if the big one hits and California is swallowed by the Pacific I don't want to have to pay premium prices for the few Lifeline's left. It's good to know there are equally performing batteries available from other manufacturers. (Besides, TransSpecialists refuses to sell to me)! LOL!