Battery Question

[Billk]

I’m thinking of buying a Duralast battery for my 1995 BMW K75 standard. Has anyone tried this battery? I get only 3 years from the Odyssey PC680 so I wanted to try something different. Thanks

[frankenduck]

I like Westco. Usually good for 7ish years:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074VFKRKL

[Billk]

My old Odyssey battery had 185 cca this new Duralast has 335cca is that a problem?

[Laitch]

My old Odyssey battery had 185 cca this new Duralast has 335cca is that a problem?

No.

A 300CCA battery will just perform better in cold climate than a 180CCA but neither battery will do well if it's allowed to discharge excessively in idleness. I just replaced a nine-year old 12V 18Ah 200CCA motorcycle battery. It did its job well enough even during the two months of 20ºF to 40ºF weather during the six month riding season here. I just replaced it with the same model 12V/18Ah/200CCA model. I guess I'll be finding out if the company's quality control has lessened in the last nine years.    A 335CCA battery like you bought would start my Brick with more vigor but this one does OK because my Brick's engine is in tune, its driveline is in good shape and the battery is always in a full state of charge from daily usage.

Install it and mount up. 

[frankenduck]

My old Odyssey battery had 185 cca this new Duralast has 335cca is that a problem?

I usually get 6-7ish years out of PC680s. I had a PC925 that lasted almost ten years in a K.

As mentioned, deep discharges can shorten battery life.

[stokester]

I usually get 6-7ish years out of PC680s. I had a PC925 that lasted almost ten years in a K.

As mentioned, deep discharges can shorten battery life.

That's been my experience with Odyssey PC925s in my Airheads and PC680s in my K75s. 

The battery tender rotates regularly among the bikes so they never discharge significantly.  My last K75 replacement was a WESTCO because the dealership is no longer carrying Odyssey - we'll see how it works out.

[Chaos]

after a couple years the pc680 in my Ural wouldn't turn the Russian starter, put it in the K75 and it's still good, that was back in 2017 so the Odyssey is about 7-8 years old now.   Had good luck with Westco also.

[jagarra]

Having a battery tender can really lengthen a batteries' life.  On my fleet 5 autos and 3 bikes always have their own battery tender attached, small investment considering the price of batteries.    I hook up any vehicle after its use, surprising to see the unit start charging even though the vehicle was just used on the road. 

[frankenduck]

Having a battery tender can really lengthen a batteries' life.  On my fleet 5 autos and 3 bikes always have their own battery tender attached, small investment considering the price of batteries.    I hook up any vehicle after its use, surprising to see the unit start charging even though the vehicle was just used on the road.

Battery Tender Junior with a Powerlet/Hella/DIN plug.

The power socket above the coils is useful for battery tending.

[jagarra]

The DIN plug is useful for charging, put in most bikes with a DIN I also use the provided battery tender dongle in case I have to use an air pump to fill a flat repair on the road, the DIN has current limitations since it may be fused on some models.  It is on my R1100RS, but I wired the DIN on the K75 direct to battery.  In my case I just use the provided dongle as it makes it easier to use and switch around chargers if necessary.   

[frankenduck]

DIN has current limitations since it may be fused on some models.

The coil power socket is fused on all of the classic Ks.  #4 Fuse - but it's an unswitched fuse so it works for charging.

[beemuker]

I like Westco. Usually good for 7ish years:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074VFKRKL

I just bought that same battery from amazon, it came really quick.

[Billk]

When I installed the new battery I also installed a battery volt monitored as pictured and got the following readings:
12.4 at idle
13.8 under load. I was wondering  if this is about right
The volt monitor is attached to the battery directly via an SAE connection.
The reason I’m asking is because the battery had a date on it  of 8/2021 which makes it already a year old and further investigation revealed
 it maybe a returned battery.?

D7A62134-5BCD-42A8-A2E2-634F7D4B3D62.jpeg (41.99 kB . 768x576 - viewed 766 times)

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Those voltages sound about right.  At idle the field isn't being energized to charge the battery, so you are going to see the battery voltage under the load of the engine electronics and the lighting.  As the engine rpm increases and the alternator starts generating current which will push the voltage up to 13.8 to 14.0 volts.

What you have read is the alternator output voltages.  Now, what is the battery voltage when the key is turned off?  If the battery is in good condition and has a full charge, that voltage should be somewhere around 12.8 volts.  Sometimes when the battery has just been being charged, there will be what is called a "surface charge" on the plates which will read a slightly higher voltage.  You can knock that small charge off and get an accurate voltage reading by turning on the headlight for a few seconds.

[frankenduck]

At idle the field isn't being energized to charge the battery,

False. At idle the alternator generates enough electricity to run everything electrical on the bike as well as charge the battery. If it didn't generate that much electricity then your vehicle (car or bike) would drain the battery and die if you let it sit and idle. The battery is charging slowly at idle but it is, in fact, charging.

When the alternator spins at higher RPMs it generates more electricity at a higher voltage and that higher voltage is limited by the alternator's voltage regulator to 13.8-14.1V.

[Laitch]

If you earnestly believe that you were sold a used battery but paid for a new one, Billk, you should followup with the company. Until then, use an inexpensive float charger like a Schumacher SC-600A and fully charge the one you've got. After all, it's been in prolonged storage and maybe topping-up protocol at the vendor has taken a hike during all the contagion chaos. My sense is that once it's topped-up and the Brick is ridden, you'll discover that it loses its charge at an appropriate rate when not in use.

Ride on!

[The Mighty Gryphon]

False. At idle the alternator generates enough electricity to run everything electrical on the bike as well as charge the battery. If it didn't generate that much electricity then your vehicle (car or bike) would drain the battery and die if you let it sit and idle. The battery is charging slowly at idle but it is, in fact, charging.

When the alternator spins at higher RPMs it generates more electricity at a higher voltage and that higher voltage is limited by the alternator's voltage regulator to 13.8-14.1V.

Okay.  I'm not going to argue with you.

[frankenduck]

Okay.  I'm not going to argue with you.

Good idea. Arguing against facts and science usually doesn't end well.

[Laitch]

Good idea. Arguing against facts and science usually doesn't end well.

What happens? Do you go POOF, or get elected President? 

[The Mighty Gryphon]

What happens? Do you go POOF, or get elected President? 

No one wants to be a poofter...

[Laitch]

No one wants to be a poofter...

That isn't supported by science or fact. Start your campaign for President despite being too young to hold the office, apparently.

[beemuker]

I’m thinking of buying a Duralast battery for my 1995 BMW K75 standard. Has anyone tried this battery? I get only 3 years from the Odyssey PC680 so I wanted to try something different. Thanks

How far we have strayed from OP's question. I'll be succinct, no. 

[caveman]

I've used all sorts of battery's in my bricks and am happy with the off brand stuff like mighty max, viper, and this year got 4 new ones called AJC. As long as I run the bikes every so often the batteries do ok (two to four years). I do not put them on tenders nor take them out of the bikes off season. I think the one in my blue 75s is 4 years old and is a viper (20 ahr) and still doing it's job. Both of my HD ultra and wife's HD v-rod will not get more than two years out of a battery no matter what brand I have tried.

[caveman]

I forgot to mention that even when folks stray from the subject, I like some of the twisted sense of humor.

[beemuker]

I forgot to mention that even when folks stray from the subject, I like some of the twisted sense of humor.

] me too