Odyssey PC1200MJT Automotive and LTV Battery Review

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I installed a sealed Optima Red Top 35-910 in my car. The Optima failed, was replaced under warranty, and then the replacement failed, as well. The Optimas did poorly in cold weather and wouldn't hold a recharge.

I purchased an Odyssey PC1200MJT because I need a more reliable sealed battery.

The Odyssey is just a bit smaller in overall size than the Optima, but apparently has more total plate size due to its conventional configuration.

The Odyssey has done well so far, but it is the warm season, so I cannot speak to cold weather performance.

However, the specs for the Odyssey are excellent. It is claimed to accept hundreds of charges without a problem (deep cycle), and to handle very cold conditions extremely well.

In regard to the purchase experience, this is the first time after several years of excellent service that I have been disappointed with Amazon.

The Odyssey qualified for Free Shipping, but I needed it sooner than the typical 5 7 days, so I paid an additional $27.00 for expedited shipping. My order clearly stated the total price including expedited shipping, but UPS showed 7 day shipping anyway! I don't know if this was the result of a technical error or what, but I contacted Amazon immediately. Amazon did nothing to correct the problem and would not refund the additional shipping fee! Delivery took a full week.

As Amazon has proven unreliable, I will look elsewhere before making a purchase from now on.

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I have Odyssey Batteries in most of my other cars, so when my Wife and I bought a new Z06, I began to think about an Odyssey for that, but when I looked at the catalog on the Odyssey web site, I saw that the Odyssey Battery which fits in the rear battery compartment of a C6 Z06 is not an exact fit and that the ".... vehicle battery restraint(s) may require modification."

I also noted that the dimensions of the Odyssey Battery (PN PC1200MJ) suggested for use in C6 Z06 were somewhat smaller than the stock battery and that the CCA rating of the Odyssey was slightly less, 590 vs 550. I contacted the folks at EnerSys, the maker of the Odyssey brand, and was told the modification to the battery hold down, if necessary would be minor. I also asked about the vent hose which connects to a stock battery to carry away battery fumes. This prompted a response from Kalyan Jana, Product Manager of AGM Products for EnerSys, the company which manufactures and markets Odyssey batteries. He told me, "Odyssey batteries do not require a venting system and therefore the PC1200MJT does not have a connection for the hose. As long as the battery is not installed in a gastight enclosure no special venting arrangements are necessary for any Odyssey battery."

One of the reasons I've become a fan of the Odyssey Battery is its very high pulse cranking current output. in short, "pulse cranking output" is not the same as "cold cranking amps" (CCA) and is a very high current draw for a short period while the engine is cranked during the starting sequence. Pulse cranking is usually defined as lasting five seconds. The LS7 in a Z06 has a very high compression ratio for a production engine and the battery is in the back of the car, at the end of a long cable run. Both those characteristics demand a battery capable of high pulse cranking current output. In that context, I, also, questioned Jana about the difference in CCA ratings and he responded, "The answer lies in how CCA is defined, which is: a 30-second discharge at 0ºF. Unless the user is planning to actually discharge the battery at 0ºF for 30 seconds, the CCA rating of a battery is pretty meaningless. What is of paramount importance in an engine cranking application is the number of amps a battery can deliver for 3-5 seconds (ie: pulse cranking amps) to get that engine turning rapidly. In that respect, an Odyssey battery will significantly outperform an OEM battery that is physically much larger."

As it turns out Delco does not rate it's batteries for pulse cranking amps but Odyssey does. The pulse hot cranking amps (PHCA) rating of the Odyssey PC1200 MJ is 1200-amps for five seconds. I decided to order a PC1200MJ and test it out.

So, how does the Odyssey PC1200MJ work in the real world? Well, first off, you don't have to modify anything to install it in a Z06. While the battery is a little smaller in length, its height is the same as the stock battery so the stock battery hold-down in a Z06 works fine. No modifications are necessary. Because the battery box in the back of a Z is so small, lifting a battery in and out is easier if you have one of those rubber strap battery carriers which attaches to the battery posts but, you can remove and replace the battery by hand if you have a strong grip.

Odysseys are shipped fully charged. I installed the battery, then let the car sit a week before I tried starting it. In spite of not having a charger connected either upon installation or after a week, the cranking speed was, perhaps, 10-20% faster than it was with the original battery. One characteristic which concerned me with the C6 Z06 was the LS7's somewhat slow cranking speed compared to the LS6 in my 2004. Going to the Odyssey battery solved that problem for sure!

The other reason I like Odyssey batteries is they have a long service life, usually 5-7 years and sometimes as much as ten years. Also, they are more tolerant of "deep cycles" (where you run the battery dead, then fully recharge it) than are most conventional battery designs, such as the OE ACDelcos. Thought I've not tested the deep cycle tolerance with the battery in my new Z06, I have run an Odyssey dead and charged it up several times in my 71 Coupe with no ill effects to date. Now that car uses a larger Odyssey, a PC 1500, but the engineering and materials used in of those two are the same only the sizes differ.

There's a downside to the Odyssey PC 1200 and that's weight. The Odyssey weighs about 4 lbs or about 10% more than the stock ACDelco. Hardcore racers might no like that, but I'll take the extra weight in exchange for the Odyssey's better performance and durability.

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I will try and update later how the performance is. Bought a special charger to go with it. Nice setup.

Honest reviews on Odyssey PC1200MJT Automotive and LTV Battery

this battery is the best i ever own and perform perfect in cold weather. i run full sound system with 2 10" subs with amp for 2 hours without running the car and still holds enough energy to turn the crank on to run the car. Small and Best ever so far.

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I bought this as a starting battery for a Kohler home standby generator.

I bought it primarily because my experience with Sears Di Hard batteries was that they failed much too often after too short a time.

I cannot give an honest review at this time because while the Odyssey is supposed to offer a long and dependable service life, it has only recently been put to use.

Though initially expensive, I bought it because it is promoted as being of military grade and rated high for reliability.