Z1300 Battery Upgrade

Z1300 Hawker Odyssey Battery

Last Update 8/22/08

How do you upgrade your battery and make your bike much easier to start?  Install a Odyssey battery by Hawker.  The following pictures are for a KZ1300, but the Z1300, ZG1300 or ZN1300 can benefit just as much and the same battery will fit. 

   I show the external battery connections on the side in this image, but with the Hawker installed, they'll actually fit behind the battery in the space where I show I have my rags stuffed in behind the battery.  Once you install a Hawker, the external battery connections aren't really necessary unless your alternator goes out, but they are handy when you're out on a ride and one of your buddies bikes won't start!  If you want to impress your friends, pull your side-cover off, slip your cables out and jump start their bike!  You might have to charge their battery some first before you try to start it, but I've done this before and it works.  

I think this is the largest battery that Hawker makes that will fit the KZ1300 bikes but there may be something bigger we could use for the ZN.  A member mentioned that a better Odyssey to buy for the Voyager 1300 is the PC925L because it fits and has more amp hours.  Whether it will fit the KZ chassis or not I don't know.  The best part number to buy for the KZ1300 would be the PC680MJ (MJ means 'metal jacket', meaning it comes with a metal cover around the battery that's glued on but CAN be removed) and it's rated at 680 CCA (Cold Cranking Amps for the first 5 seconds of cranking).  The one I have here (SBS J16) is sold for aviation purposes, but it was all I could find in Houston when I went looking.  It has a little less CCA at 625 CCA versus 680, but I was told that the only other difference between the SBSJ16 and the PC680MJ is that the top is glued on rather than being removable like on the PC680 series.  It's still a completely sealed battery and either can be mounted in any position even upside down.  

In fact, there are different Hawker batteries, so you just want to make sure the one you get is the one that can be mounted upside down as this particular type of battery is the one that is completely sealed and has the double CCA's for the first 5 seconds.  This is what will make your bike start at the press of the starter button.  The other thing is that it can be shipped by air which means you can order it and get it via 2 or 3 day express mail.  I was told the other type batteries can't be shipped airmail because they're not completely sealed.

I looked on different websites which I've listed here and the cheapest I could find was $75, but on ebay you can buy them a little cheaper.   (Update!  The price on these batteries has gone way up since I first wrote this tech article.  As of 9/07 the PC680MJ sells for more like $125).  Most of these sites show a PC545 as the correct fitment for the KZ1300 but the PC680MJ is almost the same dimension and you might want to go with the "MJ" designation regardless of which battery you might buy.  Or you could get the aviation type as I did.  

The perfect size battery for a KZ1300 would be 3.5" wide x 6.5" tall x 8.0" long to fit our tray but they don't seem to make anything that will fit those dimensions exactly.  The height is an issue because the airbox cover extends over the battery and these larger ones like the PC680 and the SBS J16 version I purchased are 6.67" high.  With a battery this high the terminals interfere slightly with the bottom of the cover, just enough that I had to pull the rubber cushion out of the bottom of the battery tray to drop the battery down enough to bolt the airbox cover on properly.  Otherwise, if you don't pull the rubber cushion out, the airbox lid might not seal properly because the battery would cock it slightly at an angle from the interference when you bolt it down.  

A PC545 shows a 5.17" height so you wouldn't have that issue with it, but you're going from a 16 amp hour battery down to a 13 amp hour battery if you choose the PC545 instead.  Get the PC545MJ if you decide to buy this one.  The bigger PC680MJ battery will fit just barely, but still it would be my choice.  To keep it properly charged, the battery charger I show below can be installed on your bike and all you have to do when you park it is to pull your sidecover off and plug it into an extension cord to keep your battery maintained.  I'll do an install on one of these on my ZN1300 Voyager when I get a battery for it in the future.  

Of course, you'll get the best results if you also have high performance coils on your bike like the Nology coils.  I think the big issue comes back to how much spark you're getting at the plugs when you go to start one of these beasts.  Even with a brand new conventional battery the starter pulls a lot of current that's also needed to power the coils so you can get a weak spark.  With Nology coils alone you can get a bike that starts easier even if you have a conventional battery.  With a more powerful Odyssey battery you'll have an easier starting motorcycle too, but if you update both items, it starts as soon as you hit the button cold or hot.  Try it and let me know if it worked this way for you!

From my experience with Voyagers it appears that all of the 1300 Voyagers pull current from the battery AT ALL TIMES even though the ignition switch is off.  The reason for this is simple.  How would your trip computer maintain the trip information when you stop to fill up the tank if it didn't have power to it when the ignition switch was off?  The answer is that it doesn't get it's power from the ignition switch, but rather, directly from the battery.  If you've noticed the red/white wire that should run off the starter solenoid generally in the area on the left side of the battery, you see a small plastic inline fuse-box which has been mentioned before in relation to gauge problems and so forth.  This is a direct power wire off the positive side of the battery which goes to the starter solenoid and is tapped in at that point.  It feeds the memory for the trip computer, the memory for your radio station presets, CB and a number of other functions.  If you want, someone can trace this down and make a list of all the things it keeps powered up when the key is out, but here's the thing..., you can leave it like this or you can make the modification I do on these bikes.

On all the KZ1300 models, they put a main switch on the bike in addition to the ignition switch.  When you opened the seat on all the older models the main switch was built right into the seat latch mechanism and the act of opening the seat automatically shut all the power off to every electrical circuit on the bike except that it had a emergency hazard light feature available at another switch position.  Once you closed the seat you still had to turn the switch back to the "ON" position or nothing on the bike would power up.  This is really a good feature, but on the Voyager you don't have a switch of any kind to kill the power to everything because you would loose the memory for the trip computer, radio, etc..  It appears that even though these items have a minimal but constant power draw on the battery, after a few days of sitting it can easily draw enough power off the battery that it won't start.  Even if there's enough amperage to spin the starter the voltage may be too low to operate the igniter or DFI computer.  Having the better battery will certainly make these bikes start easily, but eventually this small constant drain will pull the battery down too much and you're only prolonging the inevitable. 

A battery tender should solve the problem whether you use the new style battery or the old and they also sell one of those for the Hawker battery, but there's another way to deal with the problem.  At most any auto parts store you should be able to find a generic style automotive ignition switch for $5 - $10 that one might use on a dune buggy or off-road vehicle for instance.  Basically you have a switch with an 'ON' position, 'START' position and 'ACC' or power accessories position just like you would have in your car.  I just use the lug for the 'ON' position and I cut the end off the red/white wire I mentioned just where it connects to the starter solenoid and connect it to this post.   I make up a new wire with the proper size ends to connect to the 12 volts on the starter solenoid to the 'MAIN' post or 'POWER IN' post however it may be labeled on your ignition switch.   

So basically, you have the positive side of your battery 12V+ which goes to the solenoid and from there to the 'POWER IN' post of your new switch.  When you turn your new switch 'ON', you have 12 volts going to your trip computer and all the other places it may run to.   When you park your bike you can turn this switch 'OFF' and you should have no current drain off your battery whatsoever.  Of course, there COULD BE other current draws off your battery if you had other things connected to the battery directly like aftermarket driving lights, radios, horns or whatever you may of installed.  However, all these items could be hooked through this switch too as a preventive measure to make sure they don't ever short out or drain power from your battery.  Also, I think there's a main power feed from the battery to the junction box.  So if you do have a drain on your battery that's causing a problem for you, you need to check and make sure there are no other wires connected to the positive side of your battery that have a short or drain current when the key is off. 

Now you've just created the same thing basically as the KZ1300 models have... a master switch that will kill all power drains from your battery.  When you're on the road you probably don't need to use this master switch because when you turn it off, you lose all your trip information and presets, but when the bike is going to be sitting for a few days or even just overnight, you can kill everything and be reasonably sure that your battery will still be up enough to start the bike when you need to.  My bike can sit for about a month with everything disconnected like this and still start, but much more than that and I still have to charge it first.  At this writing, I still have a conventional lead acid battery in it though.  Any battery is going to go down some if they sit for long periods.  Even a Hawker is eventually going to have to be charged after some period of time though they say the Hawker maintains it charge for up to 2 years!  I'm going to buy one of these real soon and try it out on my Voyager and I'll add some more pictures to this tech article when I do. 

As far as locating the switch, I put mine on the front fairing just above the left lower fairing which is basically on the exact opposite side of the bike from where your air suspension gauge is located.  Some of us have a hole there where the intercom wires come through and I've seen cigarette lighters mounted there, rocker switches for driving lights or other accessories mounted in that spot.  Granted, if you mount it way up in the front like that you're going to have to extend the red/white wire to reach that far and make your power feed wire pretty long too, but if you use the right gauge wire and solder everything up I don't know of a better location where there's plenty of room to mount it. 

   This is a picture of where the negative battery cable should connect to your engine.  This is relevant for all 1300's.

Hawker Company website

http://www.odysseyfactory.com/odycomp.htm - Here's what they say about the Odyssey battery in comparison to other batteries.

* Guaranteed longer service life
With a ten year design life and a three-to-eight year service life, ODYSSEY saves you time and money because you do not have to replace the battery as often.  ODYSSEY is warranted against factory defects for two full years in Powersports or three full years in automotive, commercial and heavy-duty marine.

* Superior cranking and fast charge capability
The 5 second cranking power of ODYSSEY batteries is double to triple that of equally sized conventional batteries, even when the temperature is as low as - 40C.  Also, with simple constant voltage charging (alternator or independent charger), there is no limitation on the inrush current, so the user is assured of fast charge recovery.

* Mounting flexibility
The ODYSSEY battery may be installed on its sides at any angle without sacrificing any performance attributes.  There is no fear of any acid spillage as ODYSSEY recycles the internal gas during operation or charging.

* Superior vibration resistance
ODYSSEY batteries are of military grade and have endured rigorous tests that demonstrate their overall ruggedness and exceptional tolerance of mechanical abuse.

* Ready out of the box
ODYSSEY batteries are shipped fully charged.  If ODYSSEYS voltage is 12.65V or greater simply install the battery in your vehicle and you are ready to go!  If below 12.65V, boost charge following the instructions in the ODYSSEY Owner's Manual.

* Worry-free shipping
The sealed design of the ODYSSEY battery eliminates the need for a acid vent tube; eliminating the fear of acid burns or damage to expensive chrome or paint.  Owing to the Drycell 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.

* Longer storage life
Unlike conventional batteries that need to be recharged every six to twelve weeks the ODYSSEY battery, when fully charged, can be stored for up to 2 years at 25C (77F).  Simply recharge and ODYSSEY is returned to full power.  At lower temperatures, storage times will be even longer.

* Deep discharge recovery
Should ODYSSEY become deeply discharged, simply recharge following instructions in the ODYSSEY Owners Manual.

http://www.odysseyfactory.com/specs.htm

NOTE on Chargers!!!

Since September 1, 2003 Deltran has discontinued the SuperSmart Power Tender (Deltran Part Number 022-0071-1) originally recommended by EnerSys.  Neither the 12V, 6A Power Tender Plus (P/N 022-0157-1) nor the 12V, 5A Portable Power Tender (P/N 022-0142-DL-WH) charger manufactured by Deltran Corporation are recommended by EnerSys for use with ODYSSEY® batteries of any size. 

Deltran’s Power Tender Plus (P/N 022-0157-1) or the Portable Power Tender (P/N 022-0142-DL-WH) charger MUST NOT BE USED with ODYSSEY® batteries.  Doing so will damage the battery and void the warranty!

RECOMMENDED CHARGERS FOR POWERSPORTS APPLICATIONS
(PC535, PC545, PC625, PC680, PC925)

There are two types of chargers for powersports applications, depending on the way the battery is used.  The first type is the cyclic use charger, required in situations where the battery will be deeply discharged each time and must be recharged relatively quickly.  All recommended chargers can be connected and operated indefinitely. 

The second type is the storage use charger, required when the battery must be maintained at a high state of charge.  Custom V-twin motorcycles are a typical application requiring this type of charger.  These bikes are typically ridden for short distances and the battery has to provide multiple starts.  Several days’ of this type of usage causes the battery to fail prematurely due to insufficient charge.  A storage use charger must be connected to the battery whenever the bike is not in use.  This will keep the battery at a high state of charge and eliminate premature failure due to repeated undercharge. 
Charge Time / Manufacturer or brand name  /Part Number / Output (Volts & Amps) / Contact

8 - 12 Hours, TecMate, AccuMate Pro 12V-7A-S, 12V 7A, Motion Pro Inc., 650-594-9600
8 - 12 Hours,  Xenotronix SX 90-1, 12V 6A1, Xenotronix, 800-624-9366
12+ Hours, Motocell™ 693601, 12V 3A, Custom Chrome, 800-729-3332
12+ Hours, Battery Defender ACC-1206WB, 12V 3A, BatteryMart.com, 800-405-2121

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Here is another charger, ACI Plus SuperCharger - Model 1206CC recommended by some Odyssey sellers:

ACI Super Charger dealer - Battery Central Mall (Accepts PayPal)

Office Hours: 9am - 5pm / Mon-Fri Eastern Time
Phone: 804-861-0165
Email: Sales Department
Office Location: 4030 Cobblewood Drive
Disputanta, Virginia 23842

ACI Plus SuperCharger, Model 1206CC sells for approximately $55

http://www.batterycentralmall.com/Chargers/ACI/ACI.html

************************************

Manufacturer - ACI Super Chargers

General Inquiries info@acichargers.com

http://www.acichargers.com/

Here's what they say about their chargers on their website at: http://www.acichargers.com/Our%20Technology.htm

The Most Advanced Battery Charger EVER MADE!

The First Technology Change in Chargers in Over 100 Years

State-of-the-art Micro-Processor Controlled 1, 3, and 7 Amp battery chargers and maintainers. Charge time is equivalent to conventional 2, 6, and 14 amp taper chargers yet they maintain, de-sulfate, and condition your battery while it’s not in use for extended battery life.

Perfect for Cars, Motorcycles, Snowmobiles, RVs, Personal Water Craft, Trolling Motors, Boats, and Snow Blowers for charging and then maintaining the battery while in extended storage.

Our ACI 'SuperChargers' were originally developed for use on expensive medical equipment with sensitive tolerances and exacting requirements.

They are supplied as OEM battery charger/maintainers for several hi-tech manufactures.

SuperChargers are now available to knowledgeable enthusiasts wanting the best battery chargers that money can buy... anywhere!  If you're looking for a battery tender or battery minder, check out the specs on our SuperCharger Battery Charger Maintainers.

It's simply amazing what we have done!  And they only weigh 8, 11, and 18 ounces including cables. Get all the Information even an electrical engineer will appreciate below.

1, 3, and 7 AMP :"Constant Current” Battery Charger / Maintainers

ACI announces an entirely new family of Battery Charger/Maintainers specifically designed for the Automotive, Recreation, and Utility Vehicle markets.  Boasting a longevity rating of over 30,000 power-on-hours (POH), the SupersCharger’s apply state of the art technology to revolutionize battery power maintenance.

Selected components commonly found in computers are utilized in these “Constant Current” chargers to reduce size and weight normally associated with familiar trickle type chargers.  One such component is a sophisticated switching circuit, “Switchmode” that “chops up” 115 VAC input at a rate of 100,000 pulses per second, compared to the rate of 60 per second with trickle chargers.

Since less power is being manipulated at a faster rate, the conversion to 12VDC can be completed without the need for a large transformer.  Larger transformers used in tapered and trickle chargers have the disadvantages of high heat generation, greater weight, and lower efficiency.  SuperChargers have an efficiency rate of 90%, compared to an average of only 50% for most tapered and trickle chargers.

By using “Switchmode” and "Constant Current" technology SuperCharger’s are much smaller in size, lighter in weight, more efficient, and Charge batteries much faster than tapered chargers.  Superchargers are ideal for storage, and overnight charging, Car, Motorcycle, ATV, Snowmobile, Jet Ski, Marine, Trolling Motor, RV, Lawnmower, and Snow Blower 12 Volt batteries, no matter who manufactured the battery.

Features

• Constructed to protect its circuitry from reverse polarity, short circuit, A/C surge, over-voltage and over-current
• All models are CSA and UL approved
• Soft start and stop eliminates sudden current rush, protecting both the battery and other circuits in the vehicle
• Automatic cut-off and then true float. The battery can be left connected for weeks, months, or even years without harm, while maintaining a full charge.
• Simple, easy to understand LED. Red for charging, green for fully charged.
• Automatically adjusts voltage when temperature is over 75 degrees F.
• Life span rate of 30,000 plus power-on-hours.
• Will not generate excessive radiated or conducted emissions (EMI).
• Fully Automatic.
• Lightweight & Compact.
• Suitable for all 12 Volt Batteries including Gel Cell, Dry Cell, ODYSSEY and OPTIMA

Comes complete with Alligator Clips and Ring Terminals (7 amp also includes brackets for on board mounting)

Constant Current Chargers vs. Tapered Chargers

Tapered chargers use large transformers that generate heat and add weight to the charger.  In a Tapered charger, the current starts at a full rating and then slowly reduces as the battery is charging.  
In a 12 volt 6 Amp tapered charger the current is 6 Amps at 12 volts, this reduces as the battery is being charged.  Example: the tapered charger gives the battery 4 Amps at 13 volts, 2 Amps at 14 volts and then .01 Amps when the battery is fully charged.  A tapered charger gives an average of 3 Amps on a fully discharged battery.  If the battery is 50% discharged, the starting current will be 4 Amps and taper slowly to .01 Amps when the battery is fully charged.  This gives an average of 2 Amps.

Constant Current Chargers

Constant current chargers give the same fixed amount of current from the beginning of the charge to the end when the battery is fully charged.  A 3 Amp constant current charger will charge a fully discharged battery in the same amount of time as a 6 Amp taper charger.  If the battery is not fully discharged a constant current charger will still deliver the charge at 3 Amps, which will greatly decrease the time it takes to charge the battery.  Most Retail aftermarket chargers for 12volt batteries are 1.25 Amps.  In this case the 3 Amp constant current charger will fully charge the battery 3 to 4 times faster than tapered and trickle chargers.

Ebay.com Odyssey Sellers

Ebay ID = odyssey_world 

Current auctions page 

Here's what they say about the Hawker -

The PC680MJ has 680 amps of cranking power and a 2 year free replacement warranty.  It is completely maintanance free and will never leak, gas, or corrode.  The ODYSSEY® Drycell battery combines in one box the characteristics of two separate batteries.  It can deep cycle as well as provide enormous cranking power.  These batteries are made in the USA and are military grade.  Only ODYSSEY® batteries are based on the same technology offered by the manufacturer to the military for aircraft and tank batteries.  Why trust your Odyssey purchase with a company that sells camera batteries, watch batteries, and every other battery under the "sun"?  No one has more Odyssey experience than we do.

PC680MJ vs. PC680
What's the difference?  The specs are the same but the PC680MJ has a protective metal jacket that helps protect the battery under adverse and hot conditions.  Odyssey batteries are flat plate design that are assembled under very high pressure.  Heat can cause the plastic casing to heat and soften which could allow the outer plates to expand and compromise the integrity of the battery.

Shipping: Buyer pays $12.00 shipping and handling per battery for any shipments in the continental US.  All payments received before 12 noon Pacific Time will ship the same day.  All other shipments will be the next business day.  We use standard UPS ground service but can ship via USPS to Alaska and Hawaii using standard USPS rates.

Pricing: We stock more batteries, but have less overhead.  That means we have the best pricing, period.  If you think you can find a better price we will beat it.

We are a well established dealer of Odyssey batteries and accessories so you are safe bidding with us.  If you need advice on which battery is right for you to bid on, ask.  We have the experience in Odyssey installations on far more that what's shown on the fit charts.

Contact:  odysseyworld@comcast.net

Odyssey World - Your stop for ODYSSEY® Drycell™ batteries at factory direct prices....

Sales tax: 7.750% (only in CA)  Will ship to United States only.  And they accept PayPal for payment if you have that.   Current price on the PC680MJ as of 3-20-04 was $61.95

Some other sites that sell the Odyssey

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/motorcycles.htm - For an application list

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/charger.htm - Battery Tender battery charger.  Here's what they say about the charger for this battery P/N #022-0071 - 

"Compact on board charger designed to fully charge a battery and maintain proper storage voltage without the damaging effects caused by trickle chargers.  It's easy to use, fits in small places and is loaded with power.  

* 6 Amp 12 Volt charger
* Specially designed for Hawker products including the full Odyssey® dry cell line
* Portable or permanent mount
* Small and lightweight (5"L x 4.9"W x 2"H and just 21 ounces)
* Reverse Polarity Protection

Fully automatic: At the end of the regular charger cycle, the Battery tender battery charger automatically switches its output voltage to a safe, storage or float level that eliminates the need to continuously check on the conditions of the battery.

Compact and lightweight yet powerful: At any given power level, the Battery tender battery charger offers some of the highest charging power density in the industry."

http://www.batterymart.com/battery.mv?p=ODY-PC680MJ - Here's what they say

"Only Hawker ODYSSEY batteries are based on the same battery technology offered by Hawker to the military for aircraft and tank batteries.  Odyssey batteries are of military grade and have endured rigorous tests that demonstrate their overall ruggedness and exceptional tolerance of mechanical abuse.

Specs:

* Length 7 in.
* Width 3 1/16 in.
* Height 6 5/8 in.
* Drycell Battery
* With Metal Jacket
* 12 Volt
* 16 Ah @ 10hr rate
* 280 CCA
* 680 Cranking Amps for 5 Seconds
* 28 Minute Reserve Capacity
* Cycle life @ 77°F 400 at 100% DOD
* -40°F to 140°F Temperature Range
* More Specs: (Adobe PDF)

Features:

* 12 Year design life and 6 to 10 year service life
* Superior vibration resistance
* Fully Charged out of the box
* When fully charged can be stored for up to 2 years at 77°F
* May be installed on its sides at any angle without sacrificing performance attributes
* 2 Year Full Powersports Warranty
* Made in the USA"

http://www.batteriesplus.com/Product/slacidrechg.html

http://www.batteryweb.com/odyssey.cfm

http://www.thebatterybarn.com/Batteries/Odyssey/pc680.htm

Or I saw it offered for $90 shipping included by this seller on ebay -

http://cgi6.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=partsmore

NOTE: On these newer browsers I've noticed that they don't always display my large images in full size when you open an image from the thumbnails.  Once you click the thumbnail and open the larger image, if you 'mouse over' the image you should see a " + " symbol or some other indicator like a box with arrows usually on the bottom right edge of the image.  If you click on the indicator, then the image will expand to it's full size which displays full screen on computers that use a 800 x 600 resolution setting for the monitor.  If you click the indicator again it will go back to the smaller image. Some people use a resolution setting of 1024 x 768 or higher on their monitors and for those users the images will appear smaller than full screen in size.  You can change your monitor settings easily enough if you desire.  Also, the indicator I've noticed is slow to appear even after the image appears to of completely loaded.  The indicator in Netscape seems to be a lot faster to display than the one in Internet Explorer.

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