Less fragile battery

[demoray]

I've apparently killed another Odyssey Extreme battery (AGM16L) by accidentally letting it completely drain.   I've not been able to recover it with my agm capable tender above 6v.

 

So... Having done this to a second of these batteries, I'm looking for a replacement.   What do you all suggest?

[KnifeySpoony]

I think you can kill any battery if let to fully die. However, antigravity lithium batteries have a "restart" protective function if left to discharge too far. Look into it.

[wdb]

Lithium battery will require a battery tender made for that type of battery. 

 

Have you tried a CTEK charger? I've had great luck with them on depleted batteries although I have never tried one on a fully dead battery.

 

Also does your car have a kill switch? If so you might want to start using it.

[Timothy Keith-Lucas]

Hmmmm. Automatic battery chargers require some charge to even work, so keeping a manual charger or a jump-off box around is a good protection. But then, the real question is why is your battery going to zero? It sounds as if your car is using a small current when sitting in the garage. Determine if you have such a drain by running the positive side of the battery through your multimeter set for amperage (sorry if I'm being pedantic here). Wdb shares wisdom in saying that your first defense against such a drain is disconnecting the battery. Another approach is leaving the car on a trickle charger when it is sitting. Actually solving the problem involves finding the drain and stopping it, which is the usual process of tracing backwards until you find something that is "on" when the car is "off." Consider doing that before you ruin another battery.  Any of your battery options will work after you stop that leak.

[KnifeySpoony]

5 hours ago, wdb said:

Lithium battery will require a battery tender made for that type of battery. 

 

 

Only if you let it discharge. As you suggested, a kill switch will eliminate these issues. I always turn my killswitch off and never keep my car on the tender (with antigravity). The restart function hopefully will save my ass if I have a brainfart some day and forget to hit the cutoff switch when I park it up. 

 

[demoray]

Normally, I leave the car on a tender if I intend to park it for more than a few days.  I accidentally left the key in the ignition and on overnight after moving my 7 around my garage late at night.

 

The previous battery died after one of my kids "helpfully" unplugged the extension cord during the winter and I didn't notice.

 

I've been looking to add a cutoff switch, but had not got around to that yet.

[CBuff]

I have some cost effective no name agm battery.  With my kill switch off I have let it sit for multiple months and it starts with no issue. I do have a noco battery tender but rarely need to use it.  If I am fettling with the car or testing electrical stuff and have a decent power drain I will plug in the tender.  So far so good. 

[Timothy Keith-Lucas]

There is no better Plan B than the modern Lithium battery jump-off boxes. They are small and light, hold their charge, and will start your car (or your generator) when you err (as in, being human). We are blessed by modern technology.

[CBuff]

This topic had thinking more about this.  Decided I needed more kit.  Just got this 

 

https://no.co/gb20/specs

 

I figured  $80 and 2.5 lbs was worth it for me. I can keep it in the boot and keep it charged with the usb I have in there. And use it if needed.  They also have one with integrated air compressor but opted out since I already have a small usb air compressor I didn’t love the bigger size.  
 

https://no.co/ax65

 

The gb20 came same day (Amazon you’re scaring me).  Good quality like most of noco products. Small.  And I can use it as a power bank in a pinch.  Flashlight and strobe if I end up on the side of the road.