Odyssey Battery Firewall Mount

Tomkatz · Post by **Tomkatz** » Tue Jun 12, 2012 7:39 pm

Guys,

Does anyone have a copy of their 337 for the Odyssey battery installation? I am about to call my FSDO in reference to the same. I have the space on the firewall in my MX7-180B and have suffered some damage to the battery tray as a result of a bad Gill35.

Any and all comments related to batteries is welcome.

Thanks in advance for all input,
Tom

Tomkatz · Post by **Tomkatz** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 3:59 am

Also, what odyssey battery is the best choice for this application?

benflyn · Post by **benflyn** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:03 am

This is the cert battery for the PA-18,

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/battery/sbsj16.htm

Non cert,

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/battery/pc680.htm

Box option, trim the lip off the top for battery removal and install.

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/accesso ... 80_545.htm

Thinking about the doing the same on my M5.

Same non cert battery but cheaper.
http://www.batterymart.com/p-odyssey-pc680-battery.html

From thread at BCP

http://www.backcountrypilot.org/foru...118678#p118678

Forward to current times. The FAA's AC43.13-2B discusses acceptable methods for installing aircraft batteries in chapter 10. It specifically includes relocating the battery to the engine compartment, weight and balance changes, and even allows non-TSO batteries. Ladies and gentlemen, you can have your mechanic relocate your battery using this document and no STC or field approval is required. Logbook entry. Read it and smile.

http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/medi ... .13-2B.pdf

Thanks for this reference. Chapter 10 starts on page 107.

Odyssey sbs-j-16 is the certified version of the PC-680.

Thread from supercub.org

http://www.supercub.org/forum/showthrea ... ht=battery

Tomkatz · Post by **Tomkatz** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 3:23 pm

Thank you guys. Really great info. I called the FSDO and they said a copy of an existing 337 will help. Does anyone have any fire wall mounted photos. I did see the Odyssey box and the hose clamp idea is great. I'm waiting for a rep from the FSDO to talk with and hopefully get this started.
Thanks again!

xwildcat · Post by **xwildcat** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:33 am

I did mine a little different because I wanted the option to mount a standard sized battery too. In the event I'm a long way from home and need to put a "normal" battery in there to get home. The Odyssey box prohibits that, so I bent some tray rails from some scrap steel. Drilled and bolted those rails in such a way as to exactly fit the Odyssey PC680. Then aluminum bar stock for a top hold.

http://offairportaviators.org/images/IMG_0449.JPG
http://offairportaviators.org/images/IMG_0634.JPG

If I ever need to get the Odyssey out and hold a big battery, I can just unbolt the tray rails I made.

BTW, this battery saves about 16lbs! and is a great battery. I've run one in my Lycoming powered RV4 for years and I'll never run anything else in an airplane. Given the weight savings you could carry an extra around in the back country to power stereos and such around camp. They are deep discharge. They are sealed and cannot spill so they can be carried in any position. Having a spare battery would bring extra comfort and peace of mind when you're a long ways from help.

aero101 · Post by **aero101** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:03 am

Section 10, 43.13-2A is not Approved Data as stated earlier in this post, it is Acceptable Data as stated in beginning of the section in the AC. What this means to you is that a field approval is required for this installation, and you can utilize this acceptable data as the basis for the approval. A logbook entry only is not legally acceptable!! If this were Approved Data, that would allow for a logbook entry only!!

On another note, suggest you install the PMA'd / TSO'd battery, as it will make the field approval much easier. This battery also is encased in an explosion resistant case whereas the others are not. If you've ever seen a battery explode, you'll understand the reasoning for this....

If you'd like to send me a regular email, I will send you a copy of a previous approval for installation of battery on firewall that you can use as guidance and help to justify with your FSDO Inspector. I have installed many of these batteries, in all manner of aircraft, and they are GREAT!

riverbuggy · Post by **riverbuggy** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 7:25 pm

43.13-2A has been superceded by 43.13-2B. 43.13-2B is approved data. If this guidance is used for an alteration no field approval is required. However the alteration discussed in this thread is a major alteration, and does require a 337. A log book entry (only) documentation would not be adequate.

aero101 · Post by **aero101** » Fri Jun 15, 2012 2:29 pm

It's approved data, but if it's a major alteration it still requires a field approval. The approved or accepted data just pretty much makes it a no brainer for the FSDO inspector and takes him off hook. Anything that's not a field approval, or STC, DOES NOT require a 337 and is logbook entry. Although some do 337's on almost anything just to document Oak City aircraft records in case logbooks ever lost, etc, etc, etc... But it's not required anymore since change 16...

freedom · Post by **freedom** » Wed Apr 27, 2016 12:41 pm

Is the 680 good enough to start an IO540 or should I opt for the 925?

gbarrier · Post by **gbarrier** » Sun May 01, 2016 8:20 am

The 680 is certainly good enough but use the SBS-J16 because it is similar but PMA as previously stated.

It sure is hard to get back there and replace those hold down straps once the Gill takes a bite out of them. Other option is under right front seat if the firewall moves the CG farther forward than your liking.

freedom · Post by **freedom** » Sun May 01, 2016 2:17 pm

The plan is to have it under the front seat, have just finished to weld a bit of reinforcement in that area

maules.com · Post by **maules.com** » Wed May 04, 2016 3:27 pm

A much lighter battery is the Earth X at 5.1lbs versus 13.5 for Odysey.
EarthX will fit in Odyssey box in case thats what you are using, but price is much more.

freedom · Post by **freedom** » Thu May 05, 2016 2:33 pm

Also a friend suggested them, but the price for the all package (battery+charger) for lithium batteries in general is still too high in my opinion. Let's see if by the time I'll be in a need for a battery they've dropped..

BatMaule · Post by **BatMaule** » Fri May 06, 2016 9:06 am

The PC680 is a good battery. I have flown it for over 10 years on O-320, O-360, and IO-540 engines. However, my experience is that it noticeably under-performs on starting duties with the big engine with the extra rotating mass. It will get the job done but it doesn't inspire confidence and will draw down quickly if there is a starting issue. I'm making the switch this season to the EarthX ETX900. 400CCA compared to the PC680 at 170CCA and 4.9lbs versus 15lbs. I'll report back at some point on performance but at face value, I think this is an easy $200 to spend. (Price delta between the two.)

freedom · Post by **freedom** » Fri May 06, 2016 9:10 am

are you buying also the charger for the lithium battery? if they really drain only by 20% in a year time maybe is not needed, lithium battery no charger, gel battery + charger, almost the same price.

Odyssey Battery Firewall Mount

Odyssey Battery Firewall Mount

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