Northstar Battery vs Odyssey
If you are new to the world of car and marine batteries, you might wonder what the fuss is about when it comes to comparing different brands – and they are many. In this article, we compare 2 of these brands, the Odyssey and the Northstar battery – both famous in their own right, but confusing when you are trying to decide which of them is better than the other.
It is not easy to choose a battery that will last you a long time to come. Because the brands are so many, you are spoilt for choice as a consumer – but it also makes it hard to come to a decision, since each brand tells you similar things and attributes of their product. You might even wonder about the best brand and best battery model.
If this struggle is familiar to you, then you might have heard of these two brands – the Northstar and Odyssey. Our hope is to shed some light on these two and see which one is best for you.
What Is the Difference Between Northstar and Odyssey Batteries?
| Battery model | Northstar | Odyssey |
| CCA range rating | 800 to 1050 | 150 to 1000 |
| Depth of discharge | 50% | 50 to 80% |
| Check here | Check here |
Northstar vs. Odyssey – How these two compare
Use of the SLA model
While the Odyssey and Northstar are great brands of batteries that maintain high-quality standards when it comes to the development of AGM, they have their major difference when it gets to the issue of SLAs (sealed lead acid batteries).
Some users and developers speculate that there are two types of lead use in their working mechanism; lead-acid and electrolyte. For the Northstar, they continuously invest their time and resources to gain more experience and using the ‘pure lead’ form of batteries. These are then used to make protective plates that are flexible enough to account for internal buildups of sulfation, which can be a result of using ‘impure’ lead plates.
The result is that Northstar delivers great cranking power, as well as reserve capacities and recycling capabilities that are higher than other AGM brands (including Odyssey) by up to 2 times.
Cold cranking
When it comes to winters and very cold weather, you will quickly realize that they are not the best times to rev up your car. The batteries experience a slowdown, which makes the car more prone to breaking down, so it is always important to choose the right batteries that can handle the situation – which you can always know when checking the cold cranking amps.
Both the Odyssey and Northstar have similar capacities for their CCA ratings, though the Odyssey has a higher CCA rating. This ultimately allows you to use it in different environments, and even in bad weather, to activate your engine and bring it to life.
The models between both Northstar and Odyssey seem very similar in their design approach, although the Odyssey will look to specialize in a variety of environments and adapt their batteries to different environments. This also adds its reliability factor, great performance, and resistance to issues that heavy vibration brings (which is also a major issue for many car batteries).
Northstar vs Odyssey – A comparison review
Northstar Battery – Overview and Key Features
All Northstar batteries will have one thing in common, regardless of their model – they are built for high performance throughout their lifespan, irrespective of the conditions they are in. they are all AGM type batteries, and will have features such as faster recharge, unrivalled cycling, superior cranking, and less maintenance.
While not much can be said about the Northstar car battery (compared to other car batteries), but it is still reliable when you decide to use them. They have many similarities when you compare them to the Odyssey batteries as well, although with some differences.
The design it comes with, which is in the AGM style, allows for a greater surface area coverage, about 15% more than the traditional car battery, and it will allow them to have extended operations. The higher amount of surface area also has additional benefits: it will make them strong and hardy, which is enough to classify them as a heavy-duty type of battery.
They are powerful enough to rev up your engine even in cold weather conditions, although you will notice that they cannot operate in extremely low temperatures compared to other batteries. There is some good news though; when you purchase them, they will come to you when they are fully charged, so you will not need to spend additional time charging them.
The good cycle life that they have is likely because of their AGM battery design that never wastes space, and this also makes them highly useful when you are doing tasks regarding winching. They are also good at deep cycling (by virtue of being AGM battery types), while having an average cycle rate of 350 to 400 and a DoD (depth of discharge) of 80%.
Northstar Pure Lead 27F NSB-AGM27F
This is great at giving you better starting power, as well as a higher reserve capacity that will power all the electronics in your car. It comes with a life cycle of over 900, as well as a depth of discharge of 50%, which allows it to charge at a faster rate than an ordinary battery.
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Northstar 34/78 NSB-AGM34/78
Sharing many of the same aspects as other AGM batteries, it comes with terminals, both on its top and front. The CCA rating is also quite high, having come in between 880 and 1050 CCA for better performance.
Ultra High performance Northstar battery
This one, unlike most other AGM types, comes with threaded terminals. These serve to make it have a higher capacity than other batteries, and its CCA is as high as 1150.
What we like
- Has a long warranty that comes with it (minimum lasts about 2 years)
- Flexible in mounting
- Great reliability
- Deeper cycles and longer life cycle
- Long shelf and service life
What we do not like
- Vulnerable to overcharging
- Costly
What can you see in the Northstar battery?
- Durable construction
- AGM technology leads to less electrolyte spillage
- Wide cranking range
- Deep cycle performance
- Ease of recycling the lead plates
Odyssey battery – Overview and key features
Odyssey batteries are among the best when it comes to performance in difficult conditions, and in fact can surpass the Northstar on many occasions. They also have a very illustrious and long history, having come on the scene in 1888 – and companies do not stay for that long, unless they are good.
The only drawback they seem to have is their weight – they are quite bulky, coming in at 50 lbs. on average. The thing that makes them stand out though is not the weight, but rather their use of AGM technology and other deep cycling techniques. They also work very well in colder weather, even operating at temperatures of 40OF.
The only difficult task might probably be deciding the best Odyssey battery that fits your needs, but hopefully that is where this guide can come in. regardless of the specific model you choose, you will have a range of applications such as in military, industrial, commercial, and automatic uses.
Some of the models included in this brand are:
PC625 Powersports battery
You can look at the compact saving design and dismiss this battery; but that should not be the case. The life cycle is up to 70 times longer than traditional car batteries, and it also has recharging efficiency that is among the highest when it comes to competing AGM batteries.
Odyssey PC925 LTV battery
This comes with 330 CCA, so it will easily start your appliances or car. Other than the service life of 3 to 10 years and a 4-year warranty is proof of its reliability, and it will not struggle to perform even in harsh conditions.
Odyssey PC545 powersports battery
This has less cranking amps than the other Odyssey batteries on this list, but it is still a good choice, having 150 CCAs.
This will fit your needs if you do not require very high numbers of cranking amps. It will also give you a depth of discharge of 80% and 400 cycles, while remaining easy to mount in numerous positions without letting you down.
Odyssey 34-PC1500T LTV battery
This is among the most impressive offerings that will handle all your heavy machinery and most demanding cars. Giving you 850 CCAs, it will rarely be affected by harsh environments, if it happens.
The battery also contains pure lead (virgin quality) that increases its performance. Similar to other Odyssey batteries, it has been subject to a number of tests that make sure it reaches the benchmarks of quality and gives you the reliability and longevity you require.
PC925L Odyssey battery
If you want an option that is versatile enough to handle various applications, then this is a good option to choose. Its versatility also allows it to be a good choice for cars and light trucks alike, and its cranking abilities are powerful enough to work as a dual purpose battery. It has a cranking power of 5 seconds, and has cranking amps of up to 500 for marine applications. That also makes it good for marine applications.
65-PC1750T Automotive and LTV
The performance of this battery surpasses even the 34-1500T. Its CCA rating is a maximum of 950, and can serve your needs even if you live in a very cold place or experience the bitterest winters. It also has little to no issues when you use it to start a wide variety of engines, while the battery has a space-saving and lightweight design.
What we like
- All batteries come with a 4-year warranty
- Highly resistant to vibration
- Easy to mount in any position
- Very long service life and cycle life
- Very reliable
What we do not like
- Pricey
- Prone to overcharging due to some models lacking terminals
What can you see in the Odyssey battery?
- Good performance in its deep cycling abilities and cranking
- Rugged and durable construction
- Non-spillage design
- Tightly packed plates that are recyclable
Verdict: So which is the winner? The Northstar or the Odyssey battery?
This is a difficult question to answer, because both are great options when it comes to working with AGM batteries. However, we still need to pick a brand – and for that, we will choose the Odyssey because of its ability to operate in very low temperatures – even lower than the Northstar.
Frequently asked questions
How long can I expect my car battery to last?
This does not depend on one, but on several factors. These will include the number of times you use it, your preferred charging method, your maintenance, the temperatures both in and outside the battery, and so on, both when the car is on and off.
Note that if you are noticing issues with your battery, it can be because it is experiencing charging problems or parasitic voltage, both which will result in faster draining rates.
Why is it important to use AGM batteries?
The answer to this lies in two major reasons; it will always save the consumption of fuel that your car uses, and it will aid in the further development of the car. This is mainly because the AGM battery carries a greater charge capacity compared to a normal car battery type, and it can also handle many more charge cycles without risking long term damage.
Are all AGM batteries deep cycle batteries?
Yes they are, although not all deep cycle batteries will be the AGM type. Deep cycle batteries are of different types, and each type uses a different method to achieve the same purpose of providing energy.
The reason why AGM batteries seem to be the preferred type of deep cycle battery is due to their low maintenance. The other types might need you to keep them upright to avoid spillage, and also add water (though not in all cases). AGM batteries do not have this kind of concern, which makes them a good low-maintenance choice for many users.
