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Scott_Malkinson's avatar
Scott_Malkinson
Explorer
Dec 14, 2016

Any battery experts in here?

Hey guys, im not sure if this is the best category for my question, please let me know if there is a better place to post this. I have a van im working on, and I am trying to decide to mount the AGM house batteries inside the van or underneath. I will be using this van very often, throughout the winter, so if I mount them underneath they will be exposed to pretty cold temperatures, possibly down to 5 degrees at times. I will be charging them with a 3 stage charger. Are AGM batteries less efficient in providing power in cold weather or is it bad for them at all? The batteries are 2 vmaxpower extreme 155 ah AGM batteries.
Class B
  • Sam_Spade's avatar
    Sam_Spade
    Explorer
    Dec 15, 2016
    Scott Malkinson wrote:
    What do you think ( just a rough estimate ) that 10 hours would turn into in cold weather. Like 15 degrees.


    Maybe 50 to 60 percent, but that's just a guess.

    There are charts available. Probably a copy posted on here already somewhere.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Dec 15, 2016
    Sam Spade wrote:
    Old-Biscuit wrote:
    The 2 batteries for my Dodge RAM Cummins diesel have 'blankets'....snug as a bug in a rug

    $15 each



    Well I hope you realize that only slows down the temperature changes that the batteries experience and does not stop it altogether.

    If an extreme ambient temp lasts for 24-36 hours or so, the batteries will be right there too.


    Truck NEVER sits more then 15 hrs.
    And the blankets are just that..blankets to HELP keep batteries warmer then if naked and exposed

    IF (big IF) I was really concerned I would have them wrapped in a 'heated' blanket.
    But even in WY/UT the standard battery blanket worked just fine on all my trucks
  • Scott_Malkinson's avatar
    Scott_Malkinson
    Explorer
    Dec 14, 2016
    Sam Spade wrote:
    mkguitar wrote:

    cold is an issue- but more so, keeping the batteries clean.


    Cold is an issue ONLY because they are less efficient at charging and discharging WHILE cold. The cold will not harm them at all, long term, down to about -40 IF they are fully charged.

    If not fully charged, the freeze damage point goes up.

    P.S. To answer the question posed in your title:
    Yes, almost everybody in here is a battery "expert" it would seem.
    :B


    So lets say, in ideal temperatures, I had 10 hours of use before I got below %50. Im just throwing that number out there, for examples sake. What do you think ( just a rough estimate ) that 10 hours would turn into in cold weather. Like 15 degrees.
  • Sam_Spade's avatar
    Sam_Spade
    Explorer
    Dec 14, 2016
    Old-Biscuit wrote:
    The 2 batteries for my Dodge RAM Cummins diesel have 'blankets'....snug as a bug in a rug

    $15 each



    Well I hope you realize that only slows down the temperature changes that the batteries experience and does not stop it altogether.

    If an extreme ambient temp lasts for 24-36 hours or so, the batteries will be right there too.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Dec 14, 2016
    The 2 batteries for my Dodge RAM Cummins diesel have 'blankets'....snug as a bug in a rug

    $15 each

  • Sam_Spade's avatar
    Sam_Spade
    Explorer
    Dec 14, 2016
    mkguitar wrote:

    cold is an issue- but more so, keeping the batteries clean.


    Cold is an issue ONLY because they are less efficient at charging and discharging WHILE cold. The cold will not harm them at all, long term, down to about -40 IF they are fully charged.

    If not fully charged, the freeze damage point goes up.

    P.S. To answer the question posed in your title:
    Yes, almost everybody in here is a battery "expert" it would seem.
    :B
  • mkguitar's avatar
    mkguitar
    Explorer
    Dec 14, 2016
    batteries power cars and trucks in canadia...and they work.... truck batteries are usually in boxes mounted on the frame rails so cold.

    cold is an issue-

    but more so, keeping the batteries clean.

    dirty batteries will discharge as electrons move through the dirt on the cases between the poles...over time.
    salt on roads makes for even more conductive crud.

    most class B vans have the coach or "house" batteries on a slide out rack mounted exterior to the van...cold but clean( ish).





    mike

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