AGM Adventures- Update
Updated 31 Jan 17 Initial results. I will re-test the AGM after it does one deep cycle to confirm these results. EDIT completed 6 Oct Test was to put the test battery as the only battery run...
Forum Discussion
Recombinant vents are not some kind of a blow-out plug. When pressure is reduced they seal tightly. No liquid is involved. Only hydrogen and oxygen. Yes an AGM can mimic Old Faithful if 240 AC is jabbed onto the terminals.
Low and slow will damage an AGM battery. With solar a goodly panel investment is needed to provide 20 amperes charge rate per 100 amp hours. In addition AGMs will throw a hissy fit if fed a constant diet of partial charging. Both points are infinetely more important than trying to tweak tenths of a volt for temperature compensation. Doesn't mean a person can get away with Floating at 14.0V when a proper float is 13.3 -it means do 't have hair loss over fifteen hundredths of a volt.
Imagine a newer Ford chassis motorhome with AGM house batteries and charging cables done right. Some of them have twin 270 amp hairpin alternators that operate close to 14 volts. Start the engine and instant WHAM! There is simply unwarranted fretting about "excessive" AGM charge rates on this forum. The batteries have sophisticated caps that return vapor as solution. General Motors used the 1116405 voltage regulator in their 15SI and 17SI alternators. The 405 had a set point of FIFTEEN volts. GM was banking on calcium calcium batteries which are extrodinarly gassing resistant. Just like the pure lead AGM batteries of today. What is the gassifier im flooded batteries is percentage of antimony alloy in the positive plates. Sponge lead without alloy is horribly weak. This is where the soaked mat comes into play. Flooded calcium calcium batteries are terrible for cycling. They die quickly. Hope this helps. Please don't ask abput hybrid plate cyclable flooded batteries.
Low and slow will damage an AGM battery. With solar a goodly panel investment is needed to provide 20 amperes charge rate per 100 amp hours. In addition AGMs will throw a hissy fit if fed a constant diet of partial charging. Both points are infinetely more important than trying to tweak tenths of a volt for temperature compensation. Doesn't mean a person can get away with Floating at 14.0V when a proper float is 13.3 -it means do 't have hair loss over fifteen hundredths of a volt.
Imagine a newer Ford chassis motorhome with AGM house batteries and charging cables done right. Some of them have twin 270 amp hairpin alternators that operate close to 14 volts. Start the engine and instant WHAM! There is simply unwarranted fretting about "excessive" AGM charge rates on this forum. The batteries have sophisticated caps that return vapor as solution. General Motors used the 1116405 voltage regulator in their 15SI and 17SI alternators. The 405 had a set point of FIFTEEN volts. GM was banking on calcium calcium batteries which are extrodinarly gassing resistant. Just like the pure lead AGM batteries of today. What is the gassifier im flooded batteries is percentage of antimony alloy in the positive plates. Sponge lead without alloy is horribly weak. This is where the soaked mat comes into play. Flooded calcium calcium batteries are terrible for cycling. They die quickly. Hope this helps. Please don't ask abput hybrid plate cyclable flooded batteries.
