AGM batteries - are they better?
Upgrade to an AGM battery. You can safely mount them inside, and upside down, and they will out-perform any flooded battery you ever owned! Here's a quote from another thread. It's typical of other...
Forum Discussion
smkettner wrote:
Superior charging speed
Let's work through these. The charging speed is what attracts me. But I can't determine if it's real. Sure, I can recharge faster below 80%, but I need to recharge faster above 80% SOC, which is where all my recharging is currently done.
Superior vibration resistance
Is this of any value to me? My batteries already last 6-8 years. For some, this might be critical, but I don't think my batteries are being damaged by vibration.
Superior resistance to shorted cell
I'm not sure what to say about this. If it means I'm less likely to have to replace the battery, I'd like this advantage, but I've never had a shorted cell before 6 years with my 6 volt FLAs (I have had problems with "marine" deep cycle type batteries.)
Superior resistance to freeze damage
This is nice. I'd pay for this if I needed to keep them in the cold and discharged. In practice, I prefer to bring them inside even though I'm pretty sure my batteries will be fully charged all winter and won't freeze in my area.
Reduced maintenance
This I'd also pay for. I don't like checking water level, although it's not on the list of my worst RV jobs.
Reduced self discharge in storage
On second thought, this is nice, too. It is a bit of a pain to set up my winter charging when I remove my batteries. I wonder how many people leave the expensive AGMs without any monitoring/recharging all winter?
Mounted on side seems Ok but inverted is not recommended.
AGM will gas less to none but is not exempt from RVIA standards to vent battery outside the living space.
Neither of these applies to me anyway.
I expect 400 amp hours of AGM will have the same power as 400 amp hours of flooded. Same group 27 (as example) will have less amp hours.
But according to Mex, 400 amp hours of AGM will weigh more than 400 amp hours of flooded. I'd rather not carry 15% more weight.
Must have an appropriate charging system.
A big disadvantage if I'm to get faster charging, but not one that's insurmountable.
And then there is cost.
Yes. :)
