AGM Battery Charging THE PRIME DIRECTIVE
I have gotten several communications about AGM battery maintenance. Using solar voltaic charging. The big error I read is that the subject of total and complete recharging is not mentioned. And tha...
Forum Discussion
It is too bad I did not read this years ago and understand how important it is to properly charge AGM batteries.
I only had a simple single stage charge controller which was set at 13.6 v regardless of temperature. I am sure a great many days that I used my RV I did not full charge the batteries even to 13.6. The few times I had a 110v hook up I may not have adequately charged. The cheap single stage charger floated at 13.3 v. There were lots of times I did not reach that level because the charger cut way back on charging current well before 13.3 v.
I used my AGM batteries for 2 years as a full timer and then about 3 months a year for the next 5 years. I tested the capacity at 6 1/2 years and they had full capacity within my testing error using tungsten light bulbs. I then got a 3 stage charge controller. Now at 7 1/2 years the batteries lost substantial capacity. Rather than try a regeneration cycle, I replaced them yesterday. I wonder how long they would have lasted if I had properly charged them at least once in a while.
I only had a simple single stage charge controller which was set at 13.6 v regardless of temperature. I am sure a great many days that I used my RV I did not full charge the batteries even to 13.6. The few times I had a 110v hook up I may not have adequately charged. The cheap single stage charger floated at 13.3 v. There were lots of times I did not reach that level because the charger cut way back on charging current well before 13.3 v.
I used my AGM batteries for 2 years as a full timer and then about 3 months a year for the next 5 years. I tested the capacity at 6 1/2 years and they had full capacity within my testing error using tungsten light bulbs. I then got a 3 stage charge controller. Now at 7 1/2 years the batteries lost substantial capacity. Rather than try a regeneration cycle, I replaced them yesterday. I wonder how long they would have lasted if I had properly charged them at least once in a while.
