AGM Battery Questions
I'm shopping for batteries for my new TT and could use some advice on AGM vs 6 volt flooded golf cart batteries. I used the latter on both of my previous RVs and my first thought was to get the same ...
Forum Discussion
I'll offer you an example of how and why I chose AGM
I needed a spill proof battery
The battery is placed alongside my bed, dealing with fumes, and corrosive liquid was out-of-the-question. The battery must remain pristine clean and dry with a dusting needed every week.
The battery, a single group 31 has to charge faster, a lot faster, than a flooded group 31 battery. Sometimes power returns for a half-hour and as much energy as possible has to get stuffed back into the battery. This one accepts 71 amperes without a whimper. A standard 31 balks at around 42 amperes. If I had more charger the AGM would accept over 90 amperes, which is my goal.
The battery is going to see occasional 89-90% discharges. I don't like to do that to a battery but rather than stare into blackness in 90 degree heat and 70 percent humidity, the battery is going to have to work to light my bedroom, power a Fantastic fan, and my BiPAP. This battery is heavy but it has to do "portable" duty to hotel rooms, and even inside my car if I decide to spend an uncomfortable night parked at a gasolinera. If will have light, fan, and BiPAP
It is silly to choose AGM solely on the fact they can be recharged faster if the rig is a power pole addict and never boondocks. Similarly having a battery bank that can accept a 200 amp charge rate but only having a 50 amp charger and a generator that stalls overloaded at 40 amps is not a wise balance. The fast recharging advantages only come when all of the criteria is met. Generator + charger. Big on both. A 4,000 watt generator and 130 ampere charger would be considered "moderately effective" for such a bank.
Even though I do not use the feature, the AGM battery provides a lot more CCA rated power to run high demand loads, like a microwave. But that takes a huge pure sine wave inverter and copper cables with the conductor as large as your thumb in order to make sense.
AGM is cleaner than flooded, and corrosion becomes a non-issue.
You are thinking about purchasing off-brand batteries. Care must be taken to not end up with engine starting batteries with labels replaced with deep cycle. Usually GC three cell AGM batteries are made with heavier plates. But there's a lot of garbage out there with .060" thick positive plates.
In my opinion it's best to bite the bullet and go with a proven line like Lifeline or Fullriver. Yes the price hurts. But getting screwed hurts more.
Hope This Helps
I needed a spill proof battery
The battery is placed alongside my bed, dealing with fumes, and corrosive liquid was out-of-the-question. The battery must remain pristine clean and dry with a dusting needed every week.
The battery, a single group 31 has to charge faster, a lot faster, than a flooded group 31 battery. Sometimes power returns for a half-hour and as much energy as possible has to get stuffed back into the battery. This one accepts 71 amperes without a whimper. A standard 31 balks at around 42 amperes. If I had more charger the AGM would accept over 90 amperes, which is my goal.
The battery is going to see occasional 89-90% discharges. I don't like to do that to a battery but rather than stare into blackness in 90 degree heat and 70 percent humidity, the battery is going to have to work to light my bedroom, power a Fantastic fan, and my BiPAP. This battery is heavy but it has to do "portable" duty to hotel rooms, and even inside my car if I decide to spend an uncomfortable night parked at a gasolinera. If will have light, fan, and BiPAP
It is silly to choose AGM solely on the fact they can be recharged faster if the rig is a power pole addict and never boondocks. Similarly having a battery bank that can accept a 200 amp charge rate but only having a 50 amp charger and a generator that stalls overloaded at 40 amps is not a wise balance. The fast recharging advantages only come when all of the criteria is met. Generator + charger. Big on both. A 4,000 watt generator and 130 ampere charger would be considered "moderately effective" for such a bank.
Even though I do not use the feature, the AGM battery provides a lot more CCA rated power to run high demand loads, like a microwave. But that takes a huge pure sine wave inverter and copper cables with the conductor as large as your thumb in order to make sense.
AGM is cleaner than flooded, and corrosion becomes a non-issue.
You are thinking about purchasing off-brand batteries. Care must be taken to not end up with engine starting batteries with labels replaced with deep cycle. Usually GC three cell AGM batteries are made with heavier plates. But there's a lot of garbage out there with .060" thick positive plates.
In my opinion it's best to bite the bullet and go with a proven line like Lifeline or Fullriver. Yes the price hurts. But getting screwed hurts more.
Hope This Helps
