AGM Maintenance Questions
I've replaced the OEM batteries (looked more like starter batteries then deep cycle) in our new fifth wheel with Trojan T-105 AGM batteries (4 each in 2 12 volt banks so voltages below are 2 in series...
Forum Discussion
Thanks for the replies--a few answers:
A) The 2 hour absorption limit comes from Table 6 on page 19 in section 5.2.2 in the Trojan users manual. I am trying to get a feel for the importance of this. Is it just a heat issue which I should be protected from with the temperature monitoring probe? Is it really a non-issue as long as the amps drop off as they should? My TriMetric has not indicated more than a 4% discharge (96%) left, and current drop off during re-charging seems to indicate that.
B) The charger is a 50 amp Samlex SEC-1250UL. One of my goals was to be able to set charging parameters with dip switches so things happen somewhat automatically as I travel, plug in overnight, travel, etc.
C) The OEM batteries (gone--gave them to my sons) had some obscure name and a starting current rating. They also didn't weigh much which all gave me low confidence of capacity or deep cycle ability. After my last experience with a WFCO boiling out a set of Trojan T-105 wet cells making a mess in the nose of the fifth wheel, I was determined to go to a sealed battery. Money always is part of a battery decision: while yours is unlimited, mine is, and the Trojan AGMs met my needs. By the way, the MotorCraft starting batteries in my truck still seem to be wet cell--I add distilled water to them periodically.
So I'm still trying to clean answers from the replies:
5) Do I need to run 14.4 volts to "condition" the batteries back to full capacity? Or, will a long time at 13.5 do the job?
6) If I exceed 2 hours at 14.4, am I in dangerous territory of gas discharge? Or, is dangerous only if the discharge went down to 50% discharge? Or, is it not dangerous at all because the Samlex will slow down if it sees a Temperature rise?
I am going to look for time to do a run-down/charge-up test to learn how my installation works. Thanks, again, for the replies.
A) The 2 hour absorption limit comes from Table 6 on page 19 in section 5.2.2 in the Trojan users manual. I am trying to get a feel for the importance of this. Is it just a heat issue which I should be protected from with the temperature monitoring probe? Is it really a non-issue as long as the amps drop off as they should? My TriMetric has not indicated more than a 4% discharge (96%) left, and current drop off during re-charging seems to indicate that.
B) The charger is a 50 amp Samlex SEC-1250UL. One of my goals was to be able to set charging parameters with dip switches so things happen somewhat automatically as I travel, plug in overnight, travel, etc.
C) The OEM batteries (gone--gave them to my sons) had some obscure name and a starting current rating. They also didn't weigh much which all gave me low confidence of capacity or deep cycle ability. After my last experience with a WFCO boiling out a set of Trojan T-105 wet cells making a mess in the nose of the fifth wheel, I was determined to go to a sealed battery. Money always is part of a battery decision: while yours is unlimited, mine is, and the Trojan AGMs met my needs. By the way, the MotorCraft starting batteries in my truck still seem to be wet cell--I add distilled water to them periodically.
So I'm still trying to clean answers from the replies:
5) Do I need to run 14.4 volts to "condition" the batteries back to full capacity? Or, will a long time at 13.5 do the job?
6) If I exceed 2 hours at 14.4, am I in dangerous territory of gas discharge? Or, is dangerous only if the discharge went down to 50% discharge? Or, is it not dangerous at all because the Samlex will slow down if it sees a Temperature rise?
I am going to look for time to do a run-down/charge-up test to learn how my installation works. Thanks, again, for the replies.
