battery charging voltage

Trying to make electrochemical sense is no easy job. Batteries that are discharged shallower, recharged sooner have an easier time of it. A solar system that can bring a 50% SOC to 100% SOC daily is the theoretical ideal. Such a system would be close to OEM's recommended 20% of amp hour capacity minimum recharge amperage. Solar chops off any notion of cheating with a lower amperage but longer duration recharge coupled with a tweaked float voltage limit. I cannot walk up to an AGM solar system, wave a magic wand and tell the owner his bank is in trouble. Why the fuss - you ask? One AGM is one thing 12-L-16's quite another. If you are happy with your system then drive a sixteen penny nail and walk away. I am in the same nail-biting position of a huge bank owner. If the bank or battery shortchanges me - I'm screwed. I am forced to by circumstances to present ideals. Generally adopted by industry because it represents theoretical maximum lifespan. I encourage folks to read and re-read the downloadable Concorde Lifeline PDF manual for AGM batteries. I live in a country where a lot of people drive a nice pickuo from pothole to pothole at 80mph, seldom change oil and are satisfied when the vehicle finally needs major surgery at 80,000 miles. They cannot be convinced to drive slower or take better care of their cars. Many think I am an idiot on the road for hitting the brakes for a 4" deep pothole. It's similar with some folks and their philosophy with battery maintenance. I refuse to twist elbows. I try and pass along facts and what the user does is his bag not mine. But trouble brews when somone suggests I drive my car 80-mph pothole to pothole.

Non acid starved AGM batteries are built that way for a purpose. For every positive point there exists a negative. Including price, CCA, vulnerability to over discharge. No free lunches. Education is the key for folks who wish to minimize the negative and maximize the positive.