Charging AGMs with truck alternator?
Can you charge AGM batteries with the trucks charging system, will this damage/reduce their life?
Forum Discussion
You need at least a Two Hundred Amp Charge relay like the Sure Power. The inrush amperage of AGM batteries can be cruel. Don't try to Ohm's Law this. From the school of hard knocks.
AGMs charge quickly to 80% state of charge then taper by virtue of rising impedance. Even with optimum charge potential it takes an AGM two full hours to fill from 80% to 100%. Full being 14.4 volts and one half amp per 100 ampere hour capacity. = 5 100 amp batteries = 2.5 amps.
The penalty starts after AGMs are filled to only 80% for three weeks consecutively. Then a modified charge regimen is called for. Bump the absorbsion voltage up .3 volt and use the same amperage value to determine a filled battery. One proper recovery starts the process fresh.
Severely mistreated batteries need conditioning as per the Concorde Lifeline PDF battery maintenance manual.
AGMs charge quickly to 80% state of charge then taper by virtue of rising impedance. Even with optimum charge potential it takes an AGM two full hours to fill from 80% to 100%. Full being 14.4 volts and one half amp per 100 ampere hour capacity. = 5 100 amp batteries = 2.5 amps.
The penalty starts after AGMs are filled to only 80% for three weeks consecutively. Then a modified charge regimen is called for. Bump the absorbsion voltage up .3 volt and use the same amperage value to determine a filled battery. One proper recovery starts the process fresh.
Severely mistreated batteries need conditioning as per the Concorde Lifeline PDF battery maintenance manual.
