Deep Cycle Battery Charging From Alternator
Hello, May I ask for advice regarding charging deep cycle batteries from the alternator? I have read older threads, and understand opinions vary. The previous two 100Ah deep cycle AGM coach bat...
Forum Discussion
I don't understand why non-owners "get the willies" about venting, water loss, and overcharging to cause venting and water loss.
It takes serious overcharging to pop the vents and popping the vents is the only way an AGM battery will be open the atmosphere. Therefore: NO WATER LOSS NOT A DROP.If you smell sulfur, the vents have popped. If you do not smell sulfur around a charging AGM the vents have not popped.
Overcharging the AGM brings forth the issue of positive plate shedding, the msterial sifts it's way down the mat and ends up in the bottom of the envelope seal. Shortened battery life.
I came up with an imaginary scenario where an AGM is a hard working field hand. Needs 3,500 calories a day to work properly. He is seated at the far end of the table.Due to others seated he is a little slow getting at the vittles. Others with a boarding-house-reach manage to deprive him of his daily requirement. Little by little he is going to starve to death. Let him get enough food. Bigger knife and fork and let him eat faster.
A slow recharge, an incomplete recharge kills more AGM batteries than all the other reasons do, combined times ten. Have I got your attention?
A big generator charging 5% of it's capacity wastes MORE gasoline than it is using. And big generators vibrate more, annoy more than small generators. A dirt cheap Harbor Freight cycle generator can supply 40+ amps to a finishing charge and the fuel supply will allow it to run 5+ hours. Day or night, overcast snow, fog, the gen can supply what a AGM needs PERIODICALLY. A full charge to keep battery abuse at bay. A Megawatt costs $60. Set the dial to 14.4 volts once. Yank the handle on the HF, then let it run out if gas. Mission complete.
Yes solar is the other option. With batteries totaling 400 amp hours you will need twenty percent charge rate or an EIGHTY AMPS OF CHARGE from solar or generator to meet this requirement. And I'll bet there is NOT ONE OF YOU that charge at twenty percent until the batteries show a finish rate of two amps. You would need an eighty ampere 16 hour solar day to do that.
It takes serious overcharging to pop the vents and popping the vents is the only way an AGM battery will be open the atmosphere. Therefore: NO WATER LOSS NOT A DROP.If you smell sulfur, the vents have popped. If you do not smell sulfur around a charging AGM the vents have not popped.
Overcharging the AGM brings forth the issue of positive plate shedding, the msterial sifts it's way down the mat and ends up in the bottom of the envelope seal. Shortened battery life.
I came up with an imaginary scenario where an AGM is a hard working field hand. Needs 3,500 calories a day to work properly. He is seated at the far end of the table.Due to others seated he is a little slow getting at the vittles. Others with a boarding-house-reach manage to deprive him of his daily requirement. Little by little he is going to starve to death. Let him get enough food. Bigger knife and fork and let him eat faster.
A slow recharge, an incomplete recharge kills more AGM batteries than all the other reasons do, combined times ten. Have I got your attention?
A big generator charging 5% of it's capacity wastes MORE gasoline than it is using. And big generators vibrate more, annoy more than small generators. A dirt cheap Harbor Freight cycle generator can supply 40+ amps to a finishing charge and the fuel supply will allow it to run 5+ hours. Day or night, overcast snow, fog, the gen can supply what a AGM needs PERIODICALLY. A full charge to keep battery abuse at bay. A Megawatt costs $60. Set the dial to 14.4 volts once. Yank the handle on the HF, then let it run out if gas. Mission complete.
Yes solar is the other option. With batteries totaling 400 amp hours you will need twenty percent charge rate or an EIGHTY AMPS OF CHARGE from solar or generator to meet this requirement. And I'll bet there is NOT ONE OF YOU that charge at twenty percent until the batteries show a finish rate of two amps. You would need an eighty ampere 16 hour solar day to do that.
