Do AGM's charge quicker?
Looking to cut generator time. Have solar but sometimes have little to no sun when dry camping. Read AGM's charge up to 5X faster than flooded. How can that be, converter charger only puts out so mu...
Forum Discussion
SFVdave wrote:
Now I’m really confused! Am I correct in assuming that I am limited to how quickly AGM’s would charge in comparison with my existing regular flooded batteries because of my PD intelli-power 55 ah. Converter charger? From what I’ve read regular flooded are limited to 25% of battery’s total capacity and AGM’s are 40%. But because I can’t adjust the ah charging rate, there wouldn’t be much difference in charging time.
That's right.
None is actually limited, you just have to start Bulk at a lower SOC to get the battery to accept the higher amps. The amps will taper almost right away, so you get no time at the high amps. Waste of money buying the higher amp charger. 30% is about optimum for saving gen time and not overdoing it. If you want the batteries to last forever and are on shore power, 10% is recommended, being easier on the battery. --Except AGMs as noted in that article--they want at least 20% from a low SOC start every so often to keep them cleaned out. (They don't have their electrolyte where it can bubble like Floodeds do)
You cannot get more than 55 amps from a 55 amp charger just because it is on AGMs. The charger is "current limited". Actually you might get a few more amps from it using very short and fat wires to either kind of battery, but the point remains.
