RJsfishin wrote:
Ok, seems this really is a gell cell. So a gel cell is still a lead acid !
I wonder what their good for, except emergency standby ?
Optima is AGM,,, It comes up under a search for GEL for two reaons. One people do not know the difference, Two: AGM's have all but one property of GEL, and that property is a DISadvantage (GEL's are very finikey eaters, if you do not charge them properly... You replace them).
But yes, GEL cells, like AGM and Maintenance free, is of a battery class called Valve Regulated Sealed Lead Acid.
All three have some properties in common (You do not have removable caps, you do not add water, they are low-gasing) And in addition GEL and AGM have the added feature of being able to mount in "odd" positions, Upright, on end, on edge, upside down, tilted and more. In addition SOME (Lifeline) AGMs can be recharged very very fast (GEL on the other hand is the slowest rechargeable of all batteries).
AGM's are much more "Forgiving" of abuse than Gel
And I believe AGMs are approved for air travel.. Not sure of Gel.
OPTIMA, in addition to all this.... Has about 60% of the capacity of a same size class any other make or type (For example a G-29 is about (rounded) 100 amp hours, unless it's an optima and then it is about 60.
