Gdetrailer wrote:
Yes, there are some "good" points like you have mentioned, the problem is the bad points that folks gloss over, like..
LESS Ahr for the same PHYSICAL SIZE (IE takes MORE AGM batteries to equal Flooded Lead Acid).
DIFFERENT charging voltage profiles than Flooded Lead Acid..
Overcharging to the point of the VENTING WILL RESULT IN A EXPENSIVE DOOR STOP!
MUCH HIGHER COST PER Ahr!
If you are OK with spending more to get less Ahr capacity go ahead and do it.. Personally I am not OK with spending more to get less capacity..
Well .... my RV's 12 volt Group 31 deep cycle AGM batteries:
- Contain 115 amp-hours each. Another competitive Group 31 AGM brand even supply 125 amp-hours each. Not bad as compared to about the same group size and/or footprint in wet deep cycle RV batteries - 6 volt or 12 volt.
- Have over the years been charged and maintained almost exclusively by ONLY the stock 13.8 volt fixed voltage converter in the RV and the stock 130 amp Ford alternator under the hood. This is a very simple and bland charging and maintenance regimen, that in fact can easily ruin some wet deep cycle RV batteries, some of the time.
- Using the above charging and maintenance procedures, my AGM batteries have never dryed out ("vented") over time that I know of ... nor have their sides bulged out from getting close to venting.
- I shop for RV batteries by cost per amp-hour over battery lifetime plus my charges for battery messing hours over my lifetime.
My RV AGM batteries just sit there and do their thing year after year - but I do dust them off once a year. The 1st set of two went about eight years before I replaced them just in case (still working well AFAIK), and the 2nd set are into their 3rd year (FWIW, their warranty is 5 years).
My RV batteries shouldn't take up any of my time - just like my flashlight batteries don't take up any of my time. ;)
