So You Own An AGM Battery...

I'd not bother testing, but assume it is sulfated and trigger the pendant on the charger that would get it into desulfate mode.

I do this with all my batteries if I have ready access to shore power -- just plug them in to a Battery Minder, trigger the desulfate cycle and let the trickle charger do the rest. Some RV converters offer this functionality as well.

With AGMs, probably the first indication of a problem would be capacity loss. And that will be my contribution to this thread. :)

If one or both of my AGM batteries fail within the first 4 years, I get 100% replacement/refund. After 4 years, it's prorated.

That's my contribution!

WoodGlue

I couldn't care less.I've run AGMs hard for 15 yrs, and the first set lasted 8 years, and it never ever seen equalization or anything but 14,6 charging then float at 13,2. I couldn't ask for any more, That doesn't mean they are worth the horrific price they carry. That being said, I also run 6v LAs on a PD 9155 w/ equalize etc etc, and they lasted 9 yrs when I sold it. Anything after 8 yrs, I couldn't care less.

RJsfishin wrote:
I couldn't care less.

Ditto.

I have two AGM/solar systems.

I recently starting watching morning volts by looking for a declining Voltage daily trend. If the 12V fridges are running, I note the overnight low Volts as well(a feature of the Turnigy meter).

I also MAY note if the transition from ABS to float is later each day. I don't sit around staring at the controllers!

This method works because I rely on solar for Absorb and float. With solar, the batteries get no charging overnight. Therefore, there are no surface charges to foul up Volt readings.

When morning Volts are low, out comes the genny to power 120V chargers to bulk up the batteries. These batteries were not always treated this well.

In short, a glance at a meter tells me if I need to deploy the genny. It takes longer to explain.

I will know to replace the batteries, due to low capacity, when the genny run does not result in a higher low Voltage the following morning.

I have dry-camped as many as 31 consecutive days before and plan 42 days in Quartzite in Jan-Feb next year with these batteries. The batteries will be 4 and 5 years old at the beginning of the trip.

Am I doing it wrong?

HTH;
John

TechWriter wrote:

RJsfishin wrote:
I couldn't care less.

Ditto.

Double ditto.

If I could "care less" about something I ignore it. Threads, conversations, remarks, and opinions. This isn't about the subject matter merely the stated level of disinterest in the subject.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
If I could "care less" about something I ignore it. Threads, conversations, remarks, and opinions. This isn't about the subject matter merely the stated level of disinterest in the subject.

Well that's you, isn't it?

These responses are why I kept it short MEX.