AGM batteries?
Is it imperative to have AGM batteries with a solar set-up? Why? Could you not just use 2 6v batteries (not AGM's)? Do they last longer? How much and are they really worth the price difference?
Forum Discussion
nightshift wrote:
Has anyone installed these carbon foam units in their rig? Expensive but if you can discharge them 80% as claimed, that's impressive.
I know many people who have these in boats. They cost more (somewhere between good AGM and lithium). They have two advantages: you can discharge them more deeply without as much affect on life, and they tolerate a partial state of charge much better than AGM. Maybe one more advantage is that as they are lead acid chemistry, they are a true drop in replacement for AGM. There have been ongoing production issues with them, limiting supply. They are available in only one size.
Many lithium batteries are marketed as drop in replacement for lead acid, but the pundits in the yachting industry dispute that this can be true. You need to be able to reprogram the charging voltages, float points, include balancers and/or disconnects in order to have a long lived and safe installation. If you just drop them into a lead acid setup and ignore, you probably will not get the lab tested life, and may ruin them in short order.
