full_mosey wrote:
Desert Captain wrote:
In the boating industry there are two iron clad maxims: Nothing is either waterproof or maintenance free. AGM's offer many advantages but some of them are of little or no value relative to the significantly higher cost. As noted they are not maintenance free. Do you really need to mount them on their sides or upside down? I seriously doubt it. Do you have a smart charger that has a setting specifically for AGM's?
The point being that not everyone needs AGM's, they are wonderful batteries but come with a very hefty price tag compared to a quality deep cycle wet cell. The way most folks use their RV's, with the exception of full timers, a set of wet cell Trojans (6 or 12 volt properly installed), will give you more amps per buck than an AGM. :C
Another flimsy anti-AGM diatribe.
You see, we AGM folks don't go around spreading this type of DIS-information about your beloved wets.
What is this alleged AGM maintenance?
How about some actual facts and figures to back up significant and hefty price differences?
Isn't it the deep cycle wets that have the special charging requirements. Don't deep cycle wets:
1. dry out when left on a dumb single stage charger.
2. require equalization to prevent acid stratification.
3. emit H gas during charging.
4. emit acid mist during charging.
5. discharge faster and cannot be left unattended as long.
The negatives of wets ARE the positives of AGMs.
HTH;
John
How about responding without being antagonistic.
LMAO, I will even though you weren't....
1. I have not seen a single stage charger in 20 years so your point is mute. If you spend the money for AGM's, not a small sum, you had better spend more money to get a charger/converter that has a specific AGM charging profile....cha ching! If you use a conventional charging system you will negate several of the AGM's attributes. Oh BTW, AGM's charge more slowly than wets, not a big deal but just another fact to be considered.
2. Yes wet cell batteries will benefit from an equalization cycle as part of a regular program of maintenance.
3. & 4. With the newer caps found on most quality wet cell batteries off gassing and mist is contained.
5. Yes, wet cells do discharge faster and cannot be left as long as AGM's. In normal RV/Marine use the difference is not significant while the cost differential is.
Let me say it agin:
"The point being that not everyone needs AGM's, they are wonderful batteries but come with a very hefty price tag compared to a quality deep cycle wet cell."
I don't know why you went off as you did but my statement remains a fact. I am glad you love your AGM's but the average RV'er does not necessarily need to spend the extra money. I could sit for 3 days boon docking in our TT with just two group 24 deep cycle wets and not run out of DC. They cost $75 each (out the door), and lasted 3+ years, they were still going strong when I sold the TT. No AGM with a proper charger can match that bang for the buck performance.
Our Class C has two group 31's that are 2.5 years old and the hydrometer still shows them in the green. Again we can go 3 days without charging and still have plenty of power. In both cases the appropriate battery selection comes down to how you are going to use them. I can hunt rabbits with a 44 Magnum but a 22 will do the job just fine at a significantly lower cost.
:C
