Battery-AGM

[Chase_WV]

I was given 3 AGM type Batteries.
The following link is the exact battery I was given
https://www.power-solutions.com/batteries/cd-batteries/dynasty/ups12-400mr
I was wondering if any one has used this type of battery in a travel trailer situation. My trickle charger has the ability to charge this type of battery but will charger in the trailer be able to handle this type.

[full_mosey]

A few AGM advantages:

AGM is the winner for unattended winter storage, indoors or out. The lower self discharge rate is the reason. AGM can freeze if the self-discharge rate during storage drops the voltage too low, but only needs to be thawed to recharge. Unattended wetties can also freeze, however, are ruined due to case swelling and plate distortion.

No cleanup of chalky/corroded battery terminals.

No periodic replacement/cleaning of corroded battery tray.

Can lay on side without spilling acid. Great for squeezing them into places a wettie cannot go.

No distilled water.

No wool clothes.

No watering system.

Pound for pound, No worry about low-voltage-disconnect when running the inverter.

A lie can circle the world.....
before the truth leaves the starting gate. 🙂

HTH;
John

[pnichols]

There is an advantage with AGM batteries ... they have lower internal impedance. Which - in accordance with electrical principals - means: They'll absorb a larger amount of current for any recharging voltage applied to their terminals.

I have had one set of AGM batteries in our motorhome for 8 years (and they were still serving us well when replaced just in case), and a replacement set of AGM batteries for over 2 years. To charge them we have used only the 13.8 volt stock fixed voltage converter (sometimes in parallel with a small fixed voltage charger) or the main engine alternator. Due to their lower internal impedance, the increased current absorption rate of these two sets of AGM batteries with these charging voltages has so far been all that's needed for our camping style.

When in storage during several months of the year, all these AGM batteries see is the the stock 13.8 volt converter, which does not harm them because their specified float voltage is 13.5-13.8 volts ... not 13.2 volts, as most liquid acid batteries require for floating.

Our AGM batteries only get voltages in excess of 14 volts when the main engine is running. A 3-stage charger is not needed in our situation, only the converter and the engine alternator.

[afidel]

wa8yxm wrote:
The charge settings for AGM are very close to Flooded wet and Maintenance free, ENough so that as someone pointed out in cars they are basically interchangable..

I have one and only one complaint about AGM's and in the Original Poster's case it does NOT apply.. COST.

Of all the battery types out there AGM is the most or 2nd most (Actually both) Lead Acid type battery.. (OPTIMA is the most expensive but it is a special case of AGM so that is how AGM can be both) but since the post started out with "I was given" the cost was ZERO and it's kind of hard to beat that price :).


For RV use there is next to no advantage to AGM and the only disadvantage is, as I said, the cost.


I'd put 'em in ... YOu can adjust chargng a tenth of a volt or two if you have to.

There's significant advantages to AGM if you want/need to have your battery compartment within the living area of your RV. They're probably the most safe option next to LiFePO4 for an occupied space.

[wa8yxm]

The charge settings for AGM are very close to Flooded wet and Maintenance free, ENough so that as someone pointed out in cars they are basically interchangable..

I have one and only one complaint about AGM's and in the Original Poster's case it does NOT apply.. COST.

Of all the battery types out there AGM is the most or 2nd most (Actually both) Lead Acid type battery.. (OPTIMA is the most expensive but it is a special case of AGM so that is how AGM can be both) but since the post started out with "I was given" the cost was ZERO and it's kind of hard to beat that price :).


For RV use there is next to no advantage to AGM and the only disadvantage is, as I said, the cost.


I'd put 'em in ... YOu can adjust chargng a tenth of a volt or two if you have to.

[Ivylog]

Does you Keystone have a smart converter/three stage battery charger? AGMs do not like 14.5 or higher charging voltage. If your converter is the normal single stage dumb battery killing charger...replace it.

[SoundGuy]

Home Skillet wrote:
The pundits will say no.
But, looks at cars that have AGM batteries, their charge system is no different than ones with lead acid batteries.

And this "pundit" would remind the OP that his converter, which he has not identified, probably doesn't meet the recommended charging characteristics required by these AGM batteries for maximum performance and maximum life. :W Since these batteries were a gift perhaps not a concern for the OP but certainly an issue for rest of us who have to actually pay for costly AGMs - not much point investing in AGMs if you don't also have a charger that can properly care for them. :R

[pianotuna]

I love my telecom jars.

[westend]

There are a few AGM telecom battery users on this Forum. I have a bank of three smaller ones that total 100AH of capacity. They can be used just like any other battery solution. The Mfg of your brand should have charge instructions available.

FWIW, I charge mine with solar and have them connected in parallel to a bank of 6V GC2 batteries. The charge controller does all of the heavy lifting. I monitor voltages and, for the FLA batteries, add water and monitor their chemistry using a hydrometer. That is about the only downside to AGM, IMO. I'm not able to accurately measure the cell capacities.

[pnichols]

Those are C&D Technologies AGM batteries and should be excellent in your RV.

We had two C&D AGM batteries in our Class C motorhome for around 8 years and they performed flawlessly the whole time. They were still doing well when we replaced them "just in case".

The 12V model we had two-of in parallel was their DCS-100HIT VRLA ("AGM") 100 amp hour battery. Here is some info on their DCS series:

http://www.batteryplex.com/sheets/DCS%2D100HIT.pdf

Here is an excellent C&D Technologies paper on charging of their AGM ("VRLA") batteries:

http://www.cdtechno.com/pdf/ref/41_2128_0212.pdf

[MrWizard]

those are excellent batteries
my previous set of AGM were Dynasty
the next bigger size 100# each
they last 5yrs of every day use, over 1800 cycles

[Home_Skillet]

The pundits will say no.
But, looks at cars that have AGM batteries, their charge system is no different than ones with lead acid batteries.