Forum Discussion

joelyn's avatar
joelyn
Explorer
Aug 14, 2019

12 volt 18 amp gel battery?????

12 volt 118 amp Gel rechargeable battery ( as listed) just as good or better that the standard 12 volt 18 amp LEAD ACID type battery? Never had the gel style and just looking for advise. Price is the same for either one.. using it to raise and lower a mobility scooter lift and will just charge it every few days..Thanks.

12 volt GEL BATTERY
  • joelyn is 100% correct. One of the few allowable uses for gelled batteries is to power emergency exit lighting where they batteries sit for years then are slightly discharged during a power failure then immediately recharged with a charger designed for gel.

    In that capacity, I have seen gel batteries last 10+ years.

    I have seen five hundred dollar 8-D gel batteries last less than a year on cruising sailboats even following recommended recharge protocol. They just are not appropriate for RVs or yachts. But for dedicated starting batteries that are custom isolated and maintained.
  • time2roll wrote:
    Need to control the charging voltage and charging amps strictly within specs or you will kill it. Probably need a separate battery charger just for the gell battery. Lead-acid is much more forgiving.


    Thanks, sounds like the gel type is not for me. I like the more forgiving ones since I do forget to charge at times, lol... thanks

    Looking at this one which should do the job for me. Only use the lift a few times a year and will just keep it on a battery maintainer.

    12 volt 18 amp
  • Need to control the charging voltage and charging amps strictly within specs or you will kill it. Probably need a separate battery charger just for the gell battery. Lead-acid is much more forgiving.
  • Sounds like for what I am looking for I should just stay with a reg lead acid battery...The gel looks like a little to much work for what I want it for plus I was reading that u need a special type battery charger for them, just another expense.
    As always I come to the right place for the answers. Thanks to all that replied and for ur knowledge.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Though you can find GEL's in that size Let me talk about three kinds of battereies

    Standard Lead Acid (IE GC-2 flooded wet) are fairly forgiving of charge irregularities but

    AGM are even less finicky eaters Especially LIfeline you can charge them and FAST.

    GEL's however you need to really baby them They charge slower you charge them at the same rate you'd charge Flooded (30% C/20) they die quickly..

    I would recommend against GEL cells.

    That said OPTIMA among others sometimes advertise their AGMs as GELs
  • 18 amp hour refers to the capacity. A larger 20ah battery just can run the lift a bit longer. No danger of going to a higher or larger capacity battery only benefits. Will the benefits be realized.....perhaps.7

    Agm batteries should not vent unless overcharged, but all of them say to not charge them within a sealed container.
  • landyacht318 wrote:
    I have a MightyMax 18Ah AGM battery, but one marketed for the stereo boom boom crowd as a '600 watt' battery. I was kind of hoping for more of a high rate budget battery as opposed to one intended for deep cycling.

    It can, by itself, start my overnight cold 5.2 liter v8 engine in warm ambient temps.

    I asked Mightmax for the charging specs and they said to use the specs for the generic UB12180.

    Which helped confirm my suspicions that my AGm battery is just a UB12180 with a different sticker.

    But perhaps it is different internally. I would have to have another battery to compare it to performance wise to know for sure.

    The UB12180 and the UB 12200 and the UB 12220 are all the same size, but 18, 20 and 22AH capacity respectively, Different weights.

    The MM Gel battery, is likely indeed a GEL battery as opposed to AGM. Usually GEL batteries have more specific recharging regimens, lower and slower than AGM, or voids can form in the gel electrolyte and forever impact capacity thereafter. A GEL battery 'might' not be a good choice for your charging source.

    I think for a mobility lift I would want a battery at least advertised as a high rate battery, one which should be able to maintain higher voltage during the load, perhaps meaning it will raise and lower the lift faster. It should also be able to handle a higher amperage rate charging source.

    I have this one bookmarked, and kind of wish I bought it instead of the mightymax '600 watt' 18Ah AGM I did buy, although I can't really complain about its performance/ longevity at this point.

    https://www.amazon.com/NPP-HR1280W-Rechargeable-Battery-Terminals/dp/B01J952KWW/ref=pd_sbs_23_12?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01J952KWW&pd_rd_r=29A4PWVDZ30PPRRRYZFF&pd_rd_w=cStgi&pd_rd_wg=50cll&psc=1&refRID=29A4PWVDZ30PPRRRYZFF

    For best life recharge to full often, every few days if drawn to the 50% range, will compromise its longevity, but ultimately convenience wins out and it is your choice.

    I'd go for an AGM as opposed to GEL in this application, and perhaps a bigger one if it will physically fit.



    Thanks for the reply and advise. Yes I do want the easiest battery to maintain and use. 2 quick questions. if the LIFT calls for a 18 amp battery does it matter if this one is a 20 AMP?? and 2nd, do these batteries let off any fumes or gas? I have a sealed container for it on the lift, will i have to put vents in it or it is fine being a sealed box? thanks again for the help.
  • I have a MightyMax 18Ah AGM battery, but one marketed for the stereo boom boom crowd as a '600 watt' battery. I was kind of hoping for more of a high rate budget battery as opposed to one intended for deep cycling.

    It can, by itself, start my overnight cold 5.2 liter v8 engine in warm ambient temps.

    I asked Mightmax for the charging specs and they said to use the specs for the generic UB12180.

    Which helped confirm my suspicions that my AGm battery is just a UB12180 with a different sticker.

    But perhaps it is different internally. I would have to have another battery to compare it to performance wise to know for sure.

    The UB12180 and the UB 12200 and the UB 12220 are all the same size, but 18, 20 and 22AH capacity respectively, Different weights.

    The MM Gel battery, is likely indeed a GEL battery as opposed to AGM. Usually GEL batteries have more specific recharging regimens, lower and slower than AGM, or voids can form in the gel electrolyte and forever impact capacity thereafter. A GEL battery 'might' not be a good choice for your charging source.

    I think for a mobility lift I would want a battery at least advertised as a high rate battery, one which should be able to maintain higher voltage during the load, perhaps meaning it will raise and lower the lift faster. It should also be able to handle a higher amperage rate charging source.

    I have this one bookmarked, and kind of wish I bought it instead of the mightymax '600 watt' 18Ah AGM I did buy, although I can't really complain about its performance/ longevity at this point.

    https://www.amazon.com/NPP-HR1280W-Rechargeable-Battery-Terminals/dp/B01J952KWW/ref=pd_sbs_23_12?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01J952KWW&pd_rd_r=29A4PWVDZ30PPRRRYZFF&pd_rd_w=cStgi&pd_rd_wg=50cll&psc=1&refRID=29A4PWVDZ30PPRRRYZFF

    For best life recharge to full often, every few days if drawn to the 50% range, will compromise its longevity, but ultimately convenience wins out and it is your choice.

    I'd go for an AGM as opposed to GEL in this application, and perhaps a bigger one if it will physically fit.

About Technical Issues

Having RV issues? Connect with others who have been in your shoes.24,193 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 27, 2025