AGM batteries

The Optima (an AGM) company guy in another thread implied they don't have an actual official desulfation procedure, but that some people have had some luck recovering sulfated Optimas by deep cycling them down to 40% SOC and charging them back up to full a few times.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27478036/srt/pd/pging/1.cfm

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Can I add some more settings to the switch? Can I? Can I?

a) De-Stratify

b) Stir

c) Renovate/Rejuvenate

d) Flip switch, Wait For Green Light, keep Hands Clear, Press Button

Good thing LED lights only have option C, eh? ;)

Can I add some more settings to the switch? Can I? Can I?

a) De-Stratify

b) Stir

c) Renovate/Rejuvenate

d) Flip switch, Wait For Green Light, keep Hands Clear, Press Button

full_mosey wrote:
The point is that the confusion is when wets try to apply wet terms to AGMs. It is not the AGM owners who are confused. :)

HTH;
John

They are in this thread. :)

mena661 wrote:

full_mosey wrote:

Where does the term "finish, top, or saturation charge appear in the AGM world?

I see your point John but you're saying to ignore certain terminologies and then adding more terminologies which further adds to the confusion. None of the terms you listed are official "wet cell" battery terms either so wet owners should ignore those too. LOL! Seriously, those are terms WE use HERE. I've never seen them elsewhere so let's leave them out. You and MEX make a great point of not using the word equalize (an official term for a certain procedure on wets) on AGMs as you can't do that on them anyways. Lastly, I'm betting ALL of these terms will continue to be used regardless of this thread. :)

The point is that the confusion is when wets try to apply wet terms to AGMs. It is not the AGM owners who are confused. :)

HTH;
John

My Powermax Boondocker 4 stage converter and mt 2 AGMs seem to get along nicely together. I see the equalize/desulfation cycle happen when it does(timed)and my 6 YO Universal AGMs are happy campers.

From Best Converters

"The PowerMax Boondocker series converter/chargers include new enhanced fan control for optimum cooling. Cooling fans are extremely quiet. PM4B models now includes built-in desulfation cycle to prevent stratification that can lead to battery sulfation.
Whether you camp at RV parks or out in the wilderness, the Powermax converter/chargers will maintain your DC power supply and batteries perfectly under all conditions.
Great for standard flooded wet cell or AGM batteries!
Note: Powermax has discontinued the 55 amp model and added the 60 amp model.
Only Powermax "Boondocker" models include the extended 3 year warranty. Also includes higher 14.6 VDC boost mode for faster charging over our original Powermax PM and PM3 models. OUR MOST POPULAR DECK MOUNT CONVERTER!"

full_mosey wrote:

Where does the term "finish, top, or saturation charge appear in the AGM world?

I see your point John but you're saying to ignore certain terminologies and then adding more terminologies which further adds to the confusion. None of the terms you listed are official "wet cell" battery terms either so wet owners should ignore those too. LOL! Seriously, those are terms WE use HERE. I've never seen them elsewhere so let's leave them out. You and MEX make a great point of not using the word equalize (an official term for a certain procedure on wets) on AGMs as you can't do that on them anyways. Lastly, I'm betting ALL of these terms will continue to be used regardless of this thread. :)

Add to the definition nebula of "equalize", "recondition", wet cell, AGM, the advent of the pulsing chargers, many of which have a "recondition" mode.

FWIW, I have a bank of AGM and FLA's that are charged in parallel. It's too soon to offer definitive findings about longevity or loss of capacity but short term monitoring (one year) shows the batteries to be performing well.

Almot wrote:


Yes, you stir electrolyte when applying Eq voltage. You can't avoid stirring it at these elevated voltages, obviously.

See, you use stir in defining equalize which make it applicable to wets alone.

Stir means to remix the liquid solution to make the concentration of the acid uniform throught the liquid. The voltage necessary to cause electrolosys, the agent that causes the stirring, is not necessary to make cell voltages equalize; the OTHER definition of equalization.

AGMs/Gels do not need the necessary higher stirring volts in order to balance the cell voltages. Don't stir AGM/Gel.

HTH;
John

BFL13 wrote:
Also, all Wet Cell owners should ignore the term "equalize" on their four stage converters that do a shot of 14.4 or 14.6 once in a while during the Float stage.

Your average RVer is never going to get this sorted out, so I agree your average AGM owner should not try to "equalize" his battery.

ALLAGM owners should NOT try to "equalize" their AGMs!; Whatever the definition. Why the soft peddling term "average AGM owners" for AGM owners when "equalizing" is a wet term in the first place? Again, AGM owners should IGNORE any discussions including the term "equalizing" as they are assuredly by misguided, but well intending, wet owners.

Now, explain why wets are always speaking about 14.8V or more during ABS, but somehow now 14.4 - 14.6V will balance cell voltages? I only ask this to point out the illogic of the wet world. Even if there is a plausible explanation, how does that apply to the AGM owner?

Where does the term "finish, top, or saturation charge appear in the AGM world?

Why do wets ignore temperature compensating chargers? Is it because it is OK to bubble a wet? Is that really a good thing during regular charging? I can understand it to stir the liquid, but does that actually have anything to do with enhancing charging?

My battery temps vary between 6 and 110F. There is no fixed Voltage that is correct across that range. I will never buy a PD/IOTA because they lack temp comp.

The most difficult concept about AGMs in the unlearning of wets.

HTH;
John