Just to be clear, I know nothing about batteries, compared to Mex and landyacht -- so I have no idea if the following is correct. But there is a specific product made for AGMs:
Batteryminder for Sealed AGMNaio, is your Batteryminder that model, or the generic model used for ordinary wet cells (which is what I have)?
Does anyone know if there are actual engineering studies -- not anecdotes or strongly held opinions -- showing whether the Batteryminders are useful, harmful, or useless for AGMs? Or for wet cells?
I am sure that Mex's exacting battery hygiene practices are very effective. The problem is that for most ordinary RVers, we just don't have the time to groom our batteries with great care. The battery tenders are probably a compromise -- "set it and forget it." The result is shorter battery life, I am sure, but it is better than nothing (I think) . But we have to balance the value of the extra battery life versus the cost of the time and effort to achieve that extra life.
It would be an interesting economic analysis: how much extra life does one achieve with intensive battery care? What is the dollar value of that extra life? How much extra time and effort does that intensive care cost the user? What is the dollar value of that time?
On edit -- I should add that if battery life is a life or death issue (as in submarines), the economic analysis goes out the window. For most of us, it is not as critical. Important, but not all-consuming.
2012 Fun Finder X-139 "Boondock Style" (axle-flipped and extra insulation)
2013 Toyota Tacoma Off-Road (semi-beefy tires and components)
Our trips -- pix and textAbout our trailer"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single list."