Optima, Gel or AGM, Advertised as both, which is it?

[RJsfishin]

This question came up,.......
Optima, gel or AGM, which is it? Whats the difference? Its advertised as both.
I know what an "absorbed glass mat" battery looks like inside, because I sawed one in half.

[OptimaJim]

Hello, I noticed your conversation regarding our batteries and wanted to offer some assistance. Rich, we know a lot of folks confuse gel and AGM technologies, so we make sure if someone is searching on the internet for “Optima” and “gel” that they're still able to find our products. We never advertise Optima as having gel technology and as Chris indicated, we do specifically indicate on our site that Optima batteries are not gel batteries.

Our YellowTops and BlueTops (except the 34M) are all designed and warrantied for deep-cycle use, they all use 99.99% pure virgin lead (not recycled) and are found in a wide variety of consumer, commercial and military applications. Each manufacturer comes up with a combination for their batteries, that they believe will be of most benefit to their customers. Generally speaking, there is a trade-off between batteries of like sizes in terms of cranking amps and reserve capacity, where more can be had of one at the expense of the other.

As a result, comparing a single aspect of a battery's specifications does not always present a clear or accurate representation of the product. We encourage comparisons, but prefer that they accurately represent all products, using identical battery group sizes (we don't manufacture a Group 29 battery) and indicating cranking amps, reserve capacity, warranty terms and conditions and of course, price. In the case of tournament anglers and racers, we also encourage a weight comparison, as that is an important consideration for those folks. Even at that point, what won't show up in a spec sheet is how the battery performs after 10, 50 or even 100 cycles. This is often where there is the greatest difference between products.

The key to long battery life, regardless of brand or manufacturer, is proper voltage maintenance. Whenever any lead-acid battery is discharged below 12.4 volts and is left sitting in that state, sulfation begins to form, which diminishes capacity and lifespan. That makes a quality battery maintenance device an excellent investment for any vehicle that doesn't see regular use.

Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries

[time2roll]

Good to see someone appreciates gelled humor 😉

Actually I have not cut open a Gello battery. Is there a better word to describe the consistancy?

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Hmmm, oh yeah....

Gel

Optima

JellO?

[time2roll]

RJsfishin wrote:
Ok, seems this really is a gell cell. So a gel cell is still a lead acid !

I wonder what their good for, except emergency standby ?

Standby and very deep cycling. Needs to charge slow due to gelled electrolyte. Sealed is good for salt water boats. Very low maintenance.

[time2roll]

RJsfishin wrote:
Right, but OPtima sure likes to come up under gel batt search.
Is this a gel cell, or a sealed lead acid, or AGM ?

Wet cell is lead acid. AGM is lead acid. Gell is lead acid.

Wet cell has free liquid electrolyte. Caps are open to the air.

AGM has liquid electrolyte but it is all contained in a sponge like matting between the plates. Caps are sealed with a valve. So it is also a Valve Regulated Sealed Lead Acid battery.

Gell has a semi-solid electrolyte the consistancy of jello or pudding. Caps are also sealed with a valve. So Gell is also a Valve Regulated Sealed Lead Acid battery.

Some wet cells are considered sealed because there is no access but you better keep them upright to avoid a mess.

Optima is AGM only but is also designated VRLA similar to Gell.

Forget Battery Mart for info. Go to OEM webpage or batteryuniversity.com

[NinerBikes]

I need my first 2 cups of coffee before posting in the morning, or searching.

[mena661]

Chris Bryant wrote:
Geeze- 2 minutes on the Optima website gives the faq

"Optima Battery Company" wrote:
What is a gel battery? Is OPTIMA® a gel battery?
A gel battery design is typically a modification of the standard lead-acid automotive or marine battery. A gelling agent is added to the electrolyte to reduce movement inside the battery case. Many gel batteries also use one-way valves in place of open vents, which help the normal internal gasses to recombine back into water in the battery, reducing gassing. Generally, gel batteries are less tolerant of high heat and are charged at lower power than traditional or AGM batteries. An OPTIMA battery is neither a gel battery nor regular flooded battery. OPTIMA is a SPIRALCELLTECHNOLOGY AGM battery.

This here.

[wa8yxm]

RJsfishin wrote:
Ok, seems this really is a gell cell. So a gel cell is still a lead acid !

I wonder what their good for, except emergency standby ?

Optima is AGM,,, It comes up under a search for GEL for two reaons. One people do not know the difference, Two: AGM's have all but one property of GEL, and that property is a DISadvantage (GEL's are very finikey eaters, if you do not charge them properly... You replace them).

But yes, GEL cells, like AGM and Maintenance free, is of a battery class called Valve Regulated Sealed Lead Acid.

All three have some properties in common (You do not have removable caps, you do not add water, they are low-gasing) And in addition GEL and AGM have the added feature of being able to mount in "odd" positions, Upright, on end, on edge, upside down, tilted and more. In addition SOME (Lifeline) AGMs can be recharged very very fast (GEL on the other hand is the slowest rechargeable of all batteries).

AGM's are much more "Forgiving" of abuse than Gel

And I believe AGMs are approved for air travel.. Not sure of Gel.


OPTIMA, in addition to all this.... Has about 60% of the capacity of a same size class any other make or type (For example a G-29 is about (rounded) 100 amp hours, unless it's an optima and then it is about 60.

[Chris_Bryant]

Geeze- 2 minutes on the Optima website gives the faq

"Optima Battery Company" wrote:
What is a gel battery? Is OPTIMA® a gel battery?
A gel battery design is typically a modification of the standard lead-acid automotive or marine battery. A gelling agent is added to the electrolyte to reduce movement inside the battery case. Many gel batteries also use one-way valves in place of open vents, which help the normal internal gasses to recombine back into water in the battery, reducing gassing. Generally, gel batteries are less tolerant of high heat and are charged at lower power than traditional or AGM batteries. An OPTIMA battery is neither a gel battery nor regular flooded battery. OPTIMA is a SPIRALCELLTECHNOLOGY AGM battery.

[RJsfishin]

Ok, seems this really is a gell cell. So a gel cell is still a lead acid !

I wonder what their good for, except emergency standby ?

[RJsfishin]

smkettner wrote:
I don't think you will find "GEL" on the oem website.
Optima is only AGM.

Light gray case is deep cycle. Beauty of AGM is that even deep cycle has lots of cranking amps and so it will carry a start rating same as other 12v "true deep cycle" such as Trojan.

Right, but OPtima sure likes to come up under gel batt search.
Is this a gel cell, or a sealed lead acid, or AGM ?

Seems like their all the same now?http://www.batterymart.com/p-12v-74ah-sealed-lead-acid-gel-battery.html now ? Why is this so hard ? Why worry about it ? Cuz I'm in the middle of an argument ! And I don't
like loose'n !:)

[time2roll]

I don't think you will find "GEL" on the oem website.
Optima is only AGM.

Light gray case is deep cycle. Beauty of AGM is that even deep cycle has lots of cranking amps and so it will carry a start rating same as other 12v "true deep cycle" such as Trojan.

[Shadow_Catcher]

Optima does not make a true deep cycle battery. I chose a Lifeline AGM because it is demonstrably one of the best in part because of it MIL spec FAA heritage.

[RJsfishin]

Thanks for the clarification.

[wa8yxm]

Optima is AGM, Sprial Wound AGM, it has roughly 60% of the capacity of the same size class Regular battery (Be it AGM, Maintenance Free, or Flooded wet cell).

Many people confuse Gel and AGM, because in many respects they are the same

Both are Valve Regulated Sealed Lead Acid batteries
Both can be mounted "This side up" or any other way you want to mount them, On edge, On end, Even upside down.. They do not leak and they are low gasing.

However there is a big difference:

Where as some AGM batteries can take recharge very very fast, (Lifeline at one point recommended an initial charge of up to 3 times the amp hour rating (20 hour rate) so a Common Group 29 could take 300 amps of charge.. Other makes do not make quite a bold a recommendation0.

GEL's need to be SERIOUSLY babied,, (Say 25 amps) and where AGM's are a bit forgiving of some abuse things,, GEL is not, not at all. Do not overcharge a Gel ever.

This is why GEL cells are usually restricted to use in electrnic devices that have a good charge controller, and are also usually only smaller (Single digit amp hour rating) batteries and even there AGM is replacing them.