So You Own An AGM Battery...
AGM batteries can sulfate just like any other lead acid battery. Other than by Ouija Board how would YOU determine if a battery has become sulfated and how severe is the sulfation, and if desulfation ...
Forum Discussion
I have two AGM/solar systems.
I recently starting watching morning volts by looking for a declining Voltage daily trend. If the 12V fridges are running, I note the overnight low Volts as well(a feature of the Turnigy meter).
I also MAY note if the transition from ABS to float is later each day. I don't sit around staring at the controllers!
This method works because I rely on solar for Absorb and float. With solar, the batteries get no charging overnight. Therefore, there are no surface charges to foul up Volt readings.
When morning Volts are low, out comes the genny to power 120V chargers to bulk up the batteries. These batteries were not always treated this well.
In short, a glance at a meter tells me if I need to deploy the genny. It takes longer to explain.
I will know to replace the batteries, due to low capacity, when the genny run does not result in a higher low Voltage the following morning.
I have dry-camped as many as 31 consecutive days before and plan 42 days in Quartzite in Jan-Feb next year with these batteries. The batteries will be 4 and 5 years old at the beginning of the trip.
Am I doing it wrong?
HTH;
John
I recently starting watching morning volts by looking for a declining Voltage daily trend. If the 12V fridges are running, I note the overnight low Volts as well(a feature of the Turnigy meter).
I also MAY note if the transition from ABS to float is later each day. I don't sit around staring at the controllers!
This method works because I rely on solar for Absorb and float. With solar, the batteries get no charging overnight. Therefore, there are no surface charges to foul up Volt readings.
When morning Volts are low, out comes the genny to power 120V chargers to bulk up the batteries. These batteries were not always treated this well.
In short, a glance at a meter tells me if I need to deploy the genny. It takes longer to explain.
I will know to replace the batteries, due to low capacity, when the genny run does not result in a higher low Voltage the following morning.
I have dry-camped as many as 31 consecutive days before and plan 42 days in Quartzite in Jan-Feb next year with these batteries. The batteries will be 4 and 5 years old at the beginning of the trip.
Am I doing it wrong?
HTH;
John
