AGM Battery Maintainer

[dnr733]

I have some more learning to do. While I think it is a benefit I have two AGM batteries, I did not realize their drip chargers are different.
So I will have to catch up on more details on my batteries.
In the meantime, does anyone have suggestions for AGM battery maintainers?

 

[Tulecreeper]

What is a "drip charger"? A "trickle charger"?

 

[DonTom]

I have some more learning to do. While I think it is a benefit I have two AGM batteries, I did not realize their drip chargers are different.
So I will have to catch up on more details on my batteries.
In the meantime, does anyone have suggestions for AGM battery maintainers?

Are you asking about why type of converter youi should use for AGM house batteries?

If so, see here.

-Don- Mission, TX

 

[Tulecreeper]

Are you asking about why type of converter youi should use for AGM house batteries?

If so, see here.

-Don- Mission, TX

Don, my anti-virus went nuts when I clicked on your link and wouldn't let me go any farther.

 

[dnr733]

Trickle charger yes. Some my friends call them a drip charger.
This would be for the winter where I take the batteries off my RV until spring.

 

[John From Detroit]

Agm's are Lead Acid and are very close to Flooded Wet in what they require for maintenance.
That said.. One advantage AGM's do seem to have is less internal current leakage. So they might be good just sitting on a slab of wood all winter.
I like to store Lead Acid on scrap wood.. WHY. well if there is any acid leakage the wood may be damaged but being scrap... The cost of "Repair" is $0.00.
But you set it on floor or counter.. that gets EXPENSIVE.

 

[DonTom]

Don, my anti-virus went nuts when I clicked on your link and wouldn't let me go any farther.

Which antivirus are you using?

I don't have any issues with that link for the RV AGM converters.

Is anybody else?


-Don- Mission, TX

 

[Ray-IN]

Agm's are Lead Acid and are very close to Flooded Wet in what they require for maintenance.
That said.. One advantage AGM's do seem to have is less internal current leakage. So they might be good just sitting on a slab of wood all winter.
I like to store Lead Acid on scrap wood.. WHY. well if there is any acid leakage the wood may be damaged but being scrap... The cost of "Repair" is $0.00.
But you set it on floor or counter.. that gets EXPENSIVE.

EXACTLY! Each batter mfgr. states their ideal voltages for charging and maintaining. In the end all LA batteries charge at the same voltages and rate generally.
A fully-charged LA battery in good condition self-discharges at a rate of 3% per month when disconnected. That makes easy to calculate how much charge is remaining after sitting for 6 months.
I have a gas farm tractor that is unused for 6 months of each year. It has never failed to start each spring, from the same AGM battery, for the last 6 years.

Dons link works with my FireFox browser and 3 different AV privacy tools.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

Keeping up with self discharge is less critical than observing the subtle charging profile differences between FLA and SLA. Most any maintainer (not "trickle") will do either equally well. Come camping season do an equalize charge if appropriate and you're off 'n' runnin'.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[uchu]

Which antivirus are you using?

I don't have any issues with that link for the RV AGM converters.

Is anybody else?


-Don- Mission, TX

No issues when I opened it. I use AVG antivirus.

 

[Ray-IN]

Keeping up with self discharge is less critical than observing the subtle charging profile differences between FLA and SLA. Most any maintainer (not "trickle") will do either equally well. Come camping season do an equalize charge if appropriate and you're off 'n' runnin'.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

AGM batteries are normally never equalize cycled.

 

[WME]

Are you looking for a grid powered maintainer or a small solar one

 

[TonyL]

I was always taught never to put batteries directly on to a concrete surface as that causes the battery to discharge.
Quite how given the casing is insulated I never figured out, but I always put them on either wood or rubber matting during storage when at home.

 

[DonTom]

I was always taught never to put batteries directly on to a concrete surface as that causes the battery to discharge.

I have heard that also, but I have my doubts if there is any truth in it.

-Don- Mission, TX

 

[Isaac-1]

From what I have read this may have applied to batteries 60+ years ago that used a more permeable plastic casing, but does not apply to modern ones.

 

[Onyrlef]

I was always taught never to put batteries directly on to a concrete surface as that causes the battery to discharge.
Quite how given the casing is insulated I never figured out, but I always put them on either wood or rubber matting during storage when at home.

That's an old myth, doesn't actually matter what surface a modern AGM battery sits on.

 

[boatbuilder]

Issac-1 is correct. The old rubber cased batteries would hold moisture on the surface which would cause a very small leakage to ground and discharge a battery over time. Modern plastic cased batteries do not have this issue.
All the battery distributors that I work with tell me the biggest reason to insulate a battery from a concrete floor is for thermal insulation. The colder the surface the more current is required to charge or maintain the battery.
If an AGM battery leaks acid you have a serious problem.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

AGM batteries are normally never equalize cycled.

Correct. Lifeline is an exception to that so I was specific to say "if appropriate". Fairly standard SOP for FLA. The AGM absorb phase generally keeps things pretty well balanced for the life of the battery so no point in going through any extraordinary measure to do so.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[gwinger]

Trickle charger yes. Some my friends call them a drip charger.
This would be for the winter where I take the batteries off my RV until spring.

Trickle chargers and battery maintainers are two different animals. A trickle charger does not monitor battery voltage. It will always keep supplying a charge.
A maintainer will monitor the voltage and turn off when the battery is fully charged. They monitor the battery and will turn back on if the voltage drops below a certain level. They are basically smart chargers.
I use a Deltran Battery Tender on my batteries. NOCO is another brand.Both companies make maintainers for multiple batteries.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

I don't have any issues with that link for the RV AGM converters.

Is anybody else?

McAfee Webadvisor rates it as "suspicious". Doesn't necessarily mean it's bad - just that it's on a complaint list or doesn't have up-to-date web credentials. Since we are getting the URL from a presumably known source (DonTom), I feel safe ignoring the warning.