Battery Info

[jrsavoie]

Ive been buying automotive parts from ebay for over 10 years now. Never had a problem, other than a few incorrect items from time to time and that was probably as much my fault as the vendor. I've bought everything from brakes to wiper motors to alternators and transmission filters, motor mounts etc. But since ebay sells for somewhere between 50 to 75 % less than the big auto suppliers, it could be them telling you not to buy off Ebay. Just a thought from someone very happy with ebay.

Some of the fakes are very well done.

I also order off Ebay and Amazon. Only after checking the bad reviews
It doesn't do any good to check the good reviews. There's a lot of fake reviews out there

 

[LouNY]

That is pure smoke and mirrors, the AGM and the older convetional lead acid battery take the same input and charge the same

There is some controversy having an AGM battery with an alternator designed for a wet cell battery.

Some say the alternator has to work harder because the AGM requires a higher state of charge while others say, so what, the AGM will reach the full charge faster than a wet cell so it's an even trade.

I say, I would prefer the AGM but can't justify the higher cost.

Any charger that working with your older battery will work just fine with an AGM. I have not purchased any lead acid battery except AGM's in the past several years. Two of my pickups came with them from the factory.
With no corrosion of the terminals or cables every thing just works better.

There's times I definitely could justify the cost.

How do AGM batteries work with a float charger and or on rarely used equipment?

I had a couple batteries get very corroded this year, just sitting, plugged into a float charger.

Does anybody have any AGM float charger recommendations?

I'm pretty sure I'm going to be inpatient for about 6 weeks in the near future and how long I'll be incapacitated by health and weather after that remains to be seen

 

[garry1p]

How do AGM batteries work with a float charger and or on rarely used equipment?

Most modern battery chargers have an STD and AGM position while some can auto detect which type of battery is connected and charge accordingly.
I think the biggest difference is the float level on the AGM is lower. The higher float level on a wet cell can shorten the life of an AGM

 

[jrsavoie]

Most modern battery chargers have an STD and AGM position while some can auto detect which type of battery is connected and charge accordingly.
I think the biggest difference is the float level on the AGM is lower. The higher float level on a wet cell can shorten the life of an AGM

If you have a charger with a STD, does it need penicillin?

 

[John_Mc]

There is some controversy having an AGM battery with an alternator designed for a wet cell battery.

Some say the alternator has to work harder because the AGM requires a higher state of charge while others say, so what, the AGM will reach the full charge faster than a wet cell so it's an even trade.

I say, I would prefer the AGM but can't justify the higher cost.

Not really a concern. SOME AGM batteries (including Odyssey brand) prefer a slightly higher bulk charging and float voltages than flooded lead acid batteries. However, the difference is only about 0.2 or 0.3 volts. AGM batteries generally have lower internal resistance, which means they are capable of accepting a charge faster than flooded lead-acid batteries. Neither of these is enough to put a strain on your alternator. Turning on your headlights probably makes a bigger difference.

I was getting short life from the flooded lead acid batteries in my tractor (both from the dealer and from reputable other brands). They were also corroding the ends of the battery cable. I put in an Optima Yellowtop AGM battery 9+ years ago and have not had a problem since. (I do keep the battery on a battery maintainer when the tractor will not be used for an extended time.)

 

[jrsavoie]

Not really a concern. SOME AGM batteries (including Odyssey brand) prefer a slightly higher bulk charging and float voltages than flooded lead acid batteries. However, the difference is only a few tenths of a volt. AGM batteries generally have lower internal resistance, which means they are capable of accepting a charge faster than flooded lead-acid batteries. Neither of these is enough to put a strain on your alternator. Turning on your headlights probably makes a bigger difference.

I was getting short life from the flooded lead acid batteries in my tractor (both from the dealer and from reputable other brands). They were also corroding the ends of the battery cable. I put in an Optima Yellowtop AGM battery 9+ years ago and have not had a problem since. (I do keep the battery on a battery maintainer when the tractor will not be used for an extended time.)

Any particular maintainer?

I've been using the $20 maintainers / float chargers from Harbor Freight.

I have several, but I had a couple batteries with them. Boil over.

Messed of the concrete in one shed. Because we didn't go out there much in.the winter

https://www.harborfreight.com/075-amp-12v-deluxe-battery-maintainer-and-float-charger-62813.html

 

[John_Mc]

Most modern battery chargers have an STD and AGM position while some can auto detect which type of battery is connected and charge accordingly.
I think the biggest difference is the float level on the AGM is lower. The higher float level on a wet cell can shorten the life of an AGM

Actually, some AGM batteries (including Odyssey brand) have slightly higher recommended bulk charge and float voltage levels than standard flooded lead-acid batteries (about 0.2V). Using the "AGM" setting on some charges boosts those voltages a bit. You will not damage them by charging with a charger made for flooded lead acid batteries, though they might be slightly undercharged. Other AGM batteries recommend using the same charging profile as for flooded lead acid batteries (last I checked, Optima fell into this category.)

some people confuse Gel bateries with AGM batteries. They are not the same thing. Gel batteries have a slightly lower charging voltages and are very susceptible to damage by charging at higher voltages.

 

[grsthegreat]

There's times I definitely could justify the cost.

How do AGM batteries work with a float charger and or on rarely used equipment?

I had a couple batteries get very corroded this year, just sitting, plugged into a float charger.

Does anybody have any AGM float charger recommendations?

I'm pretty sure I'm going to be inpatient for about 6 weeks in the near future and how long I'll be incapacitated by health and weather after that remains to be seen

I use a NOCO charger on most equipment. They have an AGM setting. I usually only se corrosion on batteries with the vents. On sealed batteries i hardly ever see it

 

[John_Mc]

Any particular maintainer?

I've been using the $20 maintainers / float chargers from Harbor Freight.

I have several, but I had a couple batteries with them. Boil over.

Messed of the concrete in one shed. Because we didn't go out there much in.the winter

https://www.harborfreight.com/075-amp-12v-deluxe-battery-maintainer-and-float-charger-62813.html

Harbor freight maintainers seem to have a bit of a reputation for that sort of thing. Some of them are right where they should be for charging and float voltages, others of the same model are under or over voltage. The overvoltage ones will tend to boil off electrolyte. I just don't trust them.

All of the NOCO and BAtteryMINDER brand chargers/maintainers have a desulfation feature. They are also temperature compensated (adjust charging voltages to optimize for ambient temperature.)

Which charger/maintainer and whether to use the standard or the AGM setting depend on which brand AGM battery you have. I checked the recommended bulk charging and float voltages on my Optima battery. It matched up more closely with the standard flooded lead acid battery charging profiles on my BatteryMINDer chargers. A quick note to Optima tech support confirmed to use the standard profile. A odd ball brand AGM in my log forwarding trailer also uses the standard lead acid profile. The deep cycle "VMax" brand AGM battery in my dump trailer and the little Yuasa battery in my UTV both use the AGM profile on my chargers.

I use a BatteryMINDer Model 128CEC1 (predecessor to their current 128CEC2) on its highest (8 amp) setting on the dump trailer, since the deep cycle battery likes to be recharged at a higher rate. This charger also gets rotated around to other vehicles on occasion, since it has a variety of charging profiles and will also charge at a user selectable 2, 4, or 8 amp. It also has better testing and diagnostic indicators than the NOCO chargers and the smaller (1.5 amp) BatteryMINDer chargers. It's expensive, but the flexibility was worth it to me.

I have several BatteryMINDER model 1500 ($55) and model 1215C ($82) chargers. These are std lead acid profile chargers, both 1.5 amp. I believe they are electrically identical, but the 1215C is more weatherproof. I use them on flooded led acid and on AGM batteries which use the same charging profile. I use one of the 1215C on my tractors Optima AGM battery since it is more weather proof. That battery is over 9 years old. (Previous flooded lead acid batteries lasted about 2 years and caused some corrosion problems.)

I uses a NOCO Genius2 on my wife's motorcycle. Low amperage, but has multiple chsrging profiles. (reasonably priced 2 amp charger. can be found for $40- $50)

In the smaller chargers, the small BatteryMINDers have only one advantage over the the NOCO Genius1 and Genius2 charger: The desulfation in the BatteryMINDer chargers are continuous (NOCO only desulfates during charging cycle, note in maintenance mode). The NOCO Genius 1&2 have multiple charging profiles (flooded led-acid, AGM, Lithium), while the small BatteryMINDers are 1 charging profile (works very well on flooded lead acid and some AGM, works "OK" on specialty AGM)

A BatteryMINDER 2012AGM on the UTV (2 AMP AGM profile only charger, but with the diagnostic capabilities of their larger chargers, current price $109. I've had this for years. It has worked well, but since I've got the dignostic stuff on my larger BatteryMinder chargers, I might go with a NOCO Genius1 or Genius2 if I were buying today, since they are much less expensive and will also do AGM profiles.)

A two-bank NOCO GENPRO 10X2 charger (basically two 10 amp, 12v chargers in one housing) is permanently mounted in my 24V antique military pickup. will do standard, AGM, or Lithium. Nice charger, and highly waterproof (rated to IP68) so can be installed where it is exposed to the elements. Unless you need to charge two batteries independently in the same vehicle, a single bank charger would be more appropriate.

I hope some of this answers some of your questions. All of the ones I have listed above have proven very reliable. I have NEVER had one fry a battery. You really can't go wrong with either brand. It's just a matter of determining the appropriate charging profile for your battery and the best charging amperage.

 

[RjCorazza]

@John_Mc , I thought I was particular about batteries and chargers / maintainers!!!
I also like the Battery minders, and rotate the 8 amp and 1.5 amp around as needed. I like them so much I bought a 48v BatteryMinder for the golf cart.