battery charge question

[Four Suns]

Once you decide which batteries you are going to buy you need to make sure your charger will be able to charge them. My Xantrex can handle 2 banks and I can switch the charger so one bank is for AGM. I would not want to switch to both when plugged into shore power as I would ruin the batteries. If you are going with the AGM's than you might want to get a smart charger with a Link 10 or 20.

Good luck with the batteries and the charger.

Ken

AGM batteries typically have the same charging profile as flooded cell batteries. You have to be careful because some of the battery charger companies have put the "AGM" setting to charge like a gel battery and it will shorten their life. AGM's are not gel. It's a good idea to look at the charger's manual and see what the "AGM" setting is actually doing and compare that to what the battery manufacturer recommends.

Your altenators are set up to charge flooded cell batteries so that's why I wonder what the deal is with the charger companies basically putting in a switch for "AGM" since it should basically be the same as flooded cell... maybe it makes people feel better or something.

If you have an older smart charger for flooded cell batteries, it'll probably give you the correct charging profile and there is no reason to run out and buy a charger just because it has an "AGM" switch. Buy a few cases of beer instead... better investment.

 

[Four Suns]

Thanks for the tip on Lifeline. As for mixing deep cycle with starting, maybe somebody else know for sure but I think the charger would mess that up.

Unless you can separate them by banks on the charger, you are correct.

 

[Iprof]

AGM batteries typically have the same charging profile as flooded cell batteries. You have to be careful because some of the battery charger companies have put the "AGM" setting to charge like a gel battery and it will shorten their life. AGM's are not gel. It's a good idea to look at the charger's manual and see what the "AGM" setting is actually doing and compare that to what the battery manufacturer recommends.

Your altenators are set up to charge flooded cell batteries so that's why I wonder what the deal is with the charger companies basically putting in a switch for "AGM" since it should basically be the same as flooded cell... maybe it makes people feel better or something.

If you have an older smart charger for flooded cell batteries, it'll probably give you the correct charging profile and there is no reason to run out and buy a charger just because it has an "AGM" switch. Buy a few cases of beer instead... better investment.

The Link 1000 is a computer for the Xantrex chargers and they do need to know what type of batteries you have so the system can monitor the system and give you the correct readings based on the batteries. You must also tell the system when setting it up the amp hours of the batteries. It is a great system once you get it set up and running it does give you all the information you would want or need.

Ken