Battery compatibility (sp)

[kg4vgh]

Howdy all....
I bought an Optima AGM battery this weekend to add to the electrical system on the boat.....
Raised a question......will the new battery be compatible with the OEM charger/inverter ? The manual says the charger will charge all types of battery's, however.....the AGM wasn't around 20 years ago....
Input / suggestions please.....thanks
Pete

 

[Russ Calasant]

Pete, you shouldnt have any problems, mine is 13 yrs old and I had no issues. A friend also uses the batteries in his SR - 22yrs old. Its my understanding that your charger should not "see" any difference.

 

[StevenA]

I was told when I replaced my factory charger (it died) with a higher end model that it would charge (per the manual also) all battery types. In the fine print, it said do not mix battery types. I figured great, and just bought four new batteries (my port two were shot either way) and decided to not take a chance. The blue tops were way out of line. With my lead acid's I have always got 4-5 years out of them with proper maintenance. The extra money for blue tops or AGM's just did not seem worth it in my case.... If it was me, I would be concerned about mixing batteries even in different banks, JMHO.

 

[kg4vgh]

Thanks Guys....Good point Steven.....looks like I will get a secondary charger for the 1 blue top....untill I upgrade the other 3...my lead acids only last about 3 years...max....as I boat all year.....winter of the 3rd year, I keep my jumb box handy and charged....

 

[StevenA]

Glad to be of help, I hope.... I do btw, leave my invertor on year round and we also boat all year pretty much here in Oklahoma as well. With the invertor on all the time we do find it necessary at least once a year, sometimes twice, to top off with distilled water.