Possibly $2,800 Poorer due to Bad AGM Batteries

copb8tx

copb8tx

Well-Known Member
SILVER Sponsor
Jan 26, 2008
2,840
Highland Village, TX/Port Richey, FL
Boat Info
SOLD 2005 420 DA w/T-8.1S Horizons
Engines
2018 Sea Hunt 255se w/Yamaha 300hp
After 5 months of the power being off on my dock due to flooding it was finally restored yesterday. I guess that's where the good news ends.

My boat is 75 miles away and I can't break free at the moment to check it out. My good friend and dock neighbor has been trying to get my boat started and get the batteries charged but is having no luck. The port engine clicks, the starboard and genny do nothing. Also, none of the 12v fixtures in the cabin are working. This is after the shore-power charger has been charging for 24 hours.

My neighbor's a pretty savvy guy and I can't think he's just messing things up. He's checked my battery switches both at the panel and in the bilge. He thinks my batteries are fried because they were discharged for so long and AGM batteries don't like that. I have 7 batteries (each cost $400) and I just can't imagine that ALL of them would die.

Other than doing a simple voltage read is there a way to test each one? Any other thoughts?
 
I would make sure I had had a newer charger and would leave that thing on for a couple of days before I did anything else. See below.

Your batteries may be 150 amp hours each x 7 = 1050 amp hours total with the OEM charger at lets say 10 amp hour charge rate = 100+ hours to charge back up!


I upgraded to all AGM last year and took the opportunity to upgrade to one of the new, more sophisticated PROMARINER 50-amp (high amp) chargers and couldn't be happier with the set-up.

Total Amp Hour capacity of the batteries
————————————————
Total amperage output of charger
= Total Hours To Charge Batteries​
​
​
Example: 100 amp hour battery / 10 amp charger = 10 hours​
​
​
 
Last edited:
gerryb said:
I would make sure I had had a newer charger and would leave that thing on for a couple of days before I did anything else. See below.

Your batteries may be 150 amp hours each x 7 = 1050 amp hours total with the OEM charger at lets say 10 amp hour charge rate = 100+ hours to charge back up!


I upgraded to all AGM last year and took the opportunity to upgrade to one of the new, more sophisticated PROMARINER 50-amp (high amp) chargers and couldn't be happier with the set-up.

Total Amp Hour capacity of the batteries
————————————————
Total amperage output of charger
= Total Hours To Charge Batteries​
Example: 100 amp hour battery / 10 amp charger = 10 hours​
Click to expand...

Interesting. Here's what batteries I have:

Odyssey 31-PC2150S Heavy Duty Commercial Battery

  • Cold Crank Amp (CCA)- 1150; Better warranty: Limited 3 and 4 year full replacement warranty - not pro rata; Longer service life: With 3-10 years of service life, ODYSSEY batteries save time, money, and aggravation
  • Longer cycle life: 70 percentage longer cycle life compared to conventional deep cycle batteries, up to 400 cycles at 80 percentage depth of discharge- high stable voltage for longer periods of time
  • Faster recharge: The highest recharge efficiency of any sealed lead battery on the market, capable of 100 percentage recharge in 4 - 6 hours; Mounting flexibility: Non-spillable design
  • Vibration resistance- design protects against high impact shock and mechanical vibration; Extreme temperature tolerant- Operating temperatures from -40 degree Celsius (-40 degree Fahrenheit) to 45 degree Celsius (113 degree Fahrenheit).

The current charger has worked fine with these batteries for some time. I'd prefer to have it fail before replacing it as it's served me well until this unusual situation.

 
I have 5 of those bad boys sitting in the back of my Jeep ready to replace some 7 year old Optima Blue Tops. Good luck on bringing them back.
 
mistercomputerman said:
I have 5 of those bad boys sitting in the back of my Jeep ready to replace some 7 year old Optima Blue Tops. Good luck on bringing them back.
Click to expand...

I feel your pain. I guess I can look at the bright side and think about all the fuel I saved over the summer...........hmmmm........not making me feel any better.
 
+1 on the dead AGM not taking a charge. Same thing happened to me over at Grandpappy. They can be brought back to life though. Good luck!
 
This might also help.

[video=youtube;qHSI_qHOI4U]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHSI_qHOI4U[/video]
 
7 AGM and maybe a 2 bank charger with a 10A total output? Whats the static voltage of the cranking batteries and can you isolate any house batteries and just let the charger do its thing to the main cranking? I dont see 5 months of warm temps killing AGMs. They may be depleted due to parasitic draw for sure.
 
Thanks All. I'm hoping I can save most/all of them. I'll be working on it tomorrow.

I've already purchased 2 new Odysseys so I guess I'll have spares if all the old ones work. I'll consider that the best case scenario.
 
Well, for what it is worth: it takes about three hours to remove 5 Optima Blue tops, clean all the connectors properly, change out the bent battery cable bolts, put five 80lb Oydessy's in and tighten all the cables and hold downs.

What a PITA.
 
copb8tx said:
After 5 months of the power being off on my dock due to flooding it was finally restored yesterday. I guess that's where the good news ends.

My boat is 75 miles away and I can't break free at the moment to check it out. My good friend and dock neighbor has been trying to get my boat started and get the batteries charged but is having no luck. The port engine clicks, the starboard and genny do nothing. Also, none of the 12v fixtures in the cabin are working. This is after the shore-power charger has been charging for 24 hours.

My neighbor's a pretty savvy guy and I can't think he's just messing things up. He's checked my battery switches both at the panel and in the bilge. He thinks my batteries are fried because they were discharged for so long and AGM batteries don't like that. I have 7 batteries (each cost $400) and I just can't imagine that ALL of them would die.

Other than doing a simple voltage read is there a way to test each one? Any other thoughts?
Click to expand...

May I ask what AGM battery you get for $400.00 ??
 
copb8tx said:
Just wanted to report back that the advise of the video above is magic! All 7of my batteries are now fully charged and working perfectly.

Thanks mistercomputerman and CSR!
Click to expand...


I don't currently have a problem - however in the interest of increasing my overall knowledge I followed the link and watched the video.

I think the timely post by mistercomputerman should be nominated for the most spot on, helpful, timely posts to help out a fellow csr member!

Mark
 
We run Advance auto group 31 farm and truck batteries, $100-$120 ea. last 4 years and buy new ones. I don't understand $300 plus batteries.
 
FootballFan said:
I don't currently have a problem - however in the interest of increasing my overall knowledge I followed the link and watched the video.

I think the timely post by mistercomputerman should be nominated for the most spot on, helpful, timely posts to help out a fellow csr member!

Mark
Click to expand...

Of the day, month, year, or all time?
 
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