Saturday, Mar 08, 2014 at 22:24
The first and most important thing to understand is that many generalisations concerning
batteries...especially
AGM are unreliable.
The various manufacturers fiddle with this and that and in current times can produce a wide range of performance options from
batteries.
There ARE
AGM batteries that are specifically designed as cranking
batteries and to cope with reasonable under bonnet temperatures.
BUT and the is a BIG BUT......you must consult the specifications and application recommendations of the individual battery model involved.
Some popular
AGM batteries on the market have very poor high temperature tollerance indeed....in fact a couple of popular
AGM models would be out of spec sitting under a shady tree in some of our hotter areas.
There are a lot of people spending big on
AGM and getting nothing but short life and disapointment from them...because they have not consulted the manufacturer information.
One question I ask......IS why
AGM...serioulsy WHY.....do you realy want to pay twice as much as you need to for a battery and very likley get no advantage.
ALL the technology used in
AGM is available in flodded
batteries thesed days.
The single biggest difference that typically ( remember what I said about generalisatons) makes flooded
batteries more tolerant of heat than
AGM is that the fluid in the flooded battery allows it to disipate heat better to the case than a battery that has had all the free fluid tipped out (
AGM).
A good quality sealed marine battery will give you most of the advantages of
AGM, with far better heat tolerance and at half the price.
Personally I like the Supercharge Seamaster Gold...as far as i know it is the only sealed maintenance free lead acid battery that can easily be topped up.
Once out of warranty, you can peel the top sticker off to reveal the vent valves which screw out like a conventional screw top battery.
If you still have your heart set on
AGM...know your business and read and understand the specification sheets and application recommendations in detail before buying.
Cheers
AnswerID:
527928
Follow Up By: The Bantam - Saturday, Mar 08, 2014 at 22:28
Saturday, Mar 08, 2014 at 22:28
OH BTW..under the bonnet is the worst place to fit any battery if you want the best service life.
AND temperature above 25C will reduce the service life of ANY lead acid battery...the hotter the more it will reduce its life.
cheers
FollowupID:
810377