Batterys AGM

My new Electro 3 stage battery charger has 3 battery settings.
Gel
Wet
Calcium-Calcium

I have a Fullriver DC-100-12B battery in the Van, on there paper work it says to set charger to AGM if it has that setting.

so question is... do I set it to GEL or WET? I can't find anywhere on this or there site that says the differant Fullriver just call it a lead acid AGM type.


Thanks

Richard
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Reply By: Member - bungarra (WA) - Saturday, Jan 02, 2010 at 20:20

Saturday, Jan 02, 2010 at 20:20
I have mine set as GEL...never caused any problems over the years
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AnswerID: 397346

Follow Up By: Member - Uncle (NSW) - Saturday, Jan 02, 2010 at 21:18

Saturday, Jan 02, 2010 at 21:18
Ours is set to Gel , Richard.
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Reply By: Member - OzGazza (VIC) - Saturday, Jan 02, 2010 at 21:01

Saturday, Jan 02, 2010 at 21:01
I have a AGM battery and the charger is set to "Flooded" which was the recommended setting.
AnswerID: 397352

Reply By: pop2jocem - Saturday, Jan 02, 2010 at 21:56

Saturday, Jan 02, 2010 at 21:56
Try www.federalbatteries.com.au/files/charging.pdf

I found some good info for charger selection

Cheers Pop
AnswerID: 397366

Follow Up By: pop2jocem - Saturday, Jan 02, 2010 at 21:59

Saturday, Jan 02, 2010 at 21:59
Sorry, forgot to add that batterymeister and Mainey on this site provided lots of good info too

Cheers Pop
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Follow Up By:- Saturday, Jan 02, 2010 at 23:05

Saturday, Jan 02, 2010 at 23:05
Richard,

I'd do the following:
check the manual of your new charger for boost voltage and float voltage specs for the three types of batteries.
Your AGM battery most likely will be happy with a boost/float setting of 14.7V/13.6V @ 20 to 25 degrees, so select the closest setting on your charger - go for the lower one if none matches perfectly.
If you charger has temp compensation, use it!
If not, select boost/float voltage 0.25V lower per 10 degrees above 25, and the opposite in winter.
Ensure that the charger never goes into equalisation (in the flooded setting) as this voltage will likely exceed your AGM battery's maximum boost charge voltage (which can cause loss of electrolyte).
Also, check that the max charge current isn't higher than 25 to 30 percent of the Ah rating (e.g. 25A for a 100Ah battery).

The crucial point to remember when matching a multistage charger to any battery is the charger's ability to automatically switch from boost back to float once the battery charge approaches 100%.
This switch over is usually governed by the charge current dropping off to about 10% of the maximum charger current.
If things go wrong, this switch over never happens, and the battery could be overcharged.
Factors determining this switch over are: battery temperature: if too high (non temp compensated charger on a battery sitting at >30 degrees), the boost charging current won't taper off far enough to trip the switch over.
Similar thing can happen if concurrent load currents fool the charger into thinking the battery still sucks in charging current at higher than the 10% trip point.
Good chargers have an overriding timer for the boost charge cycle built in which forces the boost/float change over as soon as the pre-settable time limit is reached.

thx pop for the pat on the shoulder :)

Best regards, batterymeister
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Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Sunday, Jan 03, 2010 at 00:35

Sunday, Jan 03, 2010 at 00:35
batterymeister

Sounds good, Battery paper does not say Boost charge voltage but does say "Charging (Constant Volatage)"
Cycle = Initial Charging Current 20A Or Small
14.5V~14.9V/77 deg F (25 deg C)
Float = 13.6V~13.8V/77 deg F (25 deg C)

So as I read it set it to Flooded and it will be OK?


Battery Charger is a BC-1215


Regards

Richard
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FollowupID: 666223

Follow Up By:- Sunday, Jan 03, 2010 at 01:48

Sunday, Jan 03, 2010 at 01:48
that's right Richard,

13.5V float/flooded, is a good match.
Under hot conditions, like 40 degrees batt temperature, select 13.2V float/gel.

Best, batterymeister
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Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Sunday, Jan 03, 2010 at 02:33

Sunday, Jan 03, 2010 at 02:33
Again Thank you very much,, It makes sense now thats my something new for the day, I like learning new things and understanding old ones..

Cheers

Richard
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FollowupID: 666227

Reply By: Richard Kovac - Sunday, Jan 03, 2010 at 00:40

Sunday, Jan 03, 2010 at 00:40
Thanks everyone great replys and very helpfull

Cheers

Richard
AnswerID: 397381

Follow Up By: RV Powerstream P/L - Sunday, Jan 03, 2010 at 11:38

Sunday, Jan 03, 2010 at 11:38
Richard
All good advice but do not overlook the temp factor and if you run the charger at open flooded wet cell rate in the temperatures you are currently experiencing then you may damage the battery so if in high ambient climate the gel setting would be a safer bet.
"Note Temperature." Assume recommendations to be 20-25oC against what you can experience in summer and dont lose site of that as its important.
Ian
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FollowupID: 666253

Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Sunday, Jan 03, 2010 at 12:40

Sunday, Jan 03, 2010 at 12:40
Thanks Ian

I have droped it down to "Under hot conditions, like 40 degrees batt temperature, select 13.2V float/gel." and will leave it there untill around March I think.


Cheers

Richard
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FollowupID: 666266

Reply By: R&J Batteries - Wednesday, Jan 27, 2010 at 15:32

Wednesday, Jan 27, 2010 at 15:32
Be VERY VERY careful.Check the voltages that each setting will deliver. Ideal is around Absorb = 14.5 and Float = 13.7. That said, most "Wet" settings are OK. Gel settings will generally be tooo low. NEVER use the Calcium setting on a AGM battery.

Dave (Fullriver Product Manager - Australia & NZ)
AnswerID: 401316

Follow Up By: forger - Friday, Jan 29, 2010 at 22:33

Friday, Jan 29, 2010 at 22:33
Thanks Dave

I will check it out over the weekend.

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FollowupID: 671058

Follow Up By: rosso1234 - Saturday, Jan 30, 2010 at 14:51

Saturday, Jan 30, 2010 at 14:51
you do that Dickie Kovac
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FollowupID: 671152

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