Why not go with an AGM Battery?

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I had to look up what a AGM battery was. From what I read it is far superior to a normal vehicle battery.

Your thoughts?
 
East Penn AGM (NAPA's "The Legend) is what I always buy.

Factory Varta AGM in the Phaeton is at 13 years and still going strong.
 
Somewhere, somehow the AGM's differ in the way they recharge optimally.

I've read that a vehicle's charging system needs to tailored to them. The same goes for battery chargers.

I don't know if it's a huge difference or not.

I have nothing AGAINST AGM batteries.

I do believe the industry wants to say good-bye to old technology. If FLA batteries make up 99% of the business, it'll take time.
 
I got an East Penn AGM battery for my Liberty for the same as a Diehard Gold...Blain's Farm and Fleet usually has them on sale. Not sure if you have them in Michigan.
 
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: ZZman
Why not go with an AGM Battery?

One reason is cost.


Yes sometimes we get so proud of our new technology we hurt the bottom line.
 
Several reasons
1) cost
2)needs different charging.
3)availability


Cost- for the 2013 outback the Penn-Deka FLA battery was 83$ with 3 year full replacement warranty.
The cheapest agm I found with at least a 3 year warranty in group 25 was around $190

Something like https://www.pepboys.com/product/details/844466/00566
I am sure it is superior but is it over 2x as superior? Esp. for my climate and use?

2) Agm batteries want slightly higher voltage. If your car is designed for AGM its better.
(see google for more on this not writing a book here)

3) group 25 doesnt have many agm batteries available.
 
Originally Posted By: ZZman
I had to look up what a AGM battery was. From what I read it is far superior to a normal vehicle battery.

Your thoughts?



Cost is the biggest thing, but if the battery lasts longer and can tolerate more severe use, then I'd say it's paying for itself.
 
Originally Posted By: Chris142
I like them. They dont corrode the terminals like a flooded battery does.


Easily prevented by applying grease to protect the cable terminals.
 
Lots of information available on Wiki and through other sources. There are some disadvantages to AGM & gel batts. They're not superior in every way.
 
Originally Posted By: Eddie
Wonder why the warranty is only as good as a cheaper flooded battery?


Wikipedia says a conventional flooded-cell batt. will actually last longer WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE. That's probably the reason it seems like the AGMs last longer - most people don't maintain water levels in the regular batteries.
 
I don't know who makes the batteries for Bosch, but whenever a OEM battery kicks the bucket, Bosch S5 is all I'll swap it for.

All other brands like Yuasa and Varta are toast after 3-4 years...
 
AGMS big strength are

lower internal resistance which lets you SLAM amps back into them quickly faster than that a wet battery by far for something like a boat this is a big deal
This low internal resistance also allows them to push very fast high transient loads like big woofer without a capacitor in the system
No outgassing so they can be mounted inside a vehicles workspace and not cause a hydrogen explosion
no liquid lets them be mounted in any orientation.

An auto charger will suffice but isnt optimal for them as they really need 14.7 volts to be optimally charged.

a cycle curve comparison shows they do not last as many cycles as a wet lead acid in something like a 4 battery bank in an RV the value prop isn't there.

UD
 
Originally Posted By: Rand
..Agm batteries want slightly higher voltage. If your car is designed for AGM its better...


Some AGM batteries require less voltage:

Quote:
...John Munsell, battery product specialist for General Motor Corp.’s ACDelco brand, says the key for shops will be training to diagnose and repair start-stop vehicles…...Munsell says AGM batteries require special care when charged offline. “This special care is to make sure that the charger has an AGM switch that will supply lower voltage to the battery during the charging process. This lower voltage is required due to the charge receptivity of AGM batteries. The maximum charging voltage for an AGM battery at 80 degrees Fahrenheit is between 14.4 volts and 14.6 volts. If the ambient temperature is higher than that, charging voltage goes down,” says Munsell…

...Munsell says that for vehicles manufactured by General Motors, “we neither recommend, nor endorse replacing an AGM battery with an EFB [enhanced flooded battery] battery. An EFB battery will have a different charge profile than an AGM battery, which will lead to premature failure of the battery.”


http://www.moderntiredealer.com/article/722503/prepare-now-for-start-stop-systems
 
Originally Posted By: Rand
Several reasons
1) cost
2)needs different charging.
3)availability


Cost- for the 2013 outback the Penn-Deka FLA battery was 83$ with 3 year full replacement warranty.
The cheapest agm I found with at least a 3 year warranty in group 25 was around $190

Something like https://www.pepboys.com/product/details/844466/00566
I am sure it is superior but is it over 2x as superior? Esp. for my climate and use?

2) Agm batteries want slightly higher voltage. If your car is designed for AGM its better.
(see google for more on this not writing a book here)

3) group 25 doesnt have many agm batteries available.


How does the charging deference relate to chargers? Wouldn't they still use a 12 volt charger? Aren't the amps a big factor?
 
There's a YT video from a company called Club Assist that explains how AGM batteries are built and why they are superior to FLA for automotive applications. Virtually all FLA now made are sealed, and you can't add water. There IS a performance difference, at a commensurate price difference. Approximately 20% of new cars come with AGM now. The issue will be the necessity of a computer reset when the battery is changed.
 
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