OK so I've gleaned a lot from advice given as a result of my previous post and a lot of the other Solar posts here.
So now that I've found my 'van battery is a shot duck because of my careless maintenance I'm being urged to replace it with an AGM.
Are controllers suitable for lead acid batteries also suitable for AGM.
Reading the specs on most of the controllers they rarely mention AGM and thier suitability.
Keith.
-- Edited by Sparkster on Thursday 25th of February 2016 10:16:06 PM
Mattt said
10:06 PM Feb 25, 2016
Hey Keith,
An AGM battery *is* a lead acid... But It's not a flooded lead acid (FLA), and the two have slightly different voltage characteristics...
We need to figure out if your controller is able to (properly) handle AGM specifically. Do you happen to have a model number? At worst, just a pic so we might be able to figure out what it is?
Sparkster said
10:20 PM Feb 25, 2016
Thanks Matt.
I still haven't decided on which controller to go for so it was more of a general question.
Depending on the "general" answer that would have helped with the decision.
Mattt said
10:25 PM Feb 25, 2016
Keith,
Oops... I misread your post and was thinking that you were asking if your current controller could appropriately handle an AGM...
Soooo, now we need to know what your input (solar, etc, etc) specs are as well as the new battery specs
Most (pretty much all?) of the current controllers can handle AGM properly.
Sparkster said
07:47 AM Feb 26, 2016
Thanks Matt.
The battery is R/S so I was going to change to a 100 A/H AGM as I was of the understanding that for this purpose it would be better. (Previous battery was LA 100 AH)
Using around a 150 Watt panel and a middle of the range controller (thus my previous post).
We don't do much free camping and when we have we've used a small Genny to top up the batteries, something I want to get away from.
The reason the battery is RS after a couple of years is that we have moved to a retirement village where the vans are parked remote from power etc., thus the "careless maintenance" on my part. Previously it was parked outside our house with 240 available all the time.
Keith.
-- Edited by Sparkster on Friday 26th of February 2016 09:33:20 AM
Jaahn said
03:01 PM Feb 26, 2016
Hi
I have used AGM batteries in my MH and think they are good and good value. But the controllers just treat them as "sealed" type. Actually they are a bit more tolerant of "misuse" than the other common types I think so also a good feature. Much lower internal resistance so they charge more easily and discharge more easily. Lower losses really.
From the Tracer Manual the difference is only in the (bulk) boost voltage settings. Gel 14.2V, Sealed 14.4V, LA 14.6V. All other settings are the same voltage, and Gel gets no equalisation charge.
Of course the solar panel will fix the parked problem !
Jaahn
Sparkster said
04:39 PM Feb 26, 2016
Thanks Jaahn.
I figured AGM would just be seen as a 'normal' LA but I was just trying to be a bit cautious.
Keith.
Dav4Cris said
03:13 PM Mar 1, 2016
If you want to get away from running a Gen for battery top up, I would suggest another 150w panel and you should be able to free camp reasonably well.
Sparkster said
05:02 PM Mar 1, 2016
Thanks mate, yeh waiting for the first panel to arrive now, then off for a few weeks and will no doubt be putting a second on when we return.
Keith.
Fishyflyer said
01:34 PM Mar 8, 2016
Just be careful,some cheaper controllers will allow 17-19 volts to your battery which will eventually kill it .Get a good quality controller thar will feed no more than 14 volts to the battery.i
OK so I've gleaned a lot from advice given as a result of my previous post and a lot of the other Solar posts here.
So now that I've found my 'van battery is a shot duck because of my careless maintenance I'm being urged to replace it with an AGM.
Are controllers suitable for lead acid batteries also suitable for AGM.
Reading the specs on most of the controllers they rarely mention AGM and thier suitability.
Keith.
-- Edited by Sparkster on Thursday 25th of February 2016 10:16:06 PM
An AGM battery *is* a lead acid... But It's not a flooded lead acid (FLA), and the two have slightly different voltage characteristics...
We need to figure out if your controller is able to (properly) handle AGM specifically. Do you happen to have a model number? At worst, just a pic so we might be able to figure out what it is?
Thanks Matt.
I still haven't decided on which controller to go for so it was more of a general question.
Depending on the "general" answer that would have helped with the decision.
Oops... I misread your post and was thinking that you were asking if your current controller could appropriately handle an AGM...
Soooo, now we need to know what your input (solar, etc, etc) specs are as well as the new battery specs
Most (pretty much all?) of the current controllers can handle AGM properly.
Thanks Matt.
The battery is R/S so I was going to change to a 100 A/H AGM as I was of the understanding that for this purpose it would be better. (Previous battery was LA 100 AH)
Using around a 150 Watt panel and a middle of the range controller (thus my previous post).
We don't do much free camping and when we have we've used a small Genny to top up the batteries, something I want to get away from.
The reason the battery is RS after a couple of years is that we have moved to a retirement village where the vans are parked remote from power etc., thus the "careless maintenance" on my part. Previously it was parked outside our house with 240 available all the time.
Keith.
-- Edited by Sparkster on Friday 26th of February 2016 09:33:20 AM
Hi
I have used AGM batteries in my MH and think they are good and good value. But the controllers just treat them as "sealed" type. Actually they are a bit more tolerant of "misuse" than the other common types I think so also a good feature.
Much lower internal resistance so they charge more easily and discharge more easily. Lower losses really.
From the Tracer Manual the difference is only in the (bulk) boost voltage settings. Gel 14.2V, Sealed 14.4V, LA 14.6V. All other settings are the same voltage, and Gel gets no equalisation charge.
Of course the solar panel will fix the parked problem !
Jaahn
Thanks Jaahn.
I figured AGM would just be seen as a 'normal' LA but I was just trying to be a bit cautious.
Keith.
Thanks mate, yeh waiting for the first panel to arrive now, then off for a few weeks and will no doubt be putting a second on when we return.
Keith.
Thanks Fishyflyer your advice is appreciated.
Keith.