Posted 2011-01-25 9:54 AM (#129238) Subject: What type of batteries do you use?
Member
Posts: 48
My husband is insistent that we get "gel batteries". We live in Phx AZ and the trailer sits in 115+ degree weather a lot. He claims regular batteries (not gel) will evaporate and last a very short period of time. Thoughts?
Posted 2011-01-25 11:44 AM (#129246 - in reply to #129238) Subject: RE: What type of batteries do you use?
Member
Posts: 19
Location: Piedmont SD 57769
Hi, I am writing you off subject. I am thinking about relocating to Arizona from South Dakota. Are you familiar with Wickenburg and Horspitality horse camp? How hard is it to work around the heat in the summer with your horses? It might be easier to send me a private message, if so, feel free.
Posted 2011-01-25 12:05 PM (#129247 - in reply to #129238) Subject: RE: What type of batteries do you use?
Veteran
Posts: 264 Location: Sumas Washington
AGM batterys are well worth the extra money in my opinion. I used to try to save money by buying WallMart batterys and seldom got more than a year out of them. AGM Is the way to go
Posted 2011-01-25 2:19 PM (#129253 - in reply to #129238) Subject: RE: What type of batteries do you use?
Veteran
Posts: 229
I use the gels. Bought them for the first LQ and bought them for the second. They seem to hold a charge really well. Also, word has it that they don't seem to mind being frequently drawn down as much as the lead acid. Also, they are much cleaner. No messy corrosion stuff to clean up.
Posted 2011-01-26 6:18 PM (#129314 - in reply to #129238) Subject: RE: What type of batteries do you use?
Member
Posts: 32 Location: TX
I am getting ready to add batteries to my weekender. Where is a good place to get the gel batteries? I was thinking about golf cart batteries, just not quite sure which way to go.
I have found that the gel batteries tend to be a little lazy in the cold winter months. I have also found that I get longer service from the Sealed Lead Acid/Absorbant Glass Mat batteries. Longer between charges and alot stronger on these mornings in the 0's and teens. These batteries power my powerchair and mobility scooters through the mud, snow and frozen horse poop.... Another vote for the AGM batteries.
A newer type of sealed battery uses "Absorbed Glass Mats", or AGM between the plates. This is a very fine fiber Boron-Silicate glass mat. These type of batteries have all the advantages of gelled, but can take much more abuse. We sell the Concorde (and Lifeline, made by Concorde) AGM batteries. These are also called "starved electrolyte", as the mat is about 95% saturated rather than fully soaked. That also means that they will not leak acid even if broken.
AGM batteries have several advantages over both gelled and flooded, at about the same cost as gelled:
Since all the electrolyte (acid) is contained in the glass mats, they cannot spill, even if broken. This also means that since they are non-hazardous, the shipping costs are lower. In addition, since there is no liquid to freeze and expand, they are practically immune from freezing damage.
Nearly all AGM batteries are "recombinant" - what that means is that the Oxygen and Hydrogen recombine INSIDE the battery. These use gas phase transfer of oxygen to the negative plates to recombine them back into water while charging and prevent the loss of water through electrolysis. The recombining is typically 99+% efficient, so almost no water is lost.
The charging voltages are the same as for any standard battery - no need for any special adjustments or problems with incompatible chargers or charge controls. And, since the internal resistance is extremely low, there is almost no heating of the battery even under heavy charge and discharge currents. The Concorde (and most AGM) batteries have no charge or discharge current limits.
AGM's have a very low self-discharge - from 1% to 3% per month is usual. This means that they can sit in storage for much longer periods without charging than standard batteries. The Concorde batteries can be almost fully recharged (95% or better) even after 30 days of being totally discharged.
AGM's do not have any liquid to spill, and even under severe overcharge conditions hydrogen emission is far below the 4% max specified for aircraft and enclosed spaces. The plates in AGM's are tightly packed and rigidly mounted, and will withstand shock and vibration better than any standard battery.
Even with all the advantages listed above, there is still a place for the standard flooded deep cycle battery. AGM's will cost 2 to 3 times as much as flooded batteries of the same capacity. In many installations, where the batteries are set in an area where you don't have to worry about fumes or leakage, a standard or industrial deep cycle is a better economic choice. AGM batteries main advantages are no maintenance, completely sealed against fumes, Hydrogen, or leakage, non-spilling even if they are broken, and can survive most freezes. Not everyone needs these features.
What type of batteries do you use?
