Deep cycle charger comparison

[lowaccord66]

Perfect thanks again!

[Jethro]

AGM batteries are expensive but very powerful. Just remember that when they die they DIE, like instant loss of all power delivery. At least with a lead acid battery you can feel it getting weaker.

[lowaccord66]

I run them in my vehicles!

[stripernut]

AGM batteries are expensive but very powerful. Just remember that when they die they DIE, like instant loss of all power delivery. At least with a lead acid battery you can feel it getting weaker.

Just to keep things straight AGMs are lead acid batteries. They are assembled differently and use the same basic chemistry as a "wet" lead acid battery. Instead of the lead sheets "hanging" free in the electrolyte, a fiberglass like material is placed between the sheets of lead and super saturated with electrolyte. The lead sheets are either compressed together or rolled up (like a Optima, for the 6 pack look). This gives the batteries some advantages; They can be mounted in any direction, will take a charge much faster than standard lead acid batteries (something they rarely advertise), are far less prone to problems with vibration and bouncing and can even take a bullet and may still work (for a little bit)... What they can not do is give you more amps  when compared to a equal quality lead acid battery of the same weight... This is despite what different AGMs marketing departments will tell you.

[Jethro]

That's right. Also, AGM batteries have a higher resting voltage than typical lead acid batteries. A fully charged conventional wet cell is around 12.7 volts whereas a glass mat battery is closer to 13.0. And don't forget they require different kinds of chargers.

My statement above is completely incorrect, I was thinking of Li-Ion batteries which despite thier cost are gaining popularity as cranking batteries because they are so light. They are a bad choice for a trolling battery.