What AGM batteries do full times recommend ?

[2sticks]

Hello all

what good AGM batteries do you recommend for full timers. I’m sure you all may have your favourites but hopefully with enough replies there might be a clear winner.

 

[Gaston aires]

AGMs come in for a lot of stick on MHF, why I don’t know. Mine are still going strong after 4 years. Buy from a good firm like Tanya batteries and ask for their best offers. Mine are Varta
Phil

 

[DJT]

AGMs come in for a lot of stick on MHF, why I don’t know. Mine are still going strong after 4 years. Buy from a good firm like Tanya batteries and ask for their best offers. Mine are Varta
Phil

DITTO

 

[Theonlysue]

hymer give AGM a 3 year lifespan. Why not go for good wets or gels?
What will your charging regime accept?

 

[Winger]

Tayna batteries as opposed to Tanya, I bought from them and they give a good service with a postal option

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[Scotsblood]

AGM's need a charger that can cope with their particular requirements, a lot don't and that leads to poor life. http://www.aandncaravanservices.co.uk/agm-batteries.php
Interesting that a significant number of car manufacturers have also reverted to flooded batteries as the pattern of use in stop/start cars seemed to be causing premature failures.
Gel's seem to offer better potential performance and life, I'm sure Lenny HB will give his experiences!

 

[Terry]

Don't think lots of people realise that most vans only come with chargers capable of only charging approx 120 to 180 amps of batteries yet stick 200/300 plus of batteries onto there systems then wonder why they don't get a full life out of batteries.

 

[tonyidle]

Don't think lots of people realise that most vans only come with chargers capable of only charging approx 120 to 180 amps of batteries yet stick 200/300 plus of batteries onto there systems then wonder why they don't get a full life out of batteries.

That aspect of the charger has no effect on battery life. It's stated so that the duty cycle of the charger isn't exceeded and even that is unlikely if it never has to charge totally discharged batteries. The worst that could happen is that the life of the charger is shortened.

 

[funflair]

My Money would be on Gel's but the question was rather loaded towards AGM for some reason.

 

[Lenny HB]

I'm sure @Lenny HB will give his experiences!

Last Hymer the AGM's lasted 18 months, they wouldn't honor the warranty because they tested OK on a CCA test which is a starter battery test totally pointless on a leisure battery. Replaced them with Gels.
In my current van I got rid of the AGM and fitted 3 Gels, Gels are probably one of the most reliable batteries they can be discharged lower to 20% DOD, they last a long time 6-10years is quite common. The only downside is they take longer to fully charge and you need a charger with a Gel setting.

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[funflair]

Last Hymer the Gels lasted 18 months, they wouldn't honor the warranty because they tested OK on a CCA test which is a starter battery test totally pointless on a leisure battery. Replaced them with Gels.
In my current van I got rid of the AGM and fitted 3 Gels, Gels are probably one of the most reliable batteries they can be discharged lower to 80% DOD, they last a long time 6-10years is quite common. The only downside is they take longer to fully charge and you need a charger with a Gel setting.

Check your first statement Lenny It's not what I expected from you.

 

[Lenny HB]

Check your first statement Lenny It's not what I expected from you.

Edited.

 

[Terry]

Agreed in principle Tony but if the charger is damaged and not giving full charge to batteries they then " suffer " and premiture failure occurs. Yes even a small 8 amp charger will eventually charge batteries but people often neglect to even check batteries simple fluid levels check are seldom made ....all add to shorten life

 

[pappajohn]

Edited.

Check again Lenny.
Your first sentence says you had GEL which weren't honoured on warranty.
I'm sure you mean AGM.

 

[Gromett]

I have had 6-8 years out of my last AGM's. going Lithium next time.

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[Minxy]

Check again Lenny.
Your first sentence says you had GEL which weren't honoured on warranty.
I'm sure you mean AGM.

Yes he most definitely did!

We know just how much 'love' Lenny has for AGMs don't we ... about the same as his love for UK built MHs!

 

[Lenny HB]

Check again Lenny.
Your first sentence says you had GEL which weren't honoured on warranty.
I'm sure you mean AGM.

Oh dear that's what happens when I've only just got up, edited now.

 

[Lenny HB]

I have had 6-8 years out of my last AGM's. going Lithium next time.

You were lucky punk.
I bet they weren't standard dual purpose batteries (starter batteries with a leisure label) that are fitted to Motorhomes as standard.

 

[Jim]

I bought AGM, fitted a special AGM charger module. In 12 months they were crocked.

 

[Metamorfosis]

Yuasa is a well regarded brand and Halfords rebrand them as their own make and it appears identical spec to the Varta 95ah AGM found as standard fit in many late motorhomes.

Leisure Batteries & 12v Caravan Batteries | Halfords UK

Discover lasting energy for your adventures with a Halfords leisure battery. Perfect for appliances in boats, caravans and motorhomes.

www.halfords.com

I have a Halfords trade card and you can buy these for £116 each.
Cracking price if you know someone with a card.

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[StephDeLux]

When I got my Hymer the first mod was to replace the Varta AGM with a Super-B Epsilon. Exact same fitting, done in 30 minutes including setting the booster to Lithium and the EBL to Gel since it was that or AGM. The Epsilon is perhaps the only Lithium out there seriously engineered as a lead replacement.

It is « only » 90Ah and last Monday when we took off around noon after stopping the day before around 6PM, it was down to 78%. The booster charged it at 57 amps until it reached 97% and then it slowed down gradually. It was back to 100% in less then 25 minutes.

Pretty expensive battery, but considering that such charging speed from the alternator makes solar totally redundant for us, not a bad deal all in all given the convenience. And total weight is 12.5 kgs.

 

[bigtwin]

Agreed in principle Tony but if the charger is damaged and not giving full charge to batteries they then " suffer " and premiture failure occurs. Yes even a small 8 amp charger will eventually charge batteries but people often neglect to even check batteries simple fluid levels check are seldom made ....all add to shorten life

How many AGM equipped vans are running around with a faulty charger?

If the chargers fecked, it’s fecked and it’ll feck any batteries connected to it!

Ian

 

[IanRJ]

When I got my Hymer the first mod was to replace the Varta AGM with a Super-B Epsilon. Exact same fitting, done in 30 minutes including setting the booster to Lithium and the EBL to Gel since it was that or AGM. The Epsilon is perhaps the only Lithium out there seriously engineered as a lead replacement.

It is « only » 90Ah and last Monday when we took off around noon after stopping the day before around 6PM, it was down to 78%. The booster charged it at 57 amps until it reached 97% and then it slowed down gradually. It was back to 100% in less then 25 minutes.

Pretty expensive battery, but considering that such charging speed from the alternator makes solar totally redundant for us, not a bad deal all in all given the convenience. And total weight is 12.5 kgs.

When you say ‘booster’ are you talking about a B2B or something else?

 

[peterc10]

We have had AGMs for four and a half years in our Hymer and they seem to be holding their charge well enough for us to rarely use hook up. Our EBL does not have an AGM setting but our solar controller does, so I think that helps. I suspect I will be changing them in the next year or two and when I do it will be a toss up between Gels and Lithiums. They are in an awkward place so I want ones that do not need any level checks or top ups.

 

[AndyVW]

This is very complicated question, that has many conditions.
The simple answer is understand your usage, both what you take out of it and what you put back into it.
Because unless these are met the battery will not last.

Flooded and AGM are very similar in both are know as lead acid batteries,
the main difference is Absorbed glass matt (AGM) does not require topping up with electrolyte,
(maintenance free)
A deep cycle AGM is different to Car AGM, I see so many vans fitted with high AmpHr Car AGM,s
They are cheaper They are not deep cycle.
A duel purpose AGM is available for those that have to start and leisure with it.
As I say the charging is different for the two, and must be designed for the battery fitted.
Gel battery,s Charges slower and discharges slower, But its main advantage and design was for "Mount any angle and High vibration resistance . AGM batts out sell Gel by 100 to 1 and they are expensive.

So
Flooded... charging systems inexpensive, requires maintenance, good price.
AGM.. (Deep cycle) more sophisticated charging system required, No maintenance,
Gel.. More sophisticated charging system required, mount at any angle, maintenance free, expensive.

Hope this helps
Andy

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[Fletton]

LFD90's (mine are in an outside locker)...
Wet.. but (not wet ) ... Read the blurb..
No issues installed Jan 17

Off grid mostly

 

[StephDeLux]

When you say ‘booster’ are you talking about a B2B or something else?

The Schaudt B2B fitted standard on the Hymer, I believe all models now.

 

[IanRJ]

The Schaudt B2B fitted standard on the Hymer, I believe all models now.

Ah - thanks.

 

[zaskar]

Platinum 110amp from Tayna.
Tayna give amazing service.
Got 2 on my 5th wheel and we wild camp all the way from Calais to southern Spain for winter.
Also got one on our little Romahome for time off during the season. We do nothing but wild camp. Never use hook-up.
Cracking batteries and supposedly a "true" class A leisure battery as opposed to one of the many badged up lies.

 

[Raul]

You guys just wasting money. If you really need to buy Pb, then go for real traction batteries that have real deep cycle capabilities compared to SLI batteries rebranded. There are only a handful of manufacturers in the hole world of Pb batteries. The rest are re branded, cheaply mass produced. Even big names subcontract lots of them to the big boys. Look what people off grid use and wonder why they don’t buy the likes used by Leisure Motorhome industry.

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