Solar Controllers And AGM Batteries

Sparkster · Senior Member

Solar Controllers And AGM Batteries

Mattt · Veteran Member

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 · Senior Member

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 · Veteran Member

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 · Senior Member

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. smile

-- Edited by Sparkster on Friday 26th of February 2016 09:33:20 AM

Jaahn · Guru

Hi smile

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. aww 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 · Senior Member

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 · Senior Member

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 · Senior Member

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. smile

Keith.

Fishyflyer · Newbie

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

Sparkster · Senior Member

Thanks Fishyflyer your advice is appreciated.

Keith. smile