AGM batteries, are they worth the price?

[woodrat]

Anybody have any direct experience with Absorbed Glass Mat batteries? I need to replace the aging batteries in my 17' Bellboy, and I was curious about AGM batteries. I can get new group 24 regular flooded batteries for about $86 each, the AGM equivalent is $185 each. Are they worth the extra money? My current batteries live in the bow, where they take some vibration when running in the chop.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: AGM batteries, are they worth the price?

I run them in my bike, haven't had them in my boat. Last a long time, just changed one just because I won't run a batt more than 6 years in my BMW (computer everything and really voltage sensitive) and it tested good. That's about double what a batt usually does for my bike.

 

[JimS123]

Re: AGM batteries, are they worth the price?

I have 5 boats and 3 cars and all have been phased out to AGMs over the past 7 or 8 years. I guess that says what my opinion of them is....LOL. All mine arew East Penn Deka.

I've yet to replace one so I can't tell you how long they last.

I just bought the last one a month ago and it only cost $90, though it was a smaller size - actually the large size PWC battery. I usually buy from Schaffer in NY - all were mail order at a high discount and free shipping. Just shop around.

 

[sasto]

Re: AGM batteries, are they worth the price?

They were the best thing around for off-road and dirt track racing for years around my area. We used them extensively. None other matched.

Today?....For me?....not so much.

A healthy battery, terminal connections, and charging system is my main focus.

Can't go wrong with either.......except neglect.

 

[cr2k]

Re: AGM batteries, are they worth the price?

All I know is my son has replaced 3 of them in his Jetta in the past year.

 

[zagger]

Re: AGM batteries, are they worth the price?

I had them in my old boats and still run it in the Corvette but not the new boat. A good battery tender will be much wiser investment unless you really need the shock resistance a gel battery provides. They don't last longer than well maintained lead acid, just my opinion.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: AGM batteries, are they worth the price?

If you have a Farm store in your area check there. I buy all of my batteries at my local Fleet Farm store and a Group 27 Deep Cycle is $75. Never had to replace one.

 

[j_martin]

Re: AGM batteries, are they worth the price?

AGM has some characteristics that meet the needs of certain applications. They include extreme discharge rates, extreme charge acceptance rates, and mechanical ruggedness. It's the only battery that will work in a monster truck, where starting is hard, and if it won't crank, you have less than a minute to throw a 300 amp welder on it to charge it, and crank up for the show. The monsters also are known to operate in positions not exactly parallel with the ground.

On the down side, they are expensive, and if the charging system isn't right, they can be destroyed where a wet battery will just use a little water.

 

[sasto]

Re: AGM batteries, are they worth the price?

The monsters also are known to operate in positions not exactly parallel with the ground.

Yeh! I used them in a dirt track car I ran some time back. They worked great. But my boat, not so much. If I'm upside down or on my side, I have more problems than a battery leaking.

So far, a marine battery has taken everything I have given it. They can take more of a beating than I can.

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: AGM batteries, are they worth the price?

I had them in my old boats and still run it in the Corvette but not the new boat. A good battery tender will be much wiser investment unless you really need the shock resistance a gel battery provides. They don't last longer than well maintained lead acid, just my opinion.

Zagger,
There is a big difference between a GEL and an AGM battery. Totally different technologies.
TerryMSU

 

[jonboat2]

Re: AGM batteries, are they worth the price?

What about optimas blue top? Still very new to all of this. sigh

 

[dingbat]

Re: AGM batteries, are they worth the price?

I bought one for the truck and it shorted internally and had to be replaced roughly a year later. The replacement has lasted 6 years now.

I run lead acid batteries in the boat. I get 4-6 years out of one before they die. At twice the price, the break even point of an AGM is roughly 10 years of service. Will it last 10 years? Will I even need the battery in 10 years?

 

[woodrat]

Re: AGM batteries, are they worth the price?

It ended up getting decided for me, since the handheld VHF that I need for work died a couple of days ago and I had to use my extra cash to replace it. I ended up just buying good marine starting batteries for the boat, since after replacing the radio, that's all I could afford. Thanks for the replies, though. Sounds like maybe this isn't really an application where the AGMs are really necessary anyway, and the regular batteries that I'm replacing have already lasted more than seven years. I could probably even charge them back up and make them go a little longer, but I'm going to be crossing the bar and fishing in the ocean a bunch next month, and I think I'd rather be doing that on brand new batteries than old ones that I'm squeezing a little more life out of, anyway.

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: AGM batteries, are they worth the price?

They were the best thing around for off-road and dirt track racing for years around my area. We used them extensively. None other matched.

Today?....For me?....not so much.

A healthy battery, terminal connections, and charging system is my main focus.

Can't go wrong with either.......except neglect.

My thoughts exactly. I would love to have AGM in my boat, but I can't just the 300% price premium for them.

 

[JimS123]

Re: AGM batteries, are they worth the price?

My thoughts exactly. I would love to have AGM in my boat, but I can't just the 300% price premium for them.

That's not right either. If you compare the same warranty period, and the same dealer, the upcharge is maybe 75%. Now if you shop mail order from a National chain, you could even end up cheaper.

When I neded a battery this Spring I called around and the best price I could get locally on a deep cycle flooded battery with a 5 year warreanty was HIGHER than what I paid for a deep cycle marine AGM that I bought off the web.

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: AGM batteries, are they worth the price?

That's not right either. If you compare the same warranty period, and the same dealer, the upcharge is maybe 75%. Now if you shop mail order from a National chain, you could even end up cheaper.

When I neded a battery this Spring I called around and the best price I could get locally on a deep cycle flooded battery with a 5 year warreanty was HIGHER than what I paid for a deep cycle marine AGM that I bought off the web.

Depends on what you get i guess. Group 31 185 rc, 1000cca battery will set you back $110 including tax here. Group 31 AGM with same specs will set up back almost $300. I have two batteries so double it up.

Maybe you can find a top of the line Group 31 AGM for $225 plus shipping. That means two will set you back $500 after shipping compared with $220 for locally available Deka Group 31. That over twice the cost. Not quite 300%, but i was loballing that cost of the AGM.

Are AGM better? I believe they are. I just don't think they are 250% better.

 

[JimS123]

Re: AGM batteries, are they worth the price?

Wow $110 is pretty cheap. My local Battery Store wanted that much for a size 16 lead acid Jetski battery. I just googled a type 31 AGM and got $188 for a Deka marine on the second hit.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: AGM batteries, are they worth the price?

with a bit of looking, I can get East Penn / Deka AGM's for $165 vs the lead acid for $85 at the local store. since I cant get a lead acid to last more than 3 years, and the AGM's in my cars are over 10 years old.... my next boat battery will be AGM. however the engineer in me really wants an Odyssey vs East Penn. FWIW - I wont buy another Optima since JCi purchased them and cheapened the quality.

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: AGM batteries, are they worth the price?

with a bit of looking, I can get East Penn / Deka AGM's for $165 vs the lead acid for $85 at the local store. since I cant get a lead acid to last more than 3 years, and the AGM's in my cars are over 10 years old.... my next boat battery will be AGM. however the engineer in me really wants an Odyssey vs East Penn. FWIW - I wont buy another Optima since JCi purchased them and cheapened the quality.

I have an Optima D31M. It is only about 3 years old, and I do not run it very hard, so I cannot answer for long term quality, so far no issues. In all fairness, I work for JCI and got the employee discount and at that price, there is no question that I would go that way again. BTW, I also am an engineer and I have seen no issues with the Optima that proper charging and handling cannot fix. In fact, I have seen at least one "dead" one that was resurected using the de-sulfation setting on a charger. I always use the AGM setting on my charger and almost always charge as soon as I get home.

TerryMSU