Flooded, AGM, or Gel?

[jjPowers47]

I'm getting ready to rig up my ProSport battery charger, and I unfortunately, cannot find out what type of battery I have to place the appropriate setting on the charger. The battery is EverStart 27DC-6 Marine Battery, commonly sold at walmart. I've searched the net, and cannot find the answer, and I'd rather be sure than sorry.

Also, just to verify, I would imagine this battery requires maintenance due to the fact there are tabs on top. If not, please let me know. Thank you, and I'm glad I finally signed up to this site!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Flooded, AGM, or Gel?

Flooded.

 

[sasto]

Re: Flooded, AGM, or Gel?

Flooded.

nuff said.

Good luck jj!

 

[tazrig]

Re: Flooded, AGM, or Gel?

:welcome: to iboats. If it has tabs on the top then it is a flooded Battery. A gel cell or AGM would be completely sealed.

 

[jjPowers47]

Re: Flooded, AGM, or Gel?

Thank you all for the responses. The charger is appropriately set, and hooked up now.

 

[Outsider]

Re: Flooded, AGM, or Gel?

Let price be your guide, no question it's a flooded cell for $72, even at Squalid-World ...

 

[tazrig]

Re: Flooded, AGM, or Gel?

Let price be your guide, no question it's a flooded cell for $72, even at Squalid-World ...

Also weight... If you can lift it yourself and carry it more than 10 feet without requiring surgery you can rule out an AGM battery. :laugh:

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Flooded, AGM, or Gel?

deleted

 

[tazrig]

Re: Flooded, AGM, or Gel?

Why do you say that? They weigh nearly the same. In fact the AGM may weigh even more.

An AGM vs. a flooded?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Flooded, AGM, or Gel?

i thought at first you were saying the Flooded weighed more.

Just bought 2 AGMs today at sears. Decided not to wait for them to get any cheaper. $241/each for the size 31

 

[tazrig]

Re: Flooded, AGM, or Gel?

I think that was the smart move. With spring on it's way their prices are only going to go up.

 

[wolfsmurf]

Re: Flooded, AGM, or Gel?

Do they even make gels anymore? Haven't seen one in about 20 years. People always call agms gels. Haven't had good luck with the agms at my store, if they become completely discharged you have to trickle charge for about a week, trying to charge at a fast rate will cause severe overheating and in most cases we have seen shorten the life of the battery.

 

[spoilsofwar]

Re: Flooded, AGM, or Gel?

i thought at first you were saying the Flooded weighed more.

Just bought 2 AGMs today at sears. Decided not to wait for them to get any cheaper. $241/each for the size 31

The Diehard platinums? If so, good choice - Awesome batteries. They're rebadged Odyssey's.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Flooded, AGM, or Gel?

The Diehard platinums? If so, good choice - Awesome batteries. They're rebadged Odyssey's.

Yep...that's why I bought them.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Flooded, AGM, or Gel?

Do they even make gels anymore? Haven't seen one in about 20 years. People always call agms gels. Haven't had good luck with the agms at my store, if they become completely discharged you have to trickle charge for about a week, trying to charge at a fast rate will cause severe overheating and in most cases we have seen shorten the life of the battery.

Yup, they still make them:

Marine Batteries and Boat Batteries - Gel Batteries, Gel Cell Batteries and Dominator - AGM and AGM Batteries

Sorry to hear about your luck with your AGM's. Are you using an AGM battery charger? A regular charger can damage your AGM battery. The new smart or AGM chargers somehow know how to change their charging profiles as needed. That might be your problem if you're using an old style charger.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Flooded, AGM, or Gel?

I just can't get my head around the cost justification for an AGM. They cost almost 3 times as much and require a special battery charger.

The way I look at it, I typically put 5 years on a battery before I replace them. Just replaced a set of Delco Voyagers that where going on their 7th year. I would have to own an AGM for 15-21 years just to break even. Throw in the cost of a new charger and that figure get closer to 25 years. I've never keep a boat longer than 10 years, let alone a battery.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Flooded, AGM, or Gel?

I just can't get my head around the cost justification for an AGM. They cost almost 3 times as much and require a special battery charger.

The way I look at it, I typically put 5 years on a battery before I replace them. Just replaced a set of Delco Voyagers that where going on their 7th year. I would have to own an AGM for 15-21 years just to break even. Throw in the cost of a new charger and that figure get closer to 25 years. I've never keep a boat longer than 10 years, let alone a battery.

They are definitely more expensive and if you're getting 7 years out of a boat battery you don't need them. The advantages of an AGM over a regular flooded are that they can be more deeply discharged and recharged, (some up to 80% discharge then fully recharged up to 400 times) They are much more vibration resistant, can be stored for up to 2 years without needing to recharge them and give you full power until they are dead. You know how your engine starts to turn slower and slower as the battery goes dead? AGM's would crank your motor over at 100% until they just stopped. I went with them because of the vibration issue. My boat eats batteries every two years so I'm trying out AGM's this go around.