Thursday, Jul 04, 2013 at 11:23
Again at the risk of sounding like a cracked record.
Generalisations about batteries are most unreliable.
Check the specifications of the particular battery in question.
If we all want to get narky.
I can pull up specifications of 3 different AGM batteries from the same manufacturer that have very different "maximum initial charge rates" specified.
The lowest of the 3 has a "maximum initial charge rate of around 20% of its amp hour capacity, the highest is a cranking battery that has exraordinarily large cranking capacity and a very high "maximum initial charge rate" comparable with top shelf wet cell cranking batteries.
Then if you want to get into discussions about temperature and AGM batteries...some AGM batteries tolerate higher temperatures extraordinarily poorly.
I have seen spec sheets on AGM batteries that the battery is not designed for operation over 45C, and charge rates have to be significantly reduced
well below that.
I recently read a paper that confirmed what I had known in general terms for a long time.
This paper examined the influences of various factors on service life of AGM batteries.
It proved and quantified that 3 major factors reduced service life of the batteries in question considerably....even when operated within specification.
1. Higher than optimum charge rates
2. Tempertures higher than 25C
3. Repeated deep discharge
They found that using all 3...within specification...that they could reduce the service life of a battery from a designed and proven 10 years to as little as 60 days.
So....be as optomistic as you like.....but charging any battery in particular AGM above optimum charge rate reduces its life......chargeing an AGM battery above its specified "maximum initial charge rate" will reduce its life CONsiderably.
Look up the specifications for the particular battery.....or even simpler, most AGM and similar sealed batteries have the basic specs printed in the side.
Ignore these specifications at your own cost.
cheers
FollowupID:
793184