Maintenance tips for a "Maintenance-Free" AGM Battery for off-grid solar power systems.

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Күн бұрын

AGM batteries are frequently marketed as "maintenance-free" for off-grid solar power systems. Nevertheless, while they require much less maintenance than their flooded lead-acid battery counterparts, there are tasks which are important to enjoying a long life of an AGM battery. A Harbor Freight 35ah AGM battery is shown to demonstrate some of these importance maintenance tips that are necessary when you own and use an AGM battery.
I will be discussing depth of discharge and the importance of keeping a full charge on your battery. The AGM battery shown in the video is hooked up to a Harbor Freight battery charger, but AGM battery can also be properly recharged using the charge controller for a DIY solar power system.
Link to my video about flooded lead acid battery:
• Flooded Lead-Acid Batt...

Пікірлер: 42

@Gismho Жыл бұрын

Very clear and informative. No introductory waffle. Thank you. Didn't realise that one could store these type of batteries on their side.

@shoestringprep Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the kind words and comment.

@napoleonwilson3912 10 ай бұрын

Helpful video. Thank you.

@shoestringprep 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for your comment.

@guttermastersplus5613 Жыл бұрын

Video was to helpful everybody knows how to maintain a battery I thought you was going to tell her something we didn't know about AGM

@shoestringprep Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your comment.

@musicmayer2043 2 жыл бұрын

1. Keep battery charged, especially before storage. Use Meter to test. Use charger. 2. Keep battery clean, including 3. Keep battery ventilated, especially when charging 4. Check battery regularly (monthly?) during Storage, best in cool area

@shoestringprep 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your comment.

@jlynn37 2 жыл бұрын

I have a 100 watt solar panel, a 10 amp PMW charge controller and a 100 ah AGM battery. Is there anything to consider when keeping the system continually or always connected? Thank you very much for you informative videos.

@shoestringprep 2 жыл бұрын

That combination should work well connected together all the time. Thanks for your comment

@josephj5831 Жыл бұрын

Awesome Video ❤. I bought the same exact battery and centech charger. If my AGM is reading 12.2. Do I change the centech settings to Quick Charge or Trickle like the video did for 13.0 reading?? My apologies still i am learning all this

@shoestringprep Жыл бұрын

No reason to apologize we are all learning. I use the middle setting when that is complete I use trickle charge until the battery is full. Thanks for your comment.

@Susann1984 Жыл бұрын

What if my riding mower has an AGM? Mowers dont have alternators, so what keeps the battery charged? How often do I charge it up ?

@shoestringprep Жыл бұрын

My riding mower also has an AGM. It came with a battery charger included. I charge it back up after each use. Thanks for your comment.

@garymaynard7562 Жыл бұрын

Hiya Shoestring! I just put one of those Harbor Freight solar 12-volt batteries in my riding lawnmower. My external charger does have an AGM button on it but the mower charging system doesn't. Will that be okay when using the mower and the charging comes from the mower charging system? Great video!

@shoestringprep Жыл бұрын

It would depend on how high the mower will charge the battery. Don't overcharge it. Thanks for the comment.

@timbarnett3898 2 жыл бұрын

AGM battery was given too me too look at? Friend removed plugs an flipped over too drain? What fluids are too be added an too what level? Or is anything added? First thing is youvmeasured current? Not levels?

@shoestringprep 2 жыл бұрын

From your description, it sounds like you have a Flooded Lead-Acid Battery (not an AGM). A flooded lead-acid battery has plugs which cover cells filled with water. Please use Distilled Water for the battery, not tap water. Look inside each cell and there will be a line which shows how much water to add. I have a video which explains how to use and take care of this type of battery (here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gq1onZZjprrFqoE.html). AGM batteries are sealed so you cannot drain or add water. If you are certain it is an AGM battery, then it has been damaged and please do not use it. Hope this helps. Thanks for your comment.

@vigilantobserver8389 Жыл бұрын

Hi Shoestring! Thanks for the video! A comment on a different video mentioned something to the effect: "If you don't use AGM batteries fairly frequently, then they go bad." Is their any truth to that? I've got the same battery and charged it with the little Centech float charger for 6hrs. My battery was 12.64vdc and after 6 hrs. It, initially, showed a 12.8vdc charge. Checked the battery a day later and it shows 12.6vdc. Yet again, I read on the internet that AGM batteries should not be charged for more than 3 hrs. Any advice you have would be appreciated! Thanks!

@shoestringprep Жыл бұрын

I keep all my AGM batteries charged all the time. They will lose a charge if they are left uncharge for a period of time. Thanks for the comment

@mikegray1929 6 ай бұрын

Would you recommend keeping AGMs hooked up to the trickle charger all the time while in storage in my shed during the cold, Michigan winter months?

@shoestringprep 6 ай бұрын

Yes I would, try to keep lead acid batteries charged all you can Thanks for your comment.

@peterrudy9207 25 күн бұрын

So it is essential to test and charge even a new battery before installing in your vehicle .

@shoestringprep 25 күн бұрын

I also test and charge a battery before I use it. Thanks for your comment.

@1must723 Жыл бұрын

Hi there i am getting all sorts of information about discharging i was told by 3 people that 11.8 volts switch off as thats 70% discharge i want to drain as low as possible 100ah i no it will shorter life was told 400 cycles at most

@shoestringprep Жыл бұрын

The lower you discharge an AGM battery (below 12.1) the more you will damage it. A lithium battery does not care how far you drain them. Thank you for your comment.

@markb1911 Ай бұрын

I’m assuming that you’re referring to the depth of discharge within the usable voltage range of lithium batteries, here. More specifically the usable voltage range of approx. 2.9v-4.2v/cell that constitutes “0%” to “100%” capacity of each cell. Every battery chemistry absolutely does have a voltage cutoff point for over-discharging and over-charging. Charging or draining lithium cells to levels outside of the stable operating thresholds of the cell’s chemistry causes permanent, irreversible damage to the cell’s capacity, and ability to sustain its rated current-draw. I understand that you’re likely referring to the DOD in applications with internal lithium battery cells (or other-voltage series packs) that have BMS monitoring and automatic high/low V cutoff, such as a cell phone battery, and notify the user of the current usable percentage remaining to “0%” (2.9v).

@fightswithspirits915 Жыл бұрын

I have destroyed many batteries not doing these things

@shoestringprep Жыл бұрын

Always take care of your batteries. Thanks for your comment.

@leefiz 2 жыл бұрын

Hi, I hv seen many video to revive this type of AGM battery to add battery water, should we add some amount of batt water thru the years? Or how do we know tht the glass mat is completely dry? Thanks

@shoestringprep 2 жыл бұрын

Do not try to add water to an AGM battery. They will not need water. Thanks for your comment

@obaroaluya3762 Жыл бұрын

@@shoestringprep if they don't need water. Wat then do we need to do wen they no longer hold power..?

@shoestringprep Жыл бұрын

@@obaroaluya3762 when the AGM battery no longer holds any power you simply replace it. Thanks for your comment.

@obaroaluya3762 Жыл бұрын

@@shoestringprep wat about deep cycle batteries AGM..?

@shoestringprep Жыл бұрын

@@obaroaluya3762 AGM batteries of any types do not need water. Thanks for your comment.