Can I charge AGM batteries with factory charger?

JD57

I have been given 4 12 volt AGM batteries in great condition. I don't go far in my cart so I thought about replacing the 6 old trojans with these. My question is, will the 1999 powerline charger charge these batteries or would I have to get a new charger because these are AGM?

BGW

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tdump

I have not had but 1 issue with chargeing mine and that is the auto charger does not seem to cut off when they are charged.The amp gauge goes to zero but the charger stays on.They charge within a few hours and work great.But this is 1 issue I have. SO I just check after a few hours and it is on zero I unplug.
Perhaps someone with more knowledge can clear this up for us.

RPatten

I would wonder since the charger I have has a selection between AGM, deep cycle and regular batteries. There must be a difference.

I really like so support the local guy but I found a right decent charger at Walmart that is as I described above that works well on my blue top trolling batteries. And then again I do not know any locals that sell battery chargers. Box stores are everywhere.

RPatten

One more thing, you will get better performance out of the 6 than 4. Find something else to do with those 4 and buy 6 new.

JD57

RPatten, yea I have read that you lose some quantity. I rigged em up and ran it this morning, so far about three miles, and it hasn't even shown on the little LED gauge on the dash. I don't normally even go that far. just move stuff around and run couple hundred yards to the dock on the river. Sometimes haul a generator and welding machine to do repairs around the place. I'm just wondering if the 1999 charger in this carryall 6 will charge AGM batteries without hurting them?????

DJBlade

Regarding charging batteries other than what is recommended. The OBC determines how a set of batteries is charged. Each version of the OBC is different, and each charger has different voltages set by the manufacture to use durring different times of the charge cycle. Some charge at higher voltages and end at lower....some start at a little lower charge voltage and end a little lower.

That being said, there hasn't been (to date) any AGM battery put in the above scenario. It may over charge them, but more likely it will under charge them. CC currently uses a DVDT (change in voltage / change in time ) end process in the charging rates to complete the charge cycle in all their chargers to date. I would stick to a flooded battery with the current chargers out or switch to a charger made to charge those types of batteries.

*edit* The other experience I had with Gel Cell batteries is that they require more "gassing" charges....more frequent charges that are similar to the end process we experience in our charging of batteries. I had a Bad Boy Buggy that had an on board charging system with AGM batteries come through our shop. I called the manufacturer of the batteries, and the manufacturer of the charger to ensure both were set up right. I learned there are many differences by both sources in AGM and wet cell. Suffice it to say both companies said the AGM batteries were harder to charge correctly by the end user, BUT if charged correctly would be a better fit. Contact them for how to charge correctly.

simple man

I have a 12V AGM battery (Optima) that says not to exceed 15V or 10amps while charging. If you use your present charger, I would monitor the charge and remove the batteries from charging when 15V is reached. Your particular batteries will probably have different specs than mine. I'd look up your model of battery for it's specs. They may be listed right on the battery, too.

DJBlade

Unfortunately, the PowerDrive I, II, III, and IQ Plus all have starting amp rates between 17 amps and 13.5 amps at the start of the charging cycle. That alone would disqualify those chargers for AGM batteries.

simple man

His batteries may have different specs. I just used mine for an example. He'll have to look up the specs for his particular batteries. I know there are some huge AGM's used in boats. I would think their charge rate would be higher.

JD57

I wouldn't know what the info meant if it was on the battery. :) I hooked em up to the charger after I 've been using it this week, and every time I go back later, I unhook it and plug in the Batteryminder. The Batteryminder then goes into charge mode for quite a while before it goes into desulfating mode, so I'm assuming that the battery charger isn't charging it too much..... I hope! :)