What is an AGM Battery
The usage of the AGM battery started as early as 1980s and was first applied to military aircraft. Over the years, with given advantages, the battery has found its ways in a wider range of applications and gained surprising success. It is now not only a hot choice for vehicles, but also in the field of solar energy storage, due to its unique design.
So why choose AGM batteries? That can be answered by delving into
what are AGM batteries.
What’s An AGM Battery?
Abbreviated from Absorbent Glass Mat, AGM refers to a type of tried and tested battery technology. It uses a fiberglass mesh between the battery plates that holds the electrolyte in suspension and separates the positive and negative plates.
In short, AGM Batteries are a type of advanced lead-acid batteries.
How Do AGM Batteries Work?
This part involves a little bit of technical knowledge, but it does help understand how Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) technology influences the performance of a battery.
The AGM technology features a high discharge rate and a wide operation temperature range. They are reliable, long-lasting, and highly efficient; due to the encased structure and the absorbent glass mat that contains the electrolyte.
The absorbent glass mat is also called AGM separator. Being ultra-thin, it is sandwiched between positive and negative lead plates, and saturated in the electrolyte. Besides, its most important function is soaking up the electrolyte and keeping the fluid in a motionless form. As a result, it maximizes the reaction surface between the electrolyte and the battery plates, which greatly enhances the charging and discharging efficiency. The encased structure also rends AGM batteries uniqueness in maintenance and transportation.
Pros and Cons of AGM Batteries?
The AGM technology and their solid structure make AGM batteries stand out from their counterparts – the gel battery type as well as the flooded ones. In terms of cost and working performance, they excel easily. But when facing high voltage conditions, AGM batteries’ shortcoming will be exposed.
Pros:
- Spill proof
- Vibration resistant
- Shock resistant
- Withstand colder temperatures in contrast to a typical wet cell battery
- Installed in any orientation.
- Produce minimal gassing
- Low self-discharge rate
- Last longer than SLA batteries.
- Require no maintenance
Cons:
- Higher selling price due to complicated manufacturing process
- Cannot handle overcharging and high voltages
- Requires to be topped off before use every time
- Requires a charger specifically designed for AGM batteries
- Testing results from older version of battery testers will not be accurate.
How Long Does an AGM Battery Last?
For start-stop applications, AGM batteries can generally last six to eight years.
The durability for storage purposes depends on the operating temperature and the depth of discharge (DoD) – which refers to the available capacity of batteries when they are fully topped off. Another thing to consider that can affect the lifetime would be the battery performance, which can deteriorate over time.
Data source: Lab test results of Renogy’s 12V 100Ah AGM Battery
Common AGM Battery Applications
-Start-stop applications. With the ability to produce short intense burst of energy, AGM batteries are perfect for use of activating the engine in vehicles like cars, trucks or RVs.
-Deep-cycled applications. As deep-cycled batteries, AGM batteries can deliver a small amount of current stably and moderately to the appliances in any boat, truck, or car; allowing them to operate and run in any condition.
-Solar energy storage applications. AGM batteries also offer a good choice for household solar energy storage. They can be connected in series for higher storage capacity.
AGM batteries vs. Gel, Flooded and Lithium batteries
People who are not familiar with battery types might get confused about the differences between them, and they might encounter questions like:
- What’s the Difference Between an AGM and a Regular Battery?
- Are AGM Batteries the Same as Valve Regulated Lead Acid Batteries?
- Are Flooded and Sealed Lead Acid Batteries the same?
- How is a Lithium Battery different from an AGM battery?
Before discovering the answers, we must understand that there are mainly four kinds of batteries on the market. Each of them was named after their unique battery technology.
- Flooded: the battery uses lead plates suspended in the electrolyte and large separators. The liquid flows freely inside the casing.
- AGM: a battery type using a fiberglass mat between the positive and negative lead plates to absorb and hold the battery’s acid – the liquid is hold still.
- Gel: a battery type keeping the electrolyte suspended in gel form, so the battery is spill-proof.
- Lithium Iron Phosphate: a type of battery that uses lithium iron phosphate
Technically, the four types of solar batteries can also be divided into two categories, the lead-acid and the lithium-iron phosphate. Among them, flooded lead-acid batteries, AGM batteries and gel batteries belong to lead-acid batteries.
So which type of batteries suit your needs best? When capacity is your first consideration and cost is the least thing to consider, lithium battery is surely your top choice.
This graph compares each type of batteries in capacity, service life, maintenance requirements, costs and their level of safety.
The data is estimated for references.
Are AGM Batteries Really Worth the Hype?
It depends on your needs.
Vehicles usually use conventional flooded lead-acid batteries for starter applications. However, when it comes to an upgrade for the starter engine, AGM batteries offer a preferable choice. The AGM type comes with higher quality, longer lifespan and much less maintenance compared to regular batteries. Best of all, it does not cost much higher than flooded batteries.
On the other hand, when your need is a solar energy storage solution, it is recommended to go straight for lithium-ion batteries. Though they are costly, their quality, efficiency, and lifespan (several times more than other types of batteries) will prove them worthwhile in the long run. Lithium is the king of 12V batteries.
How do I know if my battery is AGM? 3 Steps
#1 Manufacturer’s labels shows such information
Battery type is usually instructed on the product labels on the body of a battery. If the label is illegible, you can also check its user manual for specifications, ask the online store or go to the store where you bought the battery.
#2 Observe the top of your battery
AGM batteries are specifically designed with negative and positive terminals that protrude from their flat top. If you find such terminals, you can be 99.99% certain your battery is an AGM battery.
#3 Slightly shake the battery
Highly not recommend to do this step, but since you still cannot identify your battery after going through the methods previously mentioned, this will be the ultimate choice you have to resort to.
Shake the battery, and if you feel any fluid inside flowing, then it is wet battery. But if you feel a relatively solid inside, it’s an AGM battery.
Q&A
Are AGM batteries deep cycle?
Most AGM batteries are deep cycle. An AGM battery can discharge up to 80%, while a standard flooded battery can only discharge maximally 50%. In comparison, AGM batteries are most welcomed among the deep cycle choices.
What type of batteries are best for solar power?
Deep-cycled batteries including flooded lead acid, AGM, gel, and lithium iron batteries are popular solar energy storage solutions. They are varying in terms of efficiency, maintenance requirements, charging time, service life, and most importantly, the cost. They cater to consumers’ needs across the board, so you can just pick one that fits your needs. The flooded lead acid types remain the most cost-efficient option, while sealed lead acid batteries features higher charging efficiency and energy capacity and yet comes with an presuming affordable price. Lithium iron batteries cost the most, but it’s the king in all facets. If you are looking for a high-capacity and yet portable battery storage solution, a solar station or
solar powered generator integrated with LiFePO4 batteries might be your best choice of the solar panel battery.
Can I wire different battery types and sizes together?
Using batteries of the same types and sizes for parallelism is most recommended. In this way, it can avoid efficiency loss to the utmost. If you need to wire your original AGM battery and other batteries together, make sure the latter are all AGM batteries.
How long does it take to charge a 12v 100ah AGM battery?
Factors like sunlight, temperature, and the particular battery can affect the charging time. If a 100ah 12V battery working alongside three 100 Watt solar panels, the charging time will be around 4 hours.
Are AGM Batteries Good for RVs and Boats?
RV and Boat owners often install two different types of batteries on their vehicles, one for the starting engine and the other for powering appliances on board. Thanks to higher voltage output, AGM batteries can implement both tasks perfectly.
Can You Charge an AGM Battery with a Regular Charger?
While a regular charger is used for conventional flooded lead acid batteries which require a charging status so different from AGM batteries; it is not suitable for topping off an AGM battery. For charging a 12 Volt AGM marine battery, a specific
battery charger is needed.
References:
What Is the Life Expectancy of a Solar Battery?
Buy Lithium Solar Batteries in 2022: How To Choose A LiFePO4 Battery
How does a 6 volt battery work?
Selecting the Right Battery for Your Solar Installation
How to size your battery bank to extend your solar batteries’ lifespan
