Batteries and Charging
- dlandersson
- Admiral
- Posts: 4952
- Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2010 10:00 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Michigan City
Re: How to Spend My Money
Ditto Russ, except mine is off the starboard rear. It's mounted on a ball joint so that you can turn it pretty much any way you want.

- Jeff L
- Engineer
- Posts: 147
- Joined: Sat Sep 14, 2013 10:46 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Dayton, Nevada, "After You II"
Re: Batteries and Charging
From what I am reading here, am I correct in thinking AGM batteries are not lead acid ?
Or am I off base in my thinking ???

Or am I off base in my thinking ???
Re: Batteries and Charging
AGM's are lead acid.
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/arti ... ss_mat_agm
Any battery questions this is a gret site to go to.
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/arti ... ss_mat_agm
Any battery questions this is a gret site to go to.
- seahouse
- Admiral
- Posts: 2182
- Joined: Sun Dec 07, 2008 9:17 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Niagara at Lake Erie, Ontario. 2011 MacM, 60 hp E-Tec
- Contact:
Re: Batteries and Charging
Though there are differences in the chemistry and metallurgy as well, both types have lead plates and acid electrolyte in them. The acid electrolyte is absorbed and contained in a fibreglass mat in an AGM battery.
The non-AGM battery is technically called an FLA, for flooded lead acid, the acid just splashes around inside it.
In a gel-cell, a gel is substituted for the glass mat and acid. They (gel cell and AGM) are technically called VRLA, for valve regulated lead acid, because they are sealed unless internal pressure builds and a pressure-regulated valve opens to relieve it to prevent explosion.
The non-AGM battery is technically called an FLA, for flooded lead acid, the acid just splashes around inside it.
In a gel-cell, a gel is substituted for the glass mat and acid. They (gel cell and AGM) are technically called VRLA, for valve regulated lead acid, because they are sealed unless internal pressure builds and a pressure-regulated valve opens to relieve it to prevent explosion.
Re: Batteries and Charging
Supposedly the new carbon foam AGMs are supposed to be a "game changer" You can deep discharge much lower and let them sit half charged without doing harm. There are some discussions on them on the other forums and a practical sailor article this month.
http://www.bruceschwab.com/advanced-ene ... -group-31/
http://www.bruceschwab.com/advanced-ene ... -group-31/
- Jeff L
- Engineer
- Posts: 147
- Joined: Sat Sep 14, 2013 10:46 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Dayton, Nevada, "After You II"
Re: Batteries and Charging
Thank you for your replies, Gents. It appears I have some catching up to do,
as sailing is a new hobby for me. All of my other experiences with batteries
have been automotive, as I am an old gearhead. As long as the battery started
the car, ran all the electrical systems in the car properly, I give no more thought
to the battery...

as sailing is a new hobby for me. All of my other experiences with batteries
have been automotive, as I am an old gearhead. As long as the battery started
the car, ran all the electrical systems in the car properly, I give no more thought
to the battery...
Re: Batteries and Charging
Or you can check out LiFePO4 batteries for half the weight, smaller size , and more cycles for the same AH. Just more $$$ 
- dlandersson
- Admiral
- Posts: 4952
- Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2010 10:00 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Michigan City
Re: Batteries and Charging
Here's another power source to consider. Much cheaper than a battery.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YIj4rLYo0c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YIj4rLYo0c
Jeff L wrote:Thank you for your replies, Gents. It appears I have some catching up to do,
as sailing is a new hobby for me. All of my other experiences with batteries
have been automotive, as I am an old gearhead. As long as the battery started
the car, ran all the electrical systems in the car properly, I give no more thought
to the battery...
![]()
- Tomfoolery
- Admiral
- Posts: 6135
- Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2011 7:42 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Rochester, NY '99X BF50 'Tomfoolery'
Re: Batteries and Charging
Looks familiar. Oh, yeah - that's what powered the Prius I used to have.dlandersson wrote:Here's another power source to consider. Much cheaper than a battery.![]()
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YIj4rLYo0c
Jeff L wrote:Thank you for your replies, Gents. It appears I have some catching up to do,
as sailing is a new hobby for me. All of my other experiences with batteries
have been automotive, as I am an old gearhead. As long as the battery started
the car, ran all the electrical systems in the car properly, I give no more thought
to the battery...
![]()
- Jeff L
- Engineer
- Posts: 147
- Joined: Sat Sep 14, 2013 10:46 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Dayton, Nevada, "After You II"
Re: Batteries and Charging
Tomfoolery wrote:Looks familiar. Oh, yeah - that's what powered the Prius I used to have.dlandersson wrote:Here's another power source to consider. Much cheaper than a battery.![]()
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YIj4rLYo0c
Jeff L wrote:Thank you for your replies, Gents. It appears I have some catching up to do,
as sailing is a new hobby for me. All of my other experiences with batteries
have been automotive, as I am an old gearhead. As long as the battery started
the car, ran all the electrical systems in the car properly, I give no more thought
to the battery...
![]()
