MacGregorSailors.com

Does anybody have any real world experience with using AGM batteries on their Mac and using them for both starting and house batteries? Having had the experience do you recommend using them over conventional lead acid wet batteries or gel (personnaly I would not go with gel)?

I really want to know who is using AGM's or multiple AGM’s and if they think they got their monies worth on the cost difference based on performance vs. cost as a real value.

I'm leaning towards paying the extra and going with 2 AGM. But after today’s stock market performance I may rethink that (just joking - I hope).

Please don't anybody take this the wrong way, but I'm not asking about what battery to use in what marine application and the difference between starting, deep cycle, dual purpose, wet, dry, gel, agm, and performance factors of AH, CCA, MCA, RM, groups and sizes, recharging rates, self discharging rates, cycle ratings, durability, gas release, over heating, considerations for weight, or wiring in series or parallel, etc.

Just if anybody has real experience with AGM (preferably deep cycle AGM's used for both starting and house purposes) and if they think they got their monies worth.

Kind Regards,
JonBill

My starting battery is a basic lead acid battery.

But, my house bank is 3 of these group 24s:



I have wa'ay too many accessories for a trailer boat, and have never run this batteries down... Of course, I also have ample ways to charge...

I could, but have never used my house bank to start the motor...

We have been using two Lifeline AGMs and have not had any trouble. We do not have any special hookup and use the Honda alternator without modification (the charge rate difference between AGM and lead acid is less than 0.1vdc).
We have very few toys so I don't know how much they would really power. I am changing them out in the next couple days with one of the new Sears AGMs. I think it will have more than enough power and less weight that the two Lifelines. It will go under the forward galley seat on our X.
The main reason I went with AGM is their rapid recharge rates. I called Lifeline and was told they would take all the amps I could jam into them. I have a Xantrex 40 amp charger I use when I take the Lifelines in my RV.
The second reason is AGMs do not emit any gases. I really didn't want corrosive gases under my seats in the RV or the boat.
The third reason is AGMs have a very slow discharge rate. They can sit idle for months and still be almost fully charged.
The fourth reason is that all three AGMs were gifts from my children after I explained I was going that direction.
What can I say????

Ken

I did not install AGMs in our MacGregor, or our Capri 18 yet, but did put two Lifeline Group 27 Deep-Cycle AGMs in our Airstream travel trailer. At the same time, I upgraded the single-stage (13.8 volt) converter/charger to a three-stage unit. This keeps from overcharging the expensive batteries when they should be floating (at about 13.2 volts) and gives a 14.4 volt bulk mode charge when they are heavily discharged. I wouldn't hesitate to use their deep-cycles to start most outboards that you could mount on a Mac.

These have been worth every penny by eliminating battery maintenance as well as corrosive mist around the aluminum skin. One of the best investments I've made. I also have one in the basement on the backup sump pump.

--
Moe

I don't have them yet . My brother has 6 all total, aboard his Shamrock and has been very pleased with them for 2 years or more. Plenty of Umph to turn over his two 315 hp Yanmar diesels.

JonBill
There is an interesting article concerning batteries in the Sail Magazine issue of August 2007, Page 71. Some good details may be usable for you.
It has some recommendations for the AGM batteries, as well as wet cell batteries. Seems the difference is one's attitude concerning battery maintenance. (deep cycle batteries are a must).

We're planning to RV to Palacios later this Summer, possibly to Serendipity. Hope to meet you, and see the Mac again.

Happy Sailing !

Have used a single 110 amphour lifeline for house and starting for the last 2 years. Having done so I would never go back to wet cells. Will run usual bits and pieces (lights, radios etc) for a couple of days with plenty left to start the Merc 60hp. When I run a fridge I charge every 2nd day with the portable generator. So far 100% reliable.

AGM advantages:

No acid spills no matter what position they are in.
Much less hydrogen emission when charging = less chance of fire
Will continue to work normally after being submerged
Minimal internal discharge rate + very high charge current acceptance


AJ

I dont see the cost as justified given my standard batteries are 1/2 as much and lasted 5 years (not counting this year when I replaced them) under my usage pattern (and care of course)

Ive heeled to 45 degrees and never spilled acid..beyond that batteries are a minor worry...

A hydrogen fire is not a likely occurence - the small amounts of hydrogen generated dont stick around long - they quickly go up to outer space

SUbmerge your batteries?? See (1) above

The cycle and charge acceptance are good reasons to go this route, if justified by your usage.

I would avoid AGM and lifeline like the plague based on my recent experience with them. My father in law has the Lifeline AGM batteries on his 2004 Island Packet. He was cruising down in Belize and was having problems with them this spring. He asked me to call Lifeline to see if I could get some technical support.

When I called the guy on the phone was very rude. He commented that sail boaters in general abuse the batteries by discharging them too far and not equalizing them often enough. I don't think this was the case with my father in law since he has a diesel generator that he runs often but when went down to visit him I did find that his charging system didn't have an easy way to equalize at constant voltage required - 15.5 volts for 8 hours. http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/mcharg ... edures.php

I found one person's advise at Comparing Marine Battery Technologies.

Quite a bit of information here, but I can not attest to it's accuracy.

Louis,

Looks like 5 for, 1 against, and 3 undecided in my unofficial poll on AGM's.

A ship yard started building barges next door to where I kept my boat previously at turning basin 3 parking lot, so moved it due to too much grit being blown my direction. Now a developer bought the whole shore area there the RV park, parking lot, ramp and coastline and all the RV's are gone from the point. I think some condo developer.

Serendipity is still over there on the other side of the harbor, and is a nice marina and RV park and doing a good business. I moved over to a slip at the MCND's green roofed boat house near the pavilion and keep it on slings out of the water but its a pain to rig the mast while anchored out instead of off the trailer prior to launch so may move down to Indianola or somewhere else nest season.

I pulled my boat back to Richmond this weekend to do some mods. Still lease the slip at the boat house and will spend rest of summer there no doubt.

Let me know when you're going to be in Palacios later this summer as we'd like to meet up with you-all.

Kind Regards,
JonBill

bought lead acid (Rolls) batteries for our M. Previous (sears) deepcycle batteries lasted 6-7 years in our powerboat without issue.
Price per amp and pound for wet cell, IMO far outweigh the benefit of a sealed battery (that you can not top off)

But owners with AGM and gell sure seem to like them. I will stick with wet cell technology

As I said previous, if I get to a situation that the batteries get inverted... I have a lot of other bad things going on to worry about!!

Keep them topped off, clean and charged. Not a hard process for long life out of a wetcell.

I am not against AGM, just prefer tried and true technology in this case.

Paul S wrote: . . . Price per amp and pound for wet cell, IMO far outweigh the benefit of a sealed battery ... I will stick with wet cell technology

Mee too!
I am not against AGM, either, but it's the price/benefit equation to me.
For $65 I can have 110 amp hours of capacity, which is ample for my needs. I bought a second one, but now I can't figure out why~!? I just don't need it, especially since I'm carrying two other backups ...
a jump-start batt, & the sails.

I think AGM are a better technology, to be fair, so if you are loaded by all means buy them, but agree that you should look at your usage pattern carefully if you want a value based decision.

I have a pair of twin AGM's. Originally, my dealer installed a second lead-acid battery alongside the standard factory battery as part of my shore-power/dual battery upgrade. I found the 2 lead-acid batteries to be cheap and unreliable.

One day I walked into West Marine and they were having a 2-for-one sale on the AGM's that they had in stock, so I bought a set.

I use them for both starting and house. Usually I leave my switch on one or the other, that way if i run it down too low to start the engine I can switch to the other and start the engine for sure. I have a built-in 3-stage charger if shore power is available, but the Honda 50's alternator also does a good job.

- Andy