AGM Equalization - Some Benefit

[Darrell and Linda]

Truk, by your title, do you have AGM house batteries?

It's my understanding that AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries will receive no benefit by the "shaker". This equalization / disulfate charge will have no effect because the agm's have no liquid electrolyte (dry). The flooded or gel batteries are a different design and the disulfate mode "shakes off" the build up on the lead plates and the sulfate falls off the plates. The agm's are very tightly wrapped or matted plates with no electrolyte (liquid), so the equalization / disulfate has no effect. If fact, most three phase chargers mention that equalization may harm the agm battery (maximum charge 14.7v if my memory is correct).

If your voltage drops that rapidly, the batteries may be finished. But keep in mind, after a bulk charge, the batteries need to settle down for a few hours to give you an accurate voltage reading. The normal operating / constant drain parameters for an agm is no more than 1% drop in voltage over a period of one month, if no load or drain.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Darrell,

Here is good information. AGM will benefit from an equalization charge.

http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Bat...ting%20battery

You do not have to wait long for the "surface" charge to dissipate.

[truk4u]

Darrell,

Yes I have AGM's, that was the purpose of the post. I researched this at length and equalization does in fact help. I also was under the impression that equalization was for wet cell only and I was wrong. Gel should not be equalized.

My inverter/charger manual specifically has instructions for equalizing AGM's and the default setting was 4 hours, but I only did 3.

The proof is in the performance.

[BrianE]

Many thanks Jon. Great reference material.