AGM Deep Cycle Batteries 101: The Present and Future of Auxiliar Power

 The batteries in cars are all the same, at least the ones that power engine bay components. While most power the electrics inside the car, some can be used only to provide short bursts of power which excludes any cabin-related controls. This is the reason why deep cycle batteries exist.

A deep cycle battery is able to provide a low current for a long period of time which is what your car's heating, infotainment, lights and other comforts require to run properly. But since most cars come with a single battery, caravans are the ones that make use of deep cycle batteries since a single one can power everything.

AGM Batteries

source: ajcbattery.com

What Are They?

An AGM or absorbent glass mat battery is a type of deep cycle battery that has its electrolyte found within what is known as compressible glass mats. Formerly used by military aircraft, AGM deep cycle batteries in Australia have found use primarily in caravans and even some vehicles. The core of these batteries is separated into multiple sections by plates that help keep the electrolyte in constant contact with the positive and negative terminals. 

Benefits

But why is it that AGM deep cycle batteries are one of the most common ones in caravans and not some other deep cycle battery? That's mainly because an AGM deep cycle battery is able to deliver a much higher output than say lead acid batteries which are the simplest deep cycle batteries.

AGM batteries are also spillproof since they don't have any fluid in them and are quite durable too especially when it comes to vibrations. You can't go wrong with AGM deep cycle batteries for sale if you want a solution that will last you a long time and perform at its best throughout its lifespan.

What Matters in an AGM Battery

Ah

It's important that when choosing an AGM battery for your caravan you consider its specifications and the battery capacity is one of the most important ones. Abbreviated by the amp-hour (Ah) rating it refers to the amount of current that the battery can deliver in a certain timeframe. For instance, a 100Ah battery can provide 5 amps of current for 20 hours as 5x20 = 100.

Nominal Voltage

A deep cycle battery's nominal voltage refers to the voltage level the battery sits at during most of its discharge cycle. The nominal voltage is also the middle point between the battery's fully-discharged voltage and maximum voltage level. A higher nominal voltage is better as the battery performs better and can do so for much longer with all the wear it's being put through on a daily basis.

DoD

DoD or depth of discharge refers to the level of charge the battery can have when compared to its total capacity. For AGM deep cycle batteries in Australia, that's about 50% anything below is not good for the battery as it deteriorates the electrolyte quicker. For example, for an AGM deep cycle battery with 100Ah, you can draw 50A of power before it will need to be recharged.

Max Discharge Rate

A battery's maximum discharge rate is the rate at which maximum current can be drawn from it over a certain period of time commonly expressed in C-rate. The C-rate of a battery is calculated by dividing the max discharge current in Ah first by the battery's capacity.

An example would be if you have a 1C battery which is usually one that can be fully discharged in one hour. If you apply this with a 100Ah having a 1C rating it simply means it can be discharged at 100A in one hour.

Volts

The number of volts the battery comes with determines how much power you can draw at once from and to it. 12V AGM deep cycle batteries for sale are more common for auxiliary use but you can also find ones that rely on 24V.

Amps

The amperage of a battery refers to the electrical energy that's supplied through and the more can pass to devices and appliances the more devices you can power with the battery.

Watts

The wattage is the total power consumption of the battery which can be calculated by multiplying the volts and amps it can provide. The battery should provide enough power to charge all the devices in your caravan.

Properly Charging an AGM Battery

1. The first thing you need to do is obvious as you need to plug in the charger compatible with your AGM battery. After that connect a backup power supply to the OBD port.

2. Once you plug in and connect stuff you then should disconnect the negative terminal of the vehicle and wrap a glove or rag around it. On the charger, select absorbed or AGM as the battery type and usually 12V too.

3. Then connect the charger to the battery's posts and check the indicator lights. Start up the charger and let it stay there for 8 hours so it fully charges the battery. Once done connect the battery back into place but not before disconnecting the battery's backup.