The Ford Barn

JtownJoe · 11-13-2013, 09:34 PM

I have a 12 volt Optima battery in my 30' Tudor and I will be storing the A in an unheated garage this winter (Western PA) I was looking at a battery float maint/charger that mentioned "for wet lead acid & gel battery". i'm thinking that the Optima fits in the gel category?

Art Bjornestad · 11-13-2013, 09:51 PM

They call it an AGM battery. Not so sure what a gell cell battery is.

qtcoupe · 11-13-2013, 10:02 PM

I have optima batteries in both my 41 plymouth and my 98 corvette and I use the float chargers from harborfreight and have for about 10 years on the plymouth with the same battery. They seem to prolong the life of the battery

BILL WILLIAMSON · 11-14-2013, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art Bjornestad

They call it an AGM battery. Not so sure what a gell cell battery is.

AGM= ACID GEL MATRIX, same thing as a gel cell battery. Bill W.

MikeK · 11-14-2013, 07:37 AM

AGM = Absorptive Gas Mat. The hydrogen gas given off by the charging process material is 'absorbed' into solution within the porous mat that holds the electrolyte. Think of a damp paper towel. The electrolyte is not gelled.

In a gel cell the H gas forms micro bubbles that do not rise to the top. The gel swells, later contracting as the H gas dissolves back into the electrolyte. The charge characteristics are very different. Gel batteries cannot take high amp recharge, AGM batteries need occasional high amp charge rates.

Long term low amperage charge maintenance will severely shorten the life of an AGM. They are best left until 50% down, then charged at a very high amp rate.

MikeK · 11-14-2013, 08:45 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Here's a comparison and explanation LINK. Here they call it "Advanced Glass Mat".

JtownJoe · 11-14-2013, 09:50 PM

Thanx to all for the input, sounds like the float charger will be OK

JtownJoe · 11-14-2013, 10:02 PM

Mike, Thanx for the in site on the different charging situations with the different types of batteries. Very informative. I gather from your description that the regular charging cycle of an alternator will give the AGM batteries what they need, including the occasional higher charge rate, when they get a heavy use situation. Is the cold weather more or less hard on the AGM verses regular batteries?

11-13-2013, 09:34 PM	#1
JtownJoe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Johnstown, PA Posts: 342	optima float charger I have a 12 volt Optima battery in my 30' Tudor and I will be storing the A in an unheated garage this winter (Western PA) I was looking at a battery float maint/charger that mentioned "for wet lead acid & gel battery". i'm thinking that the Optima fits in the gel category?

11-13-2013, 09:51 PM	#2
Art Bjornestad Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Westlake Village, CA Posts: 477	Re: optima float charger They call it an AGM battery. Not so sure what a gell cell battery is.

11-13-2013, 10:02 PM	#3
qtcoupe Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Vancouver Wa. Posts: 23	Re: optima float charger I have optima batteries in both my 41 plymouth and my 98 corvette and I use the float chargers from harborfreight and have for about 10 years on the plymouth with the same battery. They seem to prolong the life of the battery

11-14-2013, 07:37 AM	#5
MikeK Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Windy City Posts: 2,919	Re: optima float charger AGM = Absorptive Gas Mat. The hydrogen gas given off by the charging process material is 'absorbed' into solution within the porous mat that holds the electrolyte. Think of a damp paper towel. The electrolyte is not gelled. In a gel cell the H gas forms micro bubbles that do not rise to the top. The gel swells, later contracting as the H gas dissolves back into the electrolyte. *The charge characteristics are very* different.** Gel batteries cannot take high amp recharge, AGM batteries need occasional high amp charge rates. Long term low amperage charge maintenance will severely shorten the life of an AGM. They are best left until 50% down, then charged at a very high amp rate.

11-14-2013, 08:45 AM	#6
MikeK Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Windy City Posts: 2,919	Re: optima float charger Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Here's a comparison and explanation LINK. Here they call it "Advanced Glass Mat".

11-14-2013, 09:50 PM	#7
JtownJoe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Johnstown, PA Posts: 342	Re: optima float charger Thanx to all for the input, sounds like the float charger will be OK

11-14-2013, 10:02 PM	#8
JtownJoe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Johnstown, PA Posts: 342	Re: optima float charger Mike, Thanx for the in site on the different charging situations with the different types of batteries. Very informative. I gather from your description that the regular charging cycle of an alternator will give the AGM batteries what they need, including the occasional higher charge rate, when they get a heavy use situation. Is the cold weather more or less hard on the AGM verses regular batteries?