NO! Do not install Lifeline® AGM batteries in a sealed container or enclosure. During storage, charging, or discharging hydrogen gas can be released and must be ventilated to prevent the possibility of ignition and/or explosion.
For a battery at room temperature, it can be considered fully charged with the charging current falls below 0.5A per 100Ah of rated capacity. The open circuit voltage (after at least 4 hours of rest) will be 2.17 volts per cell or higher (13.0 volts for a 12-volt battery), regardless of the battery temperature.
Perform a capacity test. Short duration load tests and impedance/conductance measurements are not reliable to determine the actual capacity of a battery.
Lifeline® AGM batteries contain a pressure relief valve (PRV) that prevents excessive pressure buildup when the battery is being charged, and automatically reseals once the pressure is released. A slight bulge in the battery container (convex end walls) can appear when the internal pressure is above the surrounding atmospheric pressure but not enough to open the PRV. Alternatively, the end walls can flex inward (concave end walls) when the internal pressure is less than surrounding atmospheric pressure. Both of these conditions are normal and do not affect the battery’s operation.
To get the best cycle life, the average depth of discharge should be as low as possible. Concorde recommends the average depth of discharge to be no greater than 50% of the battery’s 20 hour rating.
It stands for Absorbed Glass Mat, the type of separator used in all Lifeline® AGM batteries.
NONE! Charging voltage varies widely depending on the battery’s temperature and there is no single voltage that will work over a wide temperature range. Batteries will fail prematurely if this is attempted.
Charge with a 3 stage charger that compensates the voltage setting as teh battery temperature changes.
Both AGM and Gel batteries utilize oxygen recombination and pressure relief valves to minimize water loss and allow maintenance-free operation. That is where the similarities end. AGM batteries have the advantage of being mountable in any orientation without capacity loss, have lower internal impedance to support high load currents, and have better capacity at lower temperatures. Gel batteries must be mounted upright to prevent air pockets from forming that will burn out the plates. They have inferior performance at high discharge rates and low temperatures.
There is no theoretical limit to the number of batteries that can be connected in parallel. As more batteries are paralleled together, the risk of one faulty battery affecting the entire battery bank increases. Depending on the criticality of the application, there may be a need to isolate each battery or battery string for fault protection or to allow servicing of individual batteries. This can be accomplished by incorporating additional circuitry in the battery system that includes fuses, circuit breakers, or diodes. For more details on this subject, contact Concorde Battery for technical assistance.
Concorde has been supplying Lifeline® AGM batteries to the marine and recreational vehicle marketplace for over 20 years, providing excellent performance, reliability and life. With this long history and wide variety of successful applications, prospective customers are assured that Lifeline® AGM batteries have proven themselves over and over again.