There are a variety of types of lead acid batteries on the market and each one works slightly differently. They all do the same thing, and that is provide power to something, and they all do it in roughly the same way with plates and electrolyte in between, but they hold the electrolyte in different ways and can run out of juice in different ways.
This means that they need charged in different ways. After reading this, you will understand the difference in charging an AGM battery verses charging a standard battery, and the best charger for each one.
First though before getting into the specifics of different types of chargers and which to use with what kind of battery we will cover what charging actually does. In a battery you have the electrolyte which is a liquid that holds the electrons.
The electrolyte is a mixture of sulfur and some other parts. Over time, the sulfur and the electrons with it stick to the metal plates inside the battery and builds up. When the electrons are stuck to the plates, instead of being able to flow thru the battery, that is when the battery is considered low on charge.
By charging the battery a pulse is sent into the battery and it breaks the sulfur build up off the plates. This frees the electrons and puts them back into the electrolyte where they are able to move thru the battery again and provide juice to whatever the battery is connected too.
In a standard battery the electrons are housed in just the liquid mixture and a part of that mixture is water. When you recharge a standard battery, the charger normally puts off a strong pulse and charges quickly.
This is because standard batteries with liquid in them are not hurt by being charged fast. By charging the battery fast you can start using it again quicker.
The problem with charging a battery fast though is that it causes a lose of the water inside of the mixture. It evaporates off and heat is formed. A standard battery though the heat goes away with the water that is being lost and normally it doesn't get hot enough for damage to occur.
Charging a battery fast though can also lead to over charging. This is when pulses are still being sent in, but there is no more sulfur to be broke off.
Over charging of a standard battery again does not cause much damage and just causes water to be lost. The reason this water lose isn't a big deal though, is that water can be added back into a standard battery making it so it will function the same.
An AGM battery on the other hand though, you can not add water back to it. This means that water that is lost has to get back in a different way. For an AGM battery there is a catalyst such as platinum, that is able to turn the hydrogen atoms that are created when charging back into the water.
In an AGM battery there are glass matts that absorb the liquid and AGM stands for Absorbed glass matts. These matts suspend the electrolyte and makes it so the battery does not leak.
Since water can not be added directly back to an AGM battery though, then once the catalyst is gone inside, it is gone, so you should do everything to prevent the need for it.
When it comes to charging, that means you should charge an AGM battery low and slow. This is because if you add a low amount of pulse over a longer period of time not as much heat will be made, so the battery won't get as hot.
Also, if you charge it slowly, then you are less likely to over charge the battery and cause damage. However, you don't want to under charge the battery either. That is why they make chargers designed for AGM batteries and are labeled as that.
A charger labeled for use with AGM batteries is normally more of a battery maintainer. This means that it has computers that can monitor the level of charge in the battery. As it gets closed to being fully charged, then the charge can slow down, so as not to over charge the battery.
These special chargers will normally stop charging once the battery is fully charged, and won't start recharging again till needed, meaning they can be left connected.
So, now that you understand the difference between a standard charger and an AGM charger, a lot of people will ask if you have to use an AGM charger for an AGM battery. The technical answer is no you don't have too.
The standard charger will charge the battery and if monitored will not cause harm to the AGM battery, especially if used on the lowest setting, but if you are not careful, then it will over charge the battery and lead to the AGM batteries life being cut short.
That is why even though you technically don't have to have an AGM charger for an AGM battery, it is a good idea to have one. You spent good money on an AGM battery, so make sure you charge it properly and don't damage it and get a charger designed for it.
AGM and standard batteries both charge in the same way. The charger applies a pulse to the battery and this breaks the sulfur off the plates and restores it to the electrolyte allowing the electrons to flow freely.
The difference is when you charge a battery it loses water, and this is especially true with strong standard chargers or if you over charge a battery. With a standard battery this isn't much of an issue because you can add water back, but with an AGM battery you can't add water back.
It has a catalyst inside the turn the hydrogen back into water, but once the catalyst is gone, the batteries life will be almost over with. That is why you should use an AGM battery charger on an AGM battery to keep the life of the battery up and prevent water lose and over charging.
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My question is, I have a travel trailer with a standard charger is there any way to convert it to a AGM charger.
Hello Jeffrey
I have an AGM battery and agm charger, the charger is an automatic type that reduces the charge as the battery reaches its charged state and a green light comes on indicating the charge is complete. I have used the charger on the standard batteries before and the green light comes on when completed but on the agm batteries is does not, the dial indicator on the charger does in fact goes down to zero. Any idea why the green light does not come on when I am using it on an agm battery? Thanks
the agm vs stb confuse me for weeks i been gettin about 3 miles and my battery is drand and car surges as if dieing and then stops to re start and nothing i re charge again nad same thing someone said i needed new alternator which i got new on ebay we put on and same sitiuation just now i have a new alternator if i could just keep it running so today i will charge the battery in std mode today to see if there is differnce its scaring me just to try to start it or go more than 2 miles to the store or station ido not want to be stranded again any word on if i should charge in std mode vs arm mode?? or t other ideas as to why it keeps dieng on me? thaks ahead of time any input will help
Lead acid RV batteries are better if the vehicle is started often and AGM is better if used mainly for camping accessories taking lower amperage than starting amperage of the motor?