AGM Batteries

[boatmike]

Need to replace a 110Ah AGM (actually in my caravan not my boat)
Looking on t'internet I see prices from about £140 to over £500 (!)
No way to judge the relative quality or value.
Anyone got any recommendations regarding make or type?
Mostly, cos its a caravan, I am hooked up to main power most of the time and connected to car when underway so there will not be a high demand for ultra deep cycle so I am looking at cheaper end of market but don't want to buy crap. In fact (thinks) do I really need AGM in the first place?

 

[RJJ]

Need to replace a 110Ah AGM (actually in my caravan not my boat)
Looking on t'internet I see prices from about £140 to over £500 (!)
No way to judge the relative quality or value.
Anyone got any recommendations regarding make or type?
Mostly, cos its a caravan, I am hooked up to main power most of the time and connected to car when underway so there will not be a high demand for ultra deep cycle so I am looking at cheaper end of market but don't want to buy crap. In fact (thinks) do I really need AGM in the first place?

As always, the advice is to do your power budget. The advantage of AGM is allowing you a greater usage and durability of the stated capacity, in which sense 80pc usable of your AGM battery equates to 40pc usable of a lead-acid battery twice the size.

Then consider if you have any rapid discharge needs. Do you want to run a coffee machine or hairdryer on the stored power? If so, a single AGM might struggle. If you are almost always plugged in, it's irrelevant. For slower discharge e.g. lighting and laptop, your 110Ah AGM should be fine.

My personal preference is to go cheaper. It's relatively easy to install and a failure in 4 years time is presumably much less irritating than on a boat.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Need to replace a 110Ah AGM (actually in my caravan not my boat)
Looking on t'internet I see prices from about £140 to over £500 (!)
No way to judge the relative quality or value.
Anyone got any recommendations regarding make or type?
Mostly, cos its a caravan, I am hooked up to main power most of the time and connected to car when underway so there will not be a high demand for ultra deep cycle so I am looking at cheaper end of market but don't want to buy crap. In fact (thinks) do I really need AGM in the first place?

I've fitted several Hankook AGM batteries, from Battery Megastore, good value and never had a problem with them.

AGM probably not a must, but for the little extra cost it's worth it.

No connection with either company, other than as a customer.

 

[MikeBz]

The big advantage of AGM batteries on a boat is that they charge considerably faster (assuming your alternator is up to the job), so for a limited amount of engine running time you get more charge into the battery, which is a double win (more charge for less engine running time and longer battery life). However if you are mostly hooked up to mains power or running car engine then this is of much less consequence.

AGM batteries don't have to cost a lot (e.g. AGM Leisure Batteries | Free Delivery | AGM Leisure Battery | ABS Batteries), I fitted 2 x 100Ah AGM batteries at £90 each to our boat 9 years ago and they are still going strong.

 

[lustyd]

£90 each to our boat 9 years ago

Hmmm, in today's money that's about £40,000

 

[VicS]

Need to replace a 110Ah AGM (actually in my caravan not my boat)
Looking on t'internet I see prices from about £140 to over £500 (!)
No way to judge the relative quality or value.
Anyone got any recommendations regarding make or type?
Mostly, cos its a caravan, I am hooked up to main power most of the time and connected to car when underway so there will not be a high demand for ultra deep cycle so I am looking at cheaper end of market but don't want to buy crap. In fact (thinks) do I really need AGM in the first place?

For a caravan a leisure battery will do nicely unless you want to splash the cash on a deep cycle battery. You don't need an engine start battery.

Therefore choose a YUASSA AGM leisure battery..

 

[PaulRainbow]

For a caravan a leisure battery will do nicely unless you want to splash the cash on a deep cycle battery. You don't need an engine start battery.

Therefore choose a YUASSA AGM leisure battery..

I'd agree with not needing deep cycle, but what's the difference between an engine start AGM and a leisure AGM ?

 

[doug748]

The big advantage of AGM batteries on a boat is that they charge considerably faster (assuming your alternator is up to the job), so for a limited amount of engine running time you get more charge into the battery, which is a double win (more charge for less engine running time and longer battery life). However if you are mostly hooked up to mains power or running car engine then this is of much less consequence.

AGM batteries don't have to cost a lot (e.g. AGM Leisure Batteries | Free Delivery | AGM Leisure Battery | ABS Batteries), I fitted 2 x 100Ah AGM batteries at £90 each to our boat 9 years ago and they are still going strong.

Good tip. Unfortunately the AGM were not sized for me but I ordered a conventional battery from them at 3.30 yesterday afternoon. It arrived at 8.59 this morning .
I see the AGM jobs now seem to start around £115 for 100Ah.