Battery..whats all this mean?

[castaway]

Just reading the info off the front of these Tudor AGM Batteries...what does it all mean in every days usage terms:

AGM Valve regulated Long Life Battery

High Power H4 06/165 -6v 162Ah

Floating voltage 6.81 @20 deg C

Obviously 6 volt 162amp/hr, but what does the rest mean and how can i find out or tell if these are 'deep cycle' batts?

Many thanks

Nick

 

[VicS]

Well AGM means that the acid is absorbed in a glass mat and valve regulated means it is sealed but vented via relief valves.

Long life almost certainly means not as long as you would have liked

I guess the float voltage is the contiuous maintenance voltage once charged.

Loads of interesing reading on This site other battery types as well as lead acid.

 

[William_H]

It probably is primarily designed as a deep cycle battery. Cos it doesn't claim cold cranking amps. Don't let that dismay you. Unless you have a huge diesel these batteries (2 in series) will give lots of amps for starting without concern.
162 AH ius large capacity. This explains why they are only 6 volt. 12 volts worth would be just too big to lift. be carefull with these ones.
6.81 volts floating obviously means that the regulator on your system should be set for 13.62 for long term float.
Your existing system is probably set for closer to 14 volts but I don't think that will matter much. They should be fine on a smart regulator or charger but if possible set the final voltage to 13.62 or thereabouts.

So if you are considering buying them and the price is right I imagine they would do a fine job in an average boat for domestic service. Of course for a dual system you might be better with a purpose built engine battery. (cheaper) An engine start battery will give max cranking amps for min size and cost.
Sorry don't know about "H4 06/165
olewill

 

[Danny]

[ QUOTE ]
Your existing system is probably set for closer to 14 volts but I don't think that will matter much. They should be fine on a smart regulator or charger but if possible set the final voltage to 13.62 or thereabouts.

[/ QUOTE ]I don't have personal experience of this but I believe that AGMs can suffer from thermal runaway if charged at a constant voltage above their design parameters. The internal resistance decreases as the temperature rises so the charge current increases and temperature rises even more. Eventually the battery destructs!
Probably alarmist but I remember reading all about this and thinking that, if I installed AGMs, I'd make sure that my charger was set to float at the correct level, etc. to be on the safe side.

 

[castaway]

Ah...Okay that sounds encouraging....My old bank of 4 x 6volt batts were getting a bit weak ( 6 yrs old) and and when i looked at the price I paid back in 2001 GBP 370 for the four of 'em and added a bit for inflation plus some more for some increased amp/hrs it was all getting a bit on the steep side.

However all was not lost as i looked at EBay and a guy who lives only half a mile from me gets 'ex security' back up batteries from banks and big corporations' which (he claims) are changed
every year.......anyway to keep it short i bought 4 of these little beauties at 25 quid each..I charged all the batts for 24hrs and after a further 24hrs to settle they all stayed at 6.34 v ( or linked in pairs at 12.7) so I guess (hope) they are good !!

Thanks Nick

 

[pappaecho]

Interesting point. I have 4 x 100 amp batteries in two banks, two deep cycle for service and 2 starter batteries. Connected to a Rutland 913 wind turbine which yesterday was indicating 14.2 volts on the Marlec charge controller, and the turbine in Force 6 winds was feathering, indicating that the Marlex was dumping the excess voltage. If the battery bank has a float voltage of 13.8 volts, how do you alter the maximum voltage before the dump comes into play?

 

[castaway]

Well on my Air-X the 'dump' is factory set but is adjustable via a little screw under the body of the generator

BTW in the stiff breeze the other night my generator was producing so much power that the lights kept on getting brighter in the gusts!

(Maybe I could sell power back into the Grid)

Nick