Gel v's AGM Batteries for House batteries

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flyboy2508

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Hi,

I am replacing old deep cycle battery bank 3 x 110amp/hrs, 12v. I am thinking of buying 3 x Victron Gel deep cycle 110Ah over AGMs as they seem to have longer life. I do not have a bow thruster to worry about, main high drain would be windless which is run from house batteries but infrequent. I will be using the batteries as a live aboard for the next year and my boat is hungry on power. I have Balmar 6 (150amp) alternator for recharging from the engine and regulator will work with Gel as will Smartgauge battery monitor.

Any comments or advice that I am making the right choice ?

Any feedback on Victron batteries ?

With Gel, is it still best practice to recharge at 50% discharge ?

Thank you for advice.
 
I have Agm but would replace with gel whenthe time comes. You do need to follow the correct charge regime though.

I think the depth of discharge will still have a significant effect on cycle life. I dont have any direct experience of gels, only agm.
 
prv said:
Why's that? I thought gel was an older technology that was pretty much superseded by AGM?

Pete
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I think in general that's true. Gel arguably has some advantages for very lengthy discharges and slow recharge rates such as large static solar installations.
Gel is inferior to AGM in high rate discharge capability and also high rate recharge capability.
Personally I would not consider gel for house batteries subject to daily cycle.
I don't know who makes Victron badged batteries but I would not expect Victron to badge anything sub standard.
Prices are pretty hefty. Weights seem pretty normal, not particularly heavy.

Edit - having another look at the datsheet https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Datasheet-GEL-and-AGM-Batteries-EN.pdf I'm being unfair, they are pretty heavy especially the ones over 100Ah, and the CCA figures are not high, suggesting thick plates - good.
Cycle life figures claimed are ambitious.
 
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I can only report about AGM batteries, which have served me well. I have 3 X 110ah AGMs that came with the boat from new, and are now 14 years old. I am in a marina and have a maintaining smart charger on all the time I am on shore power. For peace of mind I will be replacing them before I shoot off round Britain.
They charge quickly and seem tolerant of deep cycling when on a summer cruise.
 
flyboy2508 said:
Hi,

I am replacing old deep cycle battery bank 3 x 110amp/hrs, 12v. I am thinking of buying 3 x Victron Gel deep cycle 110Ah over AGMs as they seem to have longer life. I do not have a bow thruster to worry about, main high drain would be windless which is run from house batteries but infrequent. I will be using the batteries as a live aboard for the next year and my boat is hungry on power. I have Balmar 6 (150amp) alternator for recharging from the engine and regulator will work with Gel as will Smartgauge battery monitor.

Any comments or advice that I am making the right choice ?
Click to expand...

They don't have a significantly longer life than decent AGM batteries, which are considerably cheaper. I'd suggest you spend the money on 4 or 5 good AGM batteries instead, and try to limit discharge to 30% or 40%.
 
Plevier said:
I think in general that's true. Gel arguably has some advantages for very lengthy discharges and slow recharge rates such as large static solar installations.
Gel is inferior to AGM in high rate discharge capability and also high rate recharge capability.
Personally I would not consider gel for house batteries subject to daily cycle.
I don't know who makes Victron badged batteries but I would not expect Victron to badge anything sub standard.
Prices are pretty hefty. Weights seem pretty normal, not particularly heavy.

Edit - having another look at the datsheet https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Datasheet-GEL-and-AGM-Batteries-EN.pdf I'm being unfair, they are pretty heavy especially the ones over 100Ah, and the CCA figures are not high, suggesting thick plates - good.
Cycle life figures claimed are ambitious.
Click to expand...

Thats interesting - I have AGM's for the thruster banks and these do a good job, the house bank which is subject to much lower discharge rates has proven to be less reliable, but it may very well be that equivalent Gels would have faired no better, in the event I replaced like for like the 4*185ah AGMs in that bank and will see how they go with improved alternator regulation battery cables etc. Its difficult to decide because the advice/information varies - Mastervolt are the suppliers of my bank, and their website seems to suggest Gels might be better for the domestics. Hopefully I wont need to decide again for some time!
 
Barbican said:
Thats interesting - I have AGM's for the thruster banks and these do a good job, the house bank which is subject to much lower discharge rates has proven to be less reliable
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Rate of discharge is not the only issue. All lead acid batteries, whether open, gel or AGM, very much 'like' to be kept fully charged. Assuming a suitable charging regime, this is easy with dedicated starter, bowthruster and windlass batteries, since they're rarely, if ever, discharged by more than a few percent. Domestic banks, on the other hand, inevitably spend much of their lives in a partially-discharged condition which is harmful to them.
 
macd said:
Rate of discharge is not the only issue. All lead acid batteries, whether open, gel or AGM, very much 'like' to be kept fully charged. Assuming a suitable charging regime, this is easy with dedicated starter, bowthruster and windlass batteries, since they're rarely, if ever, discharged by more than a few percent. Domestic banks, on the other hand, inevitably spend much of their lives in a partially-discharged condition which is harmful to them.
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Understood - We rarely go more than a couple of weeks without a full charge, and rarely below 80% in between using the genset as needed. Think the problem might have been when the boat went to SIBS and Dusseldorf shows they may have been discharged in the case of Dusseldorf for some time on the road journey back, and the original standard Hitachi alternator setup might have been part of the problem. Just occurred to me that Gels might have been more forgiving of these issues.... The history data in the system didn't indicate any abuse though, so I was a bit stumped - Of course it may have been just one faulty battery bringing down the bank.....

No sign of any issue yet with the new ones (1yr) yet but I admit to being a little nervous!
 
Plevier said:
I doubt it.
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Good - I'm glad you said that! Having replaced like for like on the basis of my limited understanding, I have been getting some feedback from an "expert" that AGM are the wrong battery for house banks, and I should have gone with gels or Lithium - I feel a little better now!
 
Barbican said:
I have been getting some feedback from an "expert" that AGM are the wrong battery for house banks, and I should have gone with gels or Lithium - I feel a little better now!
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Just as with flooded lead-acid, some AGM batteries are designed to be deep-cycle, some are not. Your 'expert' seems not to know this, and probably much else.
 
I have three agms. Allfrom 2006. all were left go flat for a few years. all came back from the dead and served me well for two years afloat on a mooring with only ocassional charging with alternator, all were again left go flat in current yard but are more or less tricle charged on my new fancy charger for the last 6 Year? or so. will be using them again when I launch in end of March,, I think they must be like my CQR faulty...because the all work as I hope tather than as theories would suggest...

I think the real issue with batteries is the manufacturer rather then the tecnology to a certain extent...

I will be carrying a spare good starter battery with me when cruising and a pair of jump leads so I figure I will be fine even if the existing 13 year old abused yokes finally give up....

I will replace with the same AGMs again (two house leisure 105ah and one 130 engine start)
 
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