I am one of those that care about ease of warranty. When I moved to Texas in 1990, I had a Western Auto battery that I bought in Michigan. 2 years later it crapped out so I went to the local WA for warranty. Sorry that was a company store and we are a franchise,cannot warranty it. Went with Wallyworld and never looked back. If I go to Florida and battery goes, they will cover it.

quote:

Originally posted by sgalczyn:

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:

I can tell you from my experience, they're no better than the equivalent Deka AGM, which is good to very good, but not great. I'm seeing 3 years +/- out of them......On one boat the first set went 6.5 years, same boat, same replacement batteries and they were bad 39 months later.

Running a Deka AGM in my Forester 6 years now.........going strong.

Heat is not Deka's friend. Down here in Sunny South Florida, we see about 3.5 years out of them in a car.....Also Deka you have to warranty it at the distributor or dealer you bought it from.

Interstate, but I have a little bit of bias. I work in a repair shop, this is the brand they carry and I get it for barely over cost.

Barring a sudden failure, I don't wait for my batteries to go dead before I replace them. I test them periodically as well as listen for any hint of slow cranking. The latest - a 5-year-old Interstate - started to exhibit symptoms. I tested it and it showed 380 CCA out of a rating of 550. This is still enough to start my little 1.8-liter engine, but I get single-digit temperatures sometimes, so out it went.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: egregore,

I went on youtube today and one of my favorite posters just put up a video about this very topic.

If you don't watch his channel you should give it a try.

https://youtu.be/h7rTcBanpMk

Timely thread... my wife's 2014 Honda CR-V failed to start yesterday and again this morning.
Went to Costco and replaced the original Honda battery with a $75 Interstate.

quote:

Originally posted by sigarms229:
I went on youtube today and one of my favorite posters just put up a video about this very topic.

If you don't watch his channel you should give it a try.

Already posted on page three. Another thing about PF’s video: He compares different group size batteries and considers surface charge as fully charged. Can’t make a fair comparison doing that, especially with a cheap load tester.

This thread got me thinking about my 2013 F150 and how time flies.
I stopped at Wally World and bought a Maxx Ever Start 65N $100.00 OTD!
Original was Motorcraft and after 6+ years I believe it was worth the c-note.
Timely topic indeed.
Gets cold here in Idaho!
Thanks

I trust Interstate

Most likely the alternator in your car is designed to charge at the correct voltage for standard wet cell batteries. If so, you should stick with the same type.

AGM batteries require a different charging voltage for best performance and longevity. There is a ton of good info detailing the specifics, but suffice to say quality smart battery chargers have different settings for AGM vs traditional wet cell batteries for a very good reason.

I was looking at a AGM 65 at Sam's club the other day. It was a Energizer battery, any thoughts?

This.

Used to be a fan of Walmart / EverMaxx but switched since I started shopping at Costco (food, tires, gas....they get a lot of my money).

quote:

Originally posted by Oz_Shadow:
I just get an Interstate at Costco. Good prices and they last as long as any.

quote:

Originally posted by jigray3:
Most likely the alternator in your car is designed to charge at the correct voltage for standard wet cell batteries. If so, you should stick with the same type.

AGM batteries require a different charging voltage for best performance and longevity. There is a ton of good info detailing the specifics, but suffice to say quality smart battery chargers have different settings for AGM vs traditional wet cell batteries for a very good reason.

My understanding is that AGM batteries, which share the same chemistry as regular wet cell batteries, can take more current in the absorption phase of the charge cycle with out boiling like a standard battery would do. Using a charger or charging system designed for a standard battery would charge slower than the AGM is capable of, but would not have a detrimental effect on the battery itself.

Gel cell batteries on the other hand are a different chemistry and require a lower voltage, 13.6?, than the 14+ a standard charging system puts out.

quote:

Originally posted by jigray3:
Most likely the alternator in your car is designed to charge at the correct voltage for standard wet cell batteries. If so, you should stick with the same type.

AGM batteries require a different charging voltage for best performance and longevity. There is a ton of good info detailing the specifics, but suffice to say quality smart battery chargers have different settings for AGM vs traditional wet cell batteries for a very good reason.

AGM's take the same charging profile as wet cells. Using a regular alternator or battery charger does not harm them at all. Most all smart battery chargers do not have a separate setting for AGM anymore. All yachts live off of the battery chargers (and RV's) and have very expensive ($500-$4000) and large battery chargers (50-100 amp) and they only have a separate setting for Gel Gel batteries require a lower charging voltage and have a lower resting voltage.

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:

quote:

Originally posted by jigray3:
Most likely the alternator in your car is designed to charge at the correct voltage for standard wet cell batteries. If so, you should stick with the same type.

AGM batteries require a different charging voltage for best performance and longevity. There is a ton of good info detailing the specifics, but suffice to say quality smart battery chargers have different settings for AGM vs traditional wet cell batteries for a very good reason.

AGM's take the same charging profile as wet cells. Using a regular alternator or battery charger does not harm them at all. Most all smart battery chargers do not have a separate setting for AGM anymore. All yachts live off of the battery chargers (and RV's) and have very expensive ($500-$4000) and large battery chargers (50-100 amp) and they only have a separate setting for Gel Gel batteries require a lower charging voltage and have a lower resting voltage.

There is a significant body of evidence from reputable sources that contradicts your position. Here is one example::.

"As with all gelled and sealed units, AGM batteries are sensitive to overcharging. A charge to 2.40V/cell (and higher) is fine; however, the float charge should be reduced to between 2.25 and 2.30V/cell (summer temperatures may require lower voltages). Automotive charging systems for flooded lead acid often have a fixed float voltage setting of 14.40V (2.40V/cell); a direct replacement with a sealed unit could overcharge the battery on a long drive. (See BU-403: Charging Lead Acid.)

AGM and other sealed batteries do not like heat and should be installed away from the engine compartment. Manufacturers recommend halting charge if the battery core reaches 49°C (120°F). Table 1 spells out the advantages and limitations of AGM."

Link

Rural King is my nearest store and they are usually lowest price with good warranties.

quote:

Originally posted by jigray3:

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:

quote:

Originally posted by jigray3:
Most likely the alternator in your car is designed to charge at the correct voltage for standard wet cell batteries. If so, you should stick with the same type.

AGM batteries require a different charging voltage for best performance and longevity. There is a ton of good info detailing the specifics, but suffice to say quality smart battery chargers have different settings for AGM vs traditional wet cell batteries for a very good reason.

AGM's take the same charging profile as wet cells. Using a regular alternator or battery charger does not harm them at all. Most all smart battery chargers do not have a separate setting for AGM anymore. All yachts live off of the battery chargers (and RV's) and have very expensive ($500-$4000) and large battery chargers (50-100 amp) and they only have a separate setting for Gel Gel batteries require a lower charging voltage and have a lower resting voltage.

There is a significant body of evidence from reputable sources that contradicts your position. Here is one example::.

"As with all gelled and sealed units, AGM batteries are sensitive to overcharging. A charge to 2.40V/cell (and higher) is fine; however, the float charge should be reduced to between 2.25 and 2.30V/cell (summer temperatures may require lower voltages). Automotive charging systems for flooded lead acid often have a fixed float voltage setting of 14.40V (2.40V/cell); a direct replacement with a sealed unit could overcharge the battery on a long drive. (See BU-403: Charging Lead Acid.)

AGM and other sealed batteries do not like heat and should be installed away from the engine compartment. Manufacturers recommend halting charge if the battery core reaches 49°C (120°F). Table 1 spells out the advantages and limitations of AGM."

Link

The charging profiles AND resting profiles for both traditional lead acid and AGM are virtually identical. A flooded battery can be overcharged on a very long drive just the same as AGM, as resting (fully charged) voltage is around 13.5-13.6 volts for both types (there is a little fluctuation on resting voltage depending on ambient temperature for all batteries). GEL batteries have much lower charging and flooded voltages, but generally since they're around 250% more expensive than flooded, you generally only see them in inverter battery banks and things of that nature

Straight from East Penn (DEKA's) website:

AGM batteries will replace a flooded battery in any typical alternator voltage regulated system. These systems generally maintain a voltage at 13.8 to 14.4 volts (cars, trucks, commercial trucks, boats, etc.). In fact, the efficient recharging of the AGM battery design can cause less wear on the vehicle’s alternator system over time.

https://www.eastpennmanufactur...rces-downloads/faqs/

ROLLS battery- one of the best batteries made, recommends 14.55 volt charge voltage, and 13.65 float voltage if air temp is 86F for AGM AND 14.55 volt charge voltage and 13.55 Float voltage at 86F air temp for their flooded batteries.


support.rollsbattery.com/support/solutions/articles/4345-agm-charging

http://support.rollsbattery.co...-lead-acid-batteries

I am a dealer of Deka batteries BTW, but get most all of the brands of batteries at wholesale prices with my business.

OOOh I see Costco has the Interstate AGM's now. I wonder which Interstate model matches the Costco version? Such as this: https://www.interstatebatterie...m/products/mtx-47/h5. All the specs seem to match.

I like Wal-Mart Max batteries. The one in my 67 Pontiac gave up the ghost with use of a Battery Tender at just under nine years. 2010 I replaced the battery in my Sierra, when my daughter got rid of the truck in early 2017 it was still good to go.

Just put one in my Wrangler.

quote:

Originally posted by jigray3:
There is a significant body of evidence from reputable sources that contradicts your position. Here is one example::.

"As with all gelled and sealed units, AGM batteries are sensitive to overcharging. A charge to 2.40V/cell (and higher) is fine; however, the float charge should be reduced to between 2.25 and 2.30V/cell (summer temperatures may require lower voltages). Automotive charging systems for flooded lead acid often have a fixed float voltage setting of 14.40V (2.40V/cell); a direct replacement with a sealed unit could overcharge the battery on a long drive. (See BU-403: Charging Lead Acid.)

I have four different types/brands of chargers (Samlex 15amp 3 stage, Associated 20amp 3 stage, BatteryTender+ 3 stage, and BatteryMinder 3 stage), and all of them float at 13.5v for both AGM and flooded batteries.
 
Regarding alternator voltage, I installed a digital voltmeter in my dashboard (nice OLED display, in hundredths of a volt, hooked up directly to the battery so it reads alternator output at all times). I have noticed a variation in alternator output, based on the condition of the battery. I believe this is the alternator's voltage regulator at work. If I haven't driven for a few days, the alternator output starts out around 14.4 volts, and gradually drops as the battery is charged. Driving for an hour at highway speeds, I see the alternator output drop to a float voltage of 13.5. This is in a 2010 Toyota Tacoma. So, no, I do not believe a modern alternator will harm an AGM battery. I use an Odyssey AGM in my Tacoma.

Just installed Walmart Max platinum in my Jeep Wrangler (5yr warranty) We’ll see how it does.