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This would be the case for batteries in vehicles and boats stored outdoors or in unheated storage. Temperature compensation: If your AGM battery will undergo large temperature swings during storage, be sure to check the battery maintainer features temperature compensation.
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This allows charging drained AGM batteries like just like regular chargers, only slower.
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Although intended for storage charging, the majority of battery maintainers actually have the full bulk–absortion–float charging cycle programmed in. Most battery maintainers can also recharge small AGM batteries. Keeping your AGM battery hooked up to a battery maintainer through the storage season ensures the battery stays in optimal condition and relieves you from having to manually charge it every 6-12 months. have intelligent battery state detection and stage switching, and most are compatible with AGM batteries. Practically all new battery maintainers are smart, i.e. These chargers have outputs of a few amps at maximum and are typically small, dust- and waterproof and affordable.īattery maintainers are excellent for charging AGM batteries in storage. Pros & Cons: + fast and efficient chargingīattery maintainers are low-power chargers intended for maintenance charging during battery storage. Conventional chargers are older models, and usually have an analog current gauge and rocker switches for voltage and current selection. Most battery chargers in sale in 2021 are smart, and have descriptions like “3-stage” or “3-phase”, “IUoU”, “automatic”. They may also have “smart” in the product name.
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How to identify a smart charger: Smart chargers have multiple mode buttons, indicator leds, and sometimes a display.
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The temperature is measured with an external thermistor on the battery or, with very low currents, inside the charger some models may just allow manual temperature input by the user. This is a very useful feature for charging at high currents or in variable conditions. Temperature compensation: Many smart chargers can adjust the charging voltages based on temperature. The difference lies in the maintenance part of the charging cycle: four-stage chargers have a dedicated long-term storage mode, claimed to be better for battery health than months of float. 4-stage: Both three- and four-stage smart chargers are OK for AGM batteries. This makes the charging process as efficient as possible and minimizes the risk of over- or undercharging.Īdvertisements 3-stage vs.
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Smart chargers typically employ either a three- or a four-stage charging cycle.ĪGM mode: A dedicated AGM mode in the charger is very useful in that it sets the absorption and float voltages and stage timing so that they are optimal for AGMs.
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These chargers can monitor and control both charging current and voltage and switch the charging stages optimally. Smart chargers are essentially chargers with intelligent control electronics. Advertisements AGM batteries are best charged using a smart charger with a dedicated mode for AGM batteries.
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