Lifeline agm batteries?

[coopason]

Would like to hear from anyone who has experience with these batteries. Need 2 new batteries for my 80 lb 24 volt Terrova, might be considering these batteries. Definately want an AGM,specs on the Lifeline look good. Thanks for any input..

Coop

[imbatman]

In my opinion Lifeline makes the best overall AGM batteries on the market. Can be pricey but very very good. No matter what battery you get the best way to get great life out of them is too take care of them, summer and winter.

[ffishman]

Just curious. I buy my batteries from Walmart. They cost about 55.00 bucks each. On average they last near 5 years. Breaks down to 11.00 a year. If I changed over to these other batteries at a much higher cost, what will the benefits be. They cost over twice as much as the ones I buy, will I get twice the life? What is the advantage?

[coopason]

Lifeline batteries are 5 time's that. The spec's on them are what intrigued me. As suggested and I do believe CARE is what make's a battery last.

I'm looking for anyone with experience on these batteries. Not really wanting to drop close to 600 dollars on 2 batts. But if I do I want the best bang for my buck. Maintenance free also appeals to me.
Thanks

Coop

[blueicecpa]

http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery.html#3

3. Wet Cell (flooded), Gel Cell, and Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) are various versions of the lead acid battery. The wet cell comes in 2 styles; serviceable, and maintenance free. Both are filled with electrolyte and I prefer one that I can add water to and check the specific gravity of the electrolyte with a hydrometer. The Gel Cell and the AGM batteries are specialty batteries that typically cost twice as much as a premium wet cell. However they store very well and do not tend to sulfate or degrade as easily or as easily as wet cell. There is little chance of a hydrogen gas explosion or corrosion when using these batteries; these are the safest lead acid batteries you can use. Gel Cell and some AGM batteries may require a special charging rate. I personally feel that careful consideration should be given to the AGM battery technology for applications such as Marine, RV, Solar, Audio, Power Sports and Stand-By Power just to name a few. If you don't use or operate your equipment daily; this can lead premature battery failure; or depend on top-notch battery performance then spend the extra money. Gel Cell batteries still are being sold but the AGM batteries are replacing them in most applications. There is a little confusion about AGM batteries because different manufactures call them different names; some of the popular ones are sealed regulated valve, dry cell, non spillable, and sealed lead acid batteries. In most cases AGM batteries will give greater life span and greater cycle life than a wet cell battery.
SPECIAL NOTE about Gel Batteries: It is very common for individuals to use the term GEL CELL when referring to sealed, maintenance free batteries, much like one would use Kleenex when referring to facial tissue or "Xerox machine" when referring to a copy machine. Be very careful when specifying a battery charger, many times we are told by customer they are requiring a charger for a Gel Cell battery and in fact the battery is not a Gel Cell.

AGM: The Absorbed Glass Matt construction allows the electrolyte to be suspended in close proximity with the plates active material. In theory, this enhances both the discharge and recharge efficiency. Actually, the AGM batteries are a variant of Sealed VRLA batteries. Popular usage high performance engine starting, power sports, deep cycle, solar and storage battery. The AGM batteries we sell are typically good deep cycle batteries and they deliver best life performance if recharged before the battery drops below the 50 percent discharge rate. If these AGM batteries are discharged to a rate of 100 percent the cycle life will be 300 plus cycles and this is true of most AGM batteries rated as deep cycle batteries.

GEL: The gel cell is similar to the AGM style because the electrolyte is suspended, but different because technically the AGM battery is still considered to be a wet cell. The electrolyte in a GEL cell has a silica additive that causes it to set up or stiffen. The recharge voltages on this type of cell are lower than the other styles of lead acid battery. This is probably the most sensitive cell in terms of adverse reactions to over-voltage charging. Gel Batteries are best used in VERY DEEP cycle application and may last a bit longer in hot weather applications. If the incorrect battery charger is used on a Gel Cell battery poor performance and premature failure.

I am holding off , as I want to see if Boat chargers work properly !

[coopason]

Will have the next 4 months before having to make a purchase to save up for new batts. And now Lowrance is coming out with some cool stuff? This HOBBY of mine is getting really expensive.
But it sure is fun.

Thanks for the read

Coop

[ffishman]

[QUOTE=coopason;1067137]Lifeline batteries are 5 time's that. The spec's on them are what intrigued me. As suggested and I do believe CARE is what make's a battery last.

So you are saying, 5 times my usage of 5 years, that means I would get 25 years use out of them? That sounds hard to believe to me. But for the price, they should last that long.

[perchjerker]

[quote=coopason;1067137]Lifeline batteries are 5 time's that. The spec's on them are what intrigued me. As suggested and I do believe CARE is what make's a battery last.

So you are saying, 5 times my usage of 5 years, that means I would get 25 years use out of them? That sounds hard to believe to me. But for the price, they should last that long.

I have always thought this way about the gel type batteries. Unless you have special need for a battery that is spillproof or doesnt need any water (like you have to have it in a place that not easily accessible) I really dont see the cost benefit in them

[coopason]

I meant Lifeline Batteries were 5 x the price of wal-mart batteries.
Who wouldn't want a battery you could get 25 years out of :)
Sorry for the Confusion.

Coop

[ramp 23]

Two yrs. ago I put a Trojan agm on my boat for the trolling motor, its a 55lb minkota with maximizer on it, some lakes here are electric only. It easily lasts twice as long as the old lead acid of same size. Also they don,t freeze. I`ll go agm from now on.

[San]

Two yrs. ago I put a Trojan agm on my boat for the trolling motor, its a 55lb minkota with maximizer on it, some lakes here are electric only. It easily lasts twice as long as the old lead acid of same size. Also they don,t freeze. I`ll go agm from now on.



All this while I thought that regardless of what battery you buy, RC minutes is the key to how long you can draw at 25amps isn't it? AGM or Old Lead Acid will have the same run time if they are the same RC minutes......or I am wrong......?

[mendota]

Exactly right. Reserve capacity is defined at a discharge rate (25A) which is pretty close to a trolling motor load, and a excellent means of comparison across different brands and constructions of batteries.

Unless you will not maintain your batteries, or will need the 10-20% extra capacity, AGM's are not really necessary and offer zero economic advantage. This goes double for the spiral cell types, which actually have 10-20% less capacity than standard batteries of the same size. Yeah, you can't beat them for ruggedness, or storage tolerance, but the premium is pretty steep. You have to really beat your batteries both physically and electrically to justify the cost difference.

I'll stick with good ol flooded cells, until something that actually has a BETTER price/performance ratio gets introduced.

[wiredog]

They will freeze if they don`t have a charge in them!!!

[ramp 23]

You are correct about reserve capacity,from a formula. I am just stating my experience in my situation. Trojan, and other manufactures have great sites with lots of facts about agm`s. You could possibly freeze one , but even if it cracked open, nothing comes out. They are much safer in many ways. Like I said, lots of info. is available to see pro`s & con`s. I think they are way ahead of lead acid, sorry if I mislead anyone.

[coopason]

No misleading here.
I'm just trying to get the biggest bang for my buck when I have to replace the 2 trolling motor batteries. I am looking for first hand experience though. So far Trojan scs 225 maybe what I go with. I know there not AGM but RC is the best so far, and 2 of them come in under 400 dollars vs the lifeline AGM at 550.
Gonna keep looking at site's for comparison.

thanks guys for your help

Coop

[REW]

Coop,
Time and time again, I hear stories of folks buying very expensive batteries in the hope that they will get longer charge life as well as service life.

Over and over again, I hear the same folks complaining about the fact that their charge life and service life is no better than the more common - Wall Mart style batteries.

Over the last long period of time, I have gone to Batteries plus and purchased their typical group 28 or 31 deep discharge batteries for prices ranging from $60-$80 per battery - depending on the size.

I always ask for batteries that have been Manufactured in the month that I am making the purchase. I don't like to purchase a battery that is older than one month from date of manufacture.

I don't think that it makes sense to give up service life to the storage shelves of distributors and stores.


On average, the last 10 batteries that I have purchased for both my boat as well as vehicles have averaged 6 years. Several have gone 8 years and a couple have gone in 5 years.

So - most of my battery expense have averaged between
$10-$15 per year per boat or vehicle.

---
If you want the AGM go for it. If you want the Opti battery go for it.
That is what makes the world go around.

Take care
REW

[coopason]

REW
Thanks for your reply. I found a Battery Dealer 2 miles from my house (little store) who can order me trojan 225 lead acid for 149oo each. Talked to him yesterday. I will talk to him again about manufacture dates for the trojans. Total will come in under 325 after taxes.. Still have 2 months minimum before I'll see open water..

Thanks to all who posted. I know this is a subject that gets beat to death.
Take care

Coop