ben2go
Guru
I am currently running Scorpion AGM batteries in all my vehicles,motorcycles,and L&G equipment.I love these batteries because they haven't died from vibration or inactivity.However,I have never used them in a boat or RV.I have no experience with them over a long period of time.What I am trying to do is find the pros and cons to justify the expense of going with all AGM batteries instead of flooded.
My system will consist of three "banks".
Starting-1 12V
Bow battery-1 12V-this is for the windlass,wash down pump,and possibly a small bow thruster.
House-4 6V wired for 12V to inverter
Without posting all the math and variables,I averaged a cost of $8-1000 for flooded and $2-2500 for AGM.I have ran a lot of flooded Trojan batteries in electrical equipment over the years, so I am very familiar with the up keep of flooded batteries.I have the equipment on hand to deal with them.
FLOODED
The down side of flooded is the up keep and venting required to keep the batteries happy.I also hate when they boil over and make a mess.This also limits where the batteries can be located in the hull.
The upside is I know how to keep the batteries happy which will negate most of the mess of boil overs.They are roughly 1/3 the cost of AGM.
AGM
The down side,cost.
The upside,less up keep and they can be placed anywhere without much worry.
Since the boat will be trailered to cruising grounds for a couple years, before doing the great loop.I may go with flooded and replace them with AGM as they go bad.I know AGM and flooded can't be mixed on the house bank.So no need to point this one out.
So what's the pros and cons that I am not think of?Why AGM?
My system will consist of three "banks".
Starting-1 12V
Bow battery-1 12V-this is for the windlass,wash down pump,and possibly a small bow thruster.
House-4 6V wired for 12V to inverter
Without posting all the math and variables,I averaged a cost of $8-1000 for flooded and $2-2500 for AGM.I have ran a lot of flooded Trojan batteries in electrical equipment over the years, so I am very familiar with the up keep of flooded batteries.I have the equipment on hand to deal with them.
FLOODED
The down side of flooded is the up keep and venting required to keep the batteries happy.I also hate when they boil over and make a mess.This also limits where the batteries can be located in the hull.
The upside is I know how to keep the batteries happy which will negate most of the mess of boil overs.They are roughly 1/3 the cost of AGM.
AGM
The down side,cost.
The upside,less up keep and they can be placed anywhere without much worry.
Since the boat will be trailered to cruising grounds for a couple years, before doing the great loop.I may go with flooded and replace them with AGM as they go bad.I know AGM and flooded can't be mixed on the house bank.So no need to point this one out.
So what's the pros and cons that I am not think of?Why AGM?