Charging AGM batteries- Voltage, Type And Charging Hours

The technology of the battery is under constant advancements. However, a major advancement in the field of heavy-duty automobile batteries is the AGM batteries. These are the batteries that are made to last because they are completely maintenance-free.

Another amazing thing about these batteries is that they can provide power and cranking voltage even in extreme weather conditions. These batteries also perform very well when they are used as a deep cycle battery. Although they perform great as compared to other types of batteries, one thing that most people do not know about them is their charging.

So, here we will discuss everything that you need to know about charging the AGM batteries because if you unknowingly charge the AGM batteries in the wrong way, it can have significant effects on the battery life.

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What voltage should charge the AGM batteries?

The voltage settings when you are charging the AGM battery is one of the most important things. So, here we will discuss the voltage that you must set for charging the AGM battery.

What should be the voltage when you are charging the AGM batteries with their dedicated charger.

When you are charging the AGM battery with the dedicated AGM battery charger, the charger will automatically select the voltage. It is because the chargers have microprocessors integrated in them which makes the battery charge in a better way.

These microprocessors sense the voltage and current requirements of the battery and provide the necessary power for a slow charge on a low current according to the capacity of the battery.

At what voltage can you charge the AGM batteries with a regular charger.

If you want to charge the battery with the regular charger, then you can charge the battery at a voltage ranging from 13.5 volts to 14.5 volts. However, when you are charging the AGM battery with the regular charger, you must consider that these batteries are not made to be charged with these chargers and an overcharge can cause serious damage to the battery.

So, you must only use the charger that has a variable current option and set the current to a lower value according to the battery. It is because if you charge the batteries in the wrong way, you will make the battery produce a lot of heat and this will not be good for the battery.

What type of battery charger is needed for the AGM battery?

As especially charging these batteries is very important, so is the charger that you need to charge the AGM battery. So, here we will discuss what kind of chargers can be used for charging the AGM batteries.

Special AGM battery charger.

These are the chargers that are specially made for the AGM batteries. So, when you use them for charging the AGM batteries, there is no problem with the batteries. It is because of the intelligent microprocessors of the chargers.

These microprocessors meet the power requirements of the battery and they charge the battery accordingly. These types of chargers are the best option for charging the AGM battery.

Can you use the regular charger for charging the AGM batteries?

No, most of the regular chargers have a fixed current output for charging the batteries. It is because these chargers are made for charging other types of batteries and not the AGM batteries.

The AGM batteries need different types of charging that might be referred to as deep cycle charge where the current for the charging is set to very less and it is changed as the battery is charged.

So, when you use the regular chargers for charring these batteries, you might end up damaging them. However, if your charger allows you to set a variable current, you can use it to charge the battery for some time and make sure that you do not overcharge the battery.

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What if you use the regular charger for charging the AGM batteries?

When you use the non-compatible chargers with the AGM batteries, you will face the following consequences.

• The battery will be overheated.

• The internals of the battery will be damaged.
  

• The battery will lose its capacity.
  

• Battery life will be reduced.
  

How long will an AGM battery take to be charged?

The AGM batteries are a lot different than the other batteries. This also makes them have a very different period for being charged. Here we will discuss the approximated charging time required to chart the AGM battery. We will also explain how you can calculate the time required for your charging battery according to the amount of charge remaining.

What is the approximate time for charging the AGM battery?

So, the approximate time to charge the AGM batteries fully to 100% is about 12 hours however it can be affected by several things. Some of them are mentioned below.

• The voltage of the charger.

• The current of the charger.
  

• The type of the charger.
  

• The amount of charge that the battery already has.
  

How can you calculate the charging time for charging the AGM battery?

If you want to calculate the amount of time required to fully charge the battery, here we will tell you how you can do this in the step by step guide.

The step by step guide to calculate the time required to charge the AGM batteries.

Here are the steps that will help you in calculating the charging time for your battery.

1.Find the reserve capacity of your battery.

This can be easily found in the manufacturer's instructions of the battery. However, to convert the minutes into Amp-hours, you will need to multiply the minutes by 0.6.

2.Check the voltage of the battery.

Disconnect the battery from everything and measure its voltage using a voltmeter. The following values will tell you about the following things.

• 11.8 volts mean that the charging left is 0%.

• 12 volts mean that the charging left is 25%.

• 12.3 volts mean that the charging left is 0%.

• 12.6 volts mean that the charging left is 0%.

• 12.8 or above volts mean that the charging left is 0%.
  

3.Calculate the time with help of the data that you have.

• Divide the amp hours of the battery with a number according to the charge left. For example, a 50% charge means that you will divide the total amp hours with 

• To avoid internal resistance, it is a good practice to add 20% to the answer.
  

• Now device the answer with the amperes that you are using for charging the battery.
  

• The answer you get will be the time in hours that will be required to charge the battery. After this time, you can also check the voltage of the battery with a voltmeter to know if the battery is charged or not.
  

Note: While your battery charges, some energy is wasted because of the resistance of the charger and external factors like heat. So, the time value that you calculated might vary in some cases.

Final Thoughts.

AGM batteries are very sensitive in terms of charging. So, you must know all the important things about charging them. That is why here we discussed everything related to charging the AGM batteries from the voltage to the chargers and the charging time.