AGM Battery for TR6

[Philip]

I'm a bit rubbish at keeping my battery charged during the dark months so was thinking of changing to a glass mat battery as I understand that they don't mind being flat or charging from flat.

 

Is anyone able to recommend one for a TR6, preferably a traditional style?

[dougbgt6]

AGM batteries have passed me by so I just looked them up. Interesting advantages, but is it worth it?  The cheapest one I found cost £140, some are more than £200. Also they don't like being hot and the manufacturer I found said don't put it in the engine compartment. And they don't like being overcharged so you may have to modify you alternator.  In your position I'd consider buying a trickle charger from the club shop.

[Clive]

Trickle charger must be the obvious solution, or even one of the solar chargers (assuming you can place it where it will get some sunlight!)

 

Of course, using the car regularly, even in the winter, is an even better solution!

[JohnD]

Philip,

An AGM battery does have advantages over the conventional lead acid battery, in particular a rapid charge and discharge, and good performance in a deep-discharge cycle.

But the last means using up all the useful charge and then recharging it again at once.

They are still lead-acid batteries and they sulphate if allowed to stay discharged for long.   See: http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/absorbent_glass_mat_agm  (the whole website is a mine of gold about batteries!)

 

Ypu could end up with a very expensive, dead battery.

Clive is quite right - spend the money on a trickle charger, or even better, a "float" charger, that senses the state of the battery continuously: http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/charging_the_lead_acid_battery

 

John

[Dick Twitchen]

Philip, 

Fully support Clive and John's views above.  I leave a smart charger from Machine Mart on the GT6 when it is not in regular use over the winter.  It is also capable of looking after the AGM battery in the CRD Jeep Cherokee if required.  There is a downside to AGM batteries and that is when they fail you get little/no warning (bitter experience); consequently the Jeep has a jump pack in the boot!

Dick