ozscott
05-02-2015, 07:43 AM
Hi good people,
I have a 35 Amp hour (D3-35 Full River) AGM in my yak for my 18p Water Snake leccy motor. Its 11kg so its a good size.
I bought a CTEK charger before I bought the battery - MXS 5.0 Test and Charge. That charger says it will do just under 1.2 AH to 110 AH and (up to 160AH for battery maintenance). It says it suits AGM - ie all lead acid batteries. I thought it would even charge up my Coleman hot water system batteries etc. I also have a 115AH Full River Dc Series batt for camping so it should do that nicely too, albeit that batt is at the top end of what it can do.
I think it will work fine, but even on the little 35 AH AGM it says on the battery label that the best charging amperage is 7 amp - but the little CTEK is only 5 amp...
As I understand it AGM's need to be charged to a higher voltate - about 14.7v compared to stock lead acid batteries, so surely 5 amps will get the little battery to that level, but it might take a bit longer than a 7 amp...
Another question, I have 160w solar panels with a cheap chinese regulator that is not particularly for AGM - just a cheap reg. If I take the panels camping and use them to charge the little battery for a weekend I dont think it will hurt the battery as long as I sit it on the AGM charger when I get back...anyone know?
Anyone got any ideas?
Many thanks
I have a 35 Amp hour (D3-35 Full River) AGM in my yak for my 18p Water Snake leccy motor. Its 11kg so its a good size.
I bought a CTEK charger before I bought the battery - MXS 5.0 Test and Charge. That charger says it will do just under 1.2 AH to 110 AH and (up to 160AH for battery maintenance). It says it suits AGM - ie all lead acid batteries. I thought it would even charge up my Coleman hot water system batteries etc. I also have a 115AH Full River Dc Series batt for camping so it should do that nicely too, albeit that batt is at the top end of what it can do.
I think it will work fine, but even on the little 35 AH AGM it says on the battery label that the best charging amperage is 7 amp - but the little CTEK is only 5 amp...
As I understand it AGM's need to be charged to a higher voltate - about 14.7v compared to stock lead acid batteries, so surely 5 amps will get the little battery to that level, but it might take a bit longer than a 7 amp...
Another question, I have 160w solar panels with a cheap chinese regulator that is not particularly for AGM - just a cheap reg. If I take the panels camping and use them to charge the little battery for a weekend I dont think it will hurt the battery as long as I sit it on the AGM charger when I get back...anyone know?
Anyone got any ideas?
Many thanks