Battery updates

[Bruce in OK]

My AGM maintenance free battery bit the dust this week. Have any of you tried some of the newer battery styles? Pro and Con opinions appreciated.

[cushman eagle]

The first AGM in my Cushman lasted 340 miles before it died The only reason I did not replace it with a lead acid, is because my mounting has it laying horizontal.

[voyager55]

You can't beat a Yuasa battery Only $100 with free shipping

http://www.jcmotors.com/yuasa-high-perf ... -bs-2879-p" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[SgtSlag]

I picked up an AGM from Batteries+, in town. Don't remember the brand (not Yuasa, or any other name brand I recognized), but it's been installed since April of 2012: no issues; Battery Monitor dropped to 73% life rating after first crank, currently down to 63%, but I don't really trust that reading. Voltage is good, starting is fine, will never go back to a flooded battery. Cost was around $120. This battery has sat in the bike, connected to the radio, in my insulated, unheated garage, connected to a smart trickle charger, for the past two years, in tropical southern Minnesota, without issues. At this point, it has lasted as long as all prior flooded batteries. Everything after this will prove that it was worth the extra ~$40 for the AGM, over the flooded type. Time will tell. Cheers!

[ghostler]

The first AGM in my Cushman lasted 340 miles before it died The only reason I did not replace it with a lead acid, is because my mounting has it laying horizontal.

I'm thinking that although permanently sealed, the AGM still must be mounted upright to ensure all plates are covered in electrolyte. Your sealed lead acid batteries used for say fire alarm panels and uninterrupted computer supplies consisting of a paste versus a liquid may possibly be reoriented, but I'd check with the manufacturer first.

Last May I bought a new sealed YTX24HL-BS battery from E-Bay seller backupdog for US $62.88 shipping included. He's still got the same battery listed for the same price:

E-Bay Item 171533441518: Powerstar YTX24HL-BS AGM Battery

This battery is rated at 24 Amp-Hours. I think the original is rated at 18 Amp-Hours. Physically it is the same size. I went with the greater capacity battery as I tow a trailer and have other accessories such as heated grips. So far, battery has worked fine for me. I put it on a maintaining charger when parked in the garage. I haven't done any testing on it, but so far it has worked fine for me. As usual, YMMV.

[lockwoodjohn]

Hi Everyone,
Back in August my battery died also. I went up to Ithaca Rec. (a kawasaki dealer in New Field,NY.) I ordered a Yuasa Battery for it. They gave me a discount for ridding a Kawasaki
and for being a Voyager member. I went back the next day picked up the new battery it
was 83.00 including tax. I don't know if all dealers give Voyager members discounts but
Ithaca Rec. does !!

[SgtSlag]

AGM batteries actually absorb the electrolyte into the plates -- they can be used in any position, once initialized properly (follow the setup procedure outlined within the instructions, to the letter...). The AGM batteries are probably the best type for motorcycle use based on their qualities: sealed, maintenance-free; can be used in any position; immune to vibrations; little, if any, off-gassing; extremely low internal discharge -- they can sit on a shelf, disconnected, for 6+ months, without needing to be connected to a trickle-charger, with very little loss of voltage. Cheers!

[ghostler]

Where my comment came from is that AGM's have an expansion chamber for gassing at the top of the battery. One AGM battery I had came with the electrolyte in bottles, to which one broke the caps off, and filled the chambers, then put on the permanent caps. There was a reason why the manufacturer put this chamber at the top. Yes, I've noticed some websites that mention you can orient these batteries in any position. I was going on a possible reason why one had an AGM failure, and thus suspected a possible cause could be an orientation other than upright.

Free advice on the net is plentiful, perhaps I stand corrected. I'm just wary of advice other than the manufacturer of the battery. Thus, I would consult the manufacturer before reorienting.

YMMV.

[ttowdaddy]

AGM stands for absorbed glass mat. The electrolyte is absorbed into the fiberglass matting in between the plates. Once initially done and absorbed they can be used in most any position.
I had a '97 XVII that came with an Odessy battery in it. I had an '88 with the flooded lead acid battery and had nothing but problems. The Odessy I had no problems with. To be fair I put 17,000 miles on the '88 in 5 years. I put 22,000 on the '97 in 22 months.

[richardb, austin]

Bruce, Just to put your query back on track, I'll weigh in & say that no, I have not had occasion to try the new-age battery technologies.

[ghostler]

Here are recommendations from one manufacturer, technical manual at:
http://www.dekabatteries.com/assets/base/0139.pdf

What is an AGM battery?
An AGM battery is a lead-acid electric storage battery that:

• is sealed using special pressure valves and should never be opened.
• is completely maintenance-free.*
• has all of its electrolyte absorbed in separators consisting of a sponge-like mass of matted glass fibers.
• uses a recombination reaction to prevent the escape of hydrogen and oxygen gases normally lost in a flooded lead-acid battery (particularly in deep cycle applications).
• is non-spillable, and therefore can be operated in virtually any position. However, upside-down installation is not recommended.

* Connections must be retorqued and the batteries should be cleaned periodically

This was the info I was looking for, particularly the last point. IOW, use in any position except upside-down. Also, they recommend not operating it in an unvented container/box. Batteries will vent gas if overcharging occurs.

It is just an educated guess, but I imagine that if one were to operate it upside down, would basically cause acid to cover the pressure relief valve. Should there be a need to vent, say in overcharging, acid would vent or inadequate venting may occur being impeded by the acid, which could damage the battery with other possible ills.