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opinion:frater_secessus:beginner_mistakes [2020/07/31 13:47]
frater_secessus [too much battery] |
opinion:frater_secessus:beginner_mistakes [2020/07/31 13:50]
frater_secessus [wrong kind of battery] |
| Yes, you can have too much battery. | Yes, you can have too much battery. |
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| Most people use lead-chemistry batteries and carrying around unneeded lead is both heavy and expensive. More importantly, **having more battery than you can charge fully and regularly** results in [[electrical:batterycide|battery murder]]. This is especially true for AGM batteries which typically have a //minimum// charging current requirement of C/5 (ie, 20A for 100Ah, 40A for 200Ah). | Most people use lead-chemistry batteries and carrying around unneeded lead is both heavy and expensive. More importantly, **having more battery than you can charge fully and regularly** results in [[electrical:batterycide|battery murder]]. This is especially true for AGM batteries which typically have a //minimum// charging current requirement of C/5 (ie, 20A for 100Ah, 40A for 200Ah). It is a rare vandweller who actually charges their AGM to [[electrical:solar:charge_controller_setpoints|manufacturer specs]] and gets a full life from them. |
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| Exotics like [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery#lithium_chemistries|lithium]] and [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery#carbon_foam_agm|carbon-foam]] aren't bothered by partial state of charge, but they are so expensive that buying too much is a self-limiting behavior. | Exotics like [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery#lithium_chemistries|lithium]] and [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery#carbon_foam_agm|carbon-foam]] aren't bothered by partial state of charge, but they are so expensive that buying too much is a self-limiting behavior. |
| First off, **very few vandwellers [[opinion:frater_secessus:the_case_for_agm|actually need]] [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery#agm|AGM]] batteries**.((yes, there are [[https://boondockplan.wordpress.com/2019/10/22/backchannel-agm-for-vandwellers/#exceptions|exceptions]])) AGM cost 2x as much as flooded batteries, generally have lower capacity, and require [[electrical:12v:charging#charging_agm_batteries|charging regimens]] vandwellers usually can't or won't provide. I blame the fad on social media and people thinking that "more expensive == better". But for the love of doG if you need AGM to make your Insta pop, at least get real deep cycles (see below). | First off, **very few vandwellers [[opinion:frater_secessus:the_case_for_agm|actually need]] [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery#agm|AGM]] batteries**.((yes, there are [[https://boondockplan.wordpress.com/2019/10/22/backchannel-agm-for-vandwellers/#exceptions|exceptions]])) AGM cost 2x as much as flooded batteries, generally have lower capacity, and require [[electrical:12v:charging#charging_agm_batteries|charging regimens]] vandwellers usually can't or won't provide. I blame the fad on social media and people thinking that "more expensive == better". But for the love of doG if you need AGM to make your Insta pop, at least get real deep cycles (see below). |
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| Secondly, **there are very few actual 12v lead chemistry deep cycle batteries**. Those that do exist are on the high end (Rolls, Odyssey,Lifeline), are very heavy and very $$$. Deep cycle batteries have seriously thick lead plates which are too heavy for humans to carry in 12v configurations.((the thick places are the reason they can tolerate deep cycling)) For this reason, **most real deep cycle lead batteries are 6v and run in serial for 12v**. | Secondly, **there are very few actual 12v lead chemistry deep cycle batteries**. Those that do exist are on the high end (Rolls, Odyssey, Lifeline, Trojan), are very heavy and very $$$. Deep cycle batteries have seriously thick lead plates which are too heavy for humans to carry in 12v configurations.((the thick places are the reason they can tolerate deep cycling)) For this reason, **most real deep cycle lead batteries are 6v and run in serial for 12v**. |
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| Third, you are unlikely to find a real deep cycle battery at a walmart or auto parts store. | Third, you are unlikely to find a real deep cycle battery at a walmart or auto parts store. |
