Battery Maintainer/Tender

[Quattro Pete]

Then again, I just looked at their literature for some of their newer chargers, and they seem to be treating AGM batteries the same as traditional wet ones. The only ones they specifically treat differently is Odyssey and GEL:

 

[Smokescreen]

Both my CTek and NOCO Genius have a setting for AGM...I wouldn't use a charger that didn't have a specific setting for it.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted by Smokescreen
Both my CTek and NOCO Genius have a setting for AGM...I wouldn't use a charger that didn't have a specific setting for it.
I think the important thing to take away from this discussion is that there is some variation in AGM batteries, and one should consult with the manufacturer of their specific AGM battery. For example, according to VARTA (owned by Johnson Controls), charging of their AGM batteries is identical as with EFB, but something like an Odyssey battery may have different charging requirements.

 

[Duffyjr]

This is from my Ctek 4.3 owners manual, I don't understand what the difference is between the AAP AGM I have and an AGM from Optima and Odyssey is but it appears I should be using the Normal Battery Program.

 

[charbaby]

I emailed Schumacher with this information:

Greetings,

My good friend gave me his old Schumacher Jump Starter/Tire Inflator with a dead battery. This original battery is a Lead Acid Battery #SCH12-12C-6. I replaced the lead acid battery with an AGM(absorbent glass matt) battery(same number) #12-12C-6.

Will I be able to plug-in an charge the AGM battery as I would the Lead Acid Battery?
Will the internal/onboard charger, CHARGE an AGM battery?

Thank you
________________________________

And they responded with:

ServicesEmail
Tue 9/24/2019 9:02 AM
You

Good Morning

Thank you for contacting us regarding your unit. Yes, you may charge the AGM battery like you do the lead acid battery.

Thank You
Customer Service
Schumacher Electric

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted by Schumacher
Good Morning

Thank you for contacting us regarding your unit. Yes, you may charge the AGM battery like you do the lead acid battery.

Thank You
Customer Service
Schumacher Electric
I think they've chosen their words very carefully. "You may charge" does not necessarily mean that it'll get fully charged properly.

 

[Donald]

Get a Battery Minder, the better models have a battery type button to select the battery type. They also have a high & low temp compensation. Low temp compensation is good to have but high temp compensation is critical to prevent overcharging.

 

[charbaby]

Thanks however, I have 3 battery minders(2 in use). And the battery being discussed in this thread, is mounted/installed inside the POWER PACK(jump starter/tire inflator).

Not easy/convenient to keep opening the unit to charge the battery when in fact, the UNIT has its own internal changer to be plugged into a standard wall socket for recharging.

I can't charge the UNIT with a battery minder, through its own internal charger.

 

[mk378]

Most jump packs have the battery cables directly connected to the internal battery, so you'd have effective results connecting your charger / minder to the cable clamps and charge it from outside.

 

[charbaby]

Very true however, I tried it this way and it doesn't read on my maintainer. Sure, I can remove the battery and connect the maintainer to the battery and it'll charge as normal but, not through the jumper cables of the POWER PACK.

 

[willbur]

Originally Posted by Char Baby
I wasn't sure where to put this subject/question(Auto Gen Topic, Mech & Maint or Auto Electrical), so I chose this section.

Question:
Are standard battery "Tender" maintainers OK to use on AGM batteries?
The "maintainers" say to use for Lead Acid Batteries but, aren't AGM batteries a form of lead acid(gel) anyway?

Thanks,

CB

Its fine. As long as the charging voltage does not go above 14.6 for an AGM battery. More and more cars have these and any recent tender should work. Usually, they even say so on the box