AGM /Gel Hybrid Batteries

[TAK]

Has any one used or heard of these ?

The MARINE-RV series is a state of the art line of advanced Gel sealed batteries which has been designed to provide both starting and reserve power for marine applications and RV applications. fficeffice" />>>
Power Battery uses an advanced GEL (patent pending) design which combines the best features of AGM and GEL This gives the MARINE-RV a longer life and more efficient recharge profile. >>
The end result is a COST EFFECTIVE battery that reduces the cost of ownership to the operator. >>
>>>>
http://www.powbat.com/products/categories.aspx?categoryid=69

[Cruisingdad]

Did I miss it? Need more technical info. Why are they better? What did they do???

Heavy little buggers (a 4-d is 150lbs versus about 130 for most commercial AGMs). Honestly, I would still go Lifeline. Rated about 1300 cycles at 50%. I did not see where they published their cycles. If you are around the corner from a Sea Tow and they are a lot cheaper, it may be worth the try. Otherwise, go with Lifeline in my opinion.

- CD

[hellosailor]

Sounds like FUD.
"Power Battery uses an advanced GEL (patent pending) design which combines the best features of AGM and GEL "
But down below, their features say it is an advanced GEL design, and there's no mention of what AGM "features" they integrate.

If a company can't explain their features, usually they don't really have any. Might not be a bad battery, but there's nothing they say which gives any reason to buy it.

[sailingdog]

Sounds like a lot of marketing BS... you really need to get these and a SolarStik...

[soul searcher]

Doesn't say anything about charging voltage?
Hey Tak ever flip your vang over?

[Hawkeye25]

There are pretty outrageous quotes for reserve capacity, with an asterisk on the column, but no defining statement for the asterisk.

There is also the 178 lb battery in the 4Dx case which is exactly the same size as the 150 lb battery. Has anyone ever heard the saying, "Ten pounds of crap in a five pound bag." ?

Just wondering.

I have no doubt that we are in store for some remarkable advances in batteries, mostly through technological advances driven by the hybrid car industry as well as the cell phone/Ipod market, but I expect them to be VERY pricey, fairly exotic as far as charging, and some distance off in the future.

My 8D gels have something like 220 AH reserve. I think 8D Agm's run about 255 AH. For a 4D to have 420 - well, I just can't imagine swapping two 8D's for a single 4D and having the same amount of energy sitting there. Not yet. And certainly not for a reasonable price.

[TAK]

Originally Posted by soul searcher

Doesn't say anything about charging voltage?
Hey Tak ever flip your vang over?

Yea specs are skant.. but the prices are too good to be true which proly means that its - too good to be true. Altho I am tempted to try a pair of 31s ..
eBay Motors: Group 31 Sealed AGM Gel Marine RV Battery 12v 122ah (item 4653541627 end time Jun-14-07 13:21:45 PDT)

I have not touched the vang since a rigger worked on the boat last fall... I believe its correct but will go back and look at it - thanks for the reminder - been focused on other projects.

[camaraderie]

Hawkeye...the reserve capacity stated is completely non-standard! It is the MINUTES the batteries will last with a 25 amp load till they reach 10.5V.
It is not the US standard amp hour rating.
I would not go near these batts as I believe they are really gel cells beng marketed as some sort of "hybrid" and gels really don't have much to recommend them as boat batteries.

[hellosailor]

Hawkeye-
Didn't you know, most rechargeable "D" cells on the market are just "C" cells with larger wrappers? Honest! And 6V "Lantern" batteries are sometimes made with "D" cells instead of the traditional "F" cells, their capacity can vary widely. I saw a "great deal" on some 6V lanterns with batteries, cheaper than just the battery from the same company (different battery though) and called the maker. Sure enough, the "specials" weren't so special, but if you just wanted to stash away a spare lantern...well, they did it for less.
So it could be those guys aren't fitting 10# in a 5# sack, but rather, using the 10# sack whether you bought 5 or 10# in it. Cheaper to order twice as many of just one battery case, probably.

TAK-
I saw those batteries too, but the business on their web site about this being an AGM battery topped off with gel...uh-uh, don't like that. What on earth is the purpose of that, besides having a patentable novelty to claim is yours exclusively? Doesn't seem like a bad price for a plain AGM battery, but I just worry about counting my fingers after I shake hands with some vendors.

Maybe we need to encourage Sailnet to run product comparisons, so they can supply the goods are Sailnet customers have objective comparison guides.

[soul searcher]

H.S. Maybe you could get em to send you one to test with your solar stick
495 minutes reserve at 25amp/draw to 10.5 volts> I think that comes out to 206 Ah. at 25 ah rate. thats the biggest one.

Tak, sorry to hear you have completely lost your focus