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Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: Ray D on September 07, 2009, 05:48:43 PM

Title: Dead Battery
Post by: Ray D on September 07, 2009, 05:48:43 PM
I have two 12 volt lifeline AGM start batteries.  Must have left something on as the voltage is 11.97 volts.  Anyone know the proper way to chage these back up from the dead?  All I have is a car charger with 5,10 & 20 amp settings.  Will this work or do I need to buy something?  I also have a trickle charger.  Just bought them and just don't have much knowledge yet and I don't want to let them set dead till I learn.

Thanks,
Ray
Title: Re: Dead Battery
Post by: Melbo on September 07, 2009, 05:53:51 PM
If that is a smart charger you can use it by charging each battery individually

I have done that when I first got my bus it has a couple of phantom loads that would mess with me

HTH

Melbo
Title: Re: Dead Battery
Post by: Ray D on September 07, 2009, 06:11:48 PM
Thanks Melbo it is not a smart charger, I was wondering at amp settings to use at 1st and for how long?

Ray D
Title: Re: Dead Battery
Post by: charlie on September 07, 2009, 06:28:47 PM
had the same thing happen to me i called the local battery  store where i bought them charged me 6.00 each to charge them back up it takes about 2-3 days  hope this helps
Title: Re: Dead Battery
Post by: NewbeeMC9 on September 07, 2009, 06:39:23 PM
I had a charger that had the same settings for wet cell and AGM, it had a different program for gel cells
Title: Re: Dead Battery
Post by: DaveG on September 07, 2009, 07:55:52 PM
What about the battery mfgs. website...maybe they have charging specs for their product? (although I would expect all AGMs to need the same treatment, just different from flooded cell type).

Any minute one of the electrical gurus will be here and take care of the situation!

The funny thing is, your bus alternator doesn't know what kind of battery you have...so why should your charger? One of those things to think about when you got nothing to do.
Title: Re: Dead Battery
Post by: TomC on September 07, 2009, 08:10:46 PM
With charging AGM batteries, the voltage, not the amperage is important.  Do not exceed 14.1 volts and you can charge with as many amps as you like-that's the beauty of AGM's-they have much less internal electrical resistance so charging times are twice or three times faster.  Good Luck, TomC