AGM upgrade

[guinness1]

I have a 2012 Coachmen Chaparral. The original battery finally died. Can I upgrade to an AGM battery? Any other changes need to be made? Or is just “Plug N Play”?

[Veebyes]

corvettekent wrote:
AGM is still a lead acid battery so no need to change your charging system. BTW you will not be upgrading by switching to the AGM as it won't last 8 years.

If you don't already have one a multi stage, multi battery chemistry, battery charger is advisable.

Coming from the marine world, where you don't want batteries gassing into the bilge of your boat, I am a big fan of AGM batterys.

Expect up to 3 times the service life out of an AGM compared to a wet cell. I got 9 seasons out of my 4D Lifeline. It performed well to the end when death was quick. It was never left on a battery tender during its typical 5 months of storage each year.

2019-2020 the battery was left without any attention for 9 months & had power to operate 5er legs & slides before it was connected to a charger.

No they are not cheap. The payoff is in years of maintenance free service.

[Michelle_S]

If you change to Lithium, almost positive it will require a change to your Converter, because Lithium is the battery that requires special charging.
I recently changed to AGMs and contacted Progressive about my converter and was told I was good to go.

[obiwancanoli]

Might want to consider a change to Lithium batteries... expensive, but, long term costs re generally lower, and features and advantages may outweigh initial cost. LifeBlue has a version which can be charged down to -4 degrees - typically, Li batteries can't be recharged below 32 degrees...

[cummins2014]

theoldwizard1 wrote:

guinness1 wrote:
I have a 2012 Coachmen Chaparral. The original battery finally died. Can I upgrade to an AGM battery? Any other changes need to be made? Or is just “Plug N Play”?

8 years is fantastic life !

Upgrading depends on the converter charger you have. Likely it is a WFCO. Upgarding to a Progressive Dynamics with Charge Wizard will guarantee the maximum life of your new battery.

I have a Cabelas AGM ,bought in June of 2012, still going . Have always charged it back up as soon as I was done with it. I can still get about 5 hours out of on my one man inflatable pontoon boat fishing.

[theoldwizard1]

WNYBob wrote:
I did add a cheap (China) monitor with a shunt to check voltages and amps.

As long as it is "reasonably" accurate, then it is worth what you paid for it. !

[WNYBob]

I agree, as I upgraded to "Progressive Dynamics with Charge Wizard" as I lost 2 batteries with short life. Happy so far. I did add a cheap (China) monitor with a shunt to check voltages and amps.

[time2roll]

For best answers post your converter model number and the specific battery you intend to use.

[theoldwizard1]

guinness1 wrote:
I have a 2012 Coachmen Chaparral. The original battery finally died. Can I upgrade to an AGM battery? Any other changes need to be made? Or is just “Plug N Play”?

8 years is fantastic life !

Upgrading depends on the converter charger you have. Likely it is a WFCO. Upgarding to a Progressive Dynamics with Charge Wizard will guarantee the maximum life of your new battery.

[corvettekent]

AGM is still a lead acid battery so no need to change your charging system. BTW you will not be upgrading by switching to the AGM as it won't last 8 years.

[cummins2014]

guinness1 wrote:
I have a 2012 Coachmen Chaparral. The original battery finally died. Can I upgrade to an AGM battery? Any other changes need to be made? Or is just “Plug N Play”?

The only thing I know about them is overcharging kills them.

[Lwiddis]

You can change to an AMG. However, as others have written...

“AGM batteries are designed to be charged at a low rate and slowly. Unless your converter/charger can tell difference between an AGM and flooded battery it will charge the AGM like it's a flooded battery, which will work but it also will shorten the life of the battery.”