Will this battery work for a flasher/sonar?

[JoeKer]

http://www.ecomelectronics.com/prodinfo.phtml?id=2159309

[fishing tech]

Yep, 12 volts is 12 volts. Good price for a 10 amp hour battery.

[dan z]

Not a big deal but that battery weighs almost 8 lbs. Just something I said Wowza about.

Great buy if they don't charge ya your ear and eye for shipping

[Rivernut]

Nice price, and as stated above, 12v is 12v. The 10ah is what I run, and they last a looooong time.

[JoeKer]

Free shipping. Thanks for the replies!

[IcePro]

Do AGM batteries need a different charger?

[NKLCOLT1911]

Do AGM batteries need a different charger?

im pretty sure they do, just make sure your charger is rated to do both most new chargers can do both but like all batteries especially AGM the slower you can charge the better.

[JoeKer]

Basically, AGM batteries are very sensitive to overcharging vs flooded cell batteries.

When you overcharge, the battery generates hydrogen gas by breaking down the water into hydrogen and oxygen. In a flooded cell battery, when this happens you simply add distilled water to bring the electrolyte level back up.

With an AGM battery, several things happen differently. There is still hydrogen and oxygen being generated--but there is a small platinum (or similar?) catalyst in the battery cap. This recombines the hyrodgen and oxygen back into water. This both "wears out" the catalyst and generates heat. Do this often and with enough current, it will cause the battery to overheat and "vent"--letting gas and water out of the sealed battery. And you have no way to refill the battery or replace the catalyst (not quite true--there are some people that have successfully replaced the water and put on new caps--the caps are not cheap, and you don't know how much water to replace without special equipment).

About charging a deep cycle battery (flooded cell)--the batteries will charge on a battery charger--but they are usually not designed to be left on the charger. Either the charger will over charge the battery (too much current into the battery will "boil" the electrolyte--hydrogen and oxygen--causing the battery to fail over time and/or overheat)--Or, not charge with high enough voltage (for a couple hours) to properly equalize the battery (get all cells to 100% charge and mix the electrolyte).

Chargers designed for long term charging of flooded cell (or AGM) batteries will frequently have a remote temperature sensor (battery charging voltage is temperature sensitive) and 2-3+ charging stages--with the last stage a "float" voltage setting (backs charging voltage back to around 12.7-13.6 volts to prevent boiling a battery dry) and/or an automatic or manual equalize setting (which can be turned off/adjusted for AGM/sealed batteries).

If you put the battery on charge until the current is reduced/voltage peaks--and don't leave the battery on charge for days on end--you should be OK.

Also, if you are using AGM's--they have low self discharge and should be able to sit for a few months between charges (see vendor specs.). You can use an accurate volt meter to estimate the battery state of charge (or measure the specific gravity of the electrolyte for a flooded cell) and recharge it when it gets down near 80% state of charge (20% discharged). Bad things happen to batteries when they are stored below ~75% state of charge for days or longer (sulfates harden and battery storage capacity is permanently reduced).

[hydro]

So, JoeKer, Is this AGM battery a different construction than the 8AH and 9AH batteries typically used with flashers? Could the same wall wart type charger be used? If so what would be the proper procedure to charge an AGM battery with the "Vex" charger?

[aanderud]

It's the same battery that comes with a vex or marcum, but 10 amp hour rather than 7 or 9 as you'll normally see with a flasher. Charge it with the same charger if you want.

[JoeKer]

^What he said.

F.y.i. Marcum Showdown Ice Troller Performance Pack comes with a 3 stage charger for sure (and maybe some others too), which is the recommended type of charger.