AGM versus Gel Cell Batteries

If you have a Harbor Freight store in your area, there are presently some good deals on items for ham radio.

Trickle Battery Chargers - $4.99, regularly $12.99
Magnesium Fire Starters - $2.99 (They are $8.00 and up elsewhere)

There are many types of batteries on the market and three of them find heavy usage in ham radio EmComm applications.

Battery types
Car Battery
Gel Cells
NiCad (Nickel Cadmium)
Lithium Ion
NiMh (Nickle Metal Hydride)
AGM

Main difference is the charging rate. Lithium Ion batteries originally could not be recharged. Actually they could be, there just were not any commercially available chargers. Once those showed up, LiOn could be charged.

MAHA smart charger has a switch for Nicad, LiOn, NiMh. Only difference is charging rate.

For the longest time, AGMs could only be charged with special chargers.

All newer battery chargers CAN do Car Batteries, Gel Cells, and AGM. Newer UPS units for computers can also use AGM.

Batteries Plus is phasing out Gel Cells in favor of AGM batteries. Gel Cells have many advantage over "flooded cell" type car batteries. For one thing, they operate in any position. (Upside down they are a little less efficient). If the case is damaged, they will not leak and can be used (and sometimes even charged) with a broken case.

AGM has advantages over Gel Cells. Higher power ratings in smaller cases. For example, the 9 Amp Hour AGM battery is the same size as the 7 Amp Hour Gel Cell. The newer 4 Ah to 15 Ah AGM batteries use a smaller connector than the Gel Cells. If you are replacing the batteries, check the connectors carefully so you do not wind up with the small connectors on your cable (inside the UPS) and large connectors on the battery. You can plug the small battery connectors into the larger cable connectors, but not vice versa.

Soon Batteries Plus will also carry lightbulbs for anything that runs on batteries and possibly other types of lights.

Batteries Plus and Standard Supply can build battery packs for older radios, computers and devices for which batteries are no longer manufatured. For ham radios there is also the "battery lady" on the web located at http://www.nicdladyonline.com/

For some very interesting info on all types of Lead-Acid batteries including AGM, check the following web sites.

Battery Types: Flooded versus AGM and Gel
www.vonwentzel.net/Battery/01.Type/index.html

Battery Tutorial GEL vs. AGM
http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery_gel_agm.html

Deep Cycle Battery FAQ
http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm

VRLA battery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRLA_battery

What is an AGM Battery and how do I charge it?
http://www.associatedequip.com/pdf/rightbattery.pdf

Some excellent Emergency Prep info regarding grab and go kits at the following two locations.

http://www.freewebs.com/wh7lh/emergencypreparedness.htm

http://www.chelseagreen.com - Grab and Run Survival Kits (72 Hours) By Matthew Stei