How do you interpret the AGM certification on the labels of your battery chargers? It’s not unusual for someone to get confused by the various battery charger classifications available on the market. Be sure you understand the differences between AGM VS Standard Battery Charging as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each charger before you intend to buy one.
In this write-up, we’ve covered all you need to know about battery chargers. Following this article, you will understand the difference between AGM VS Standard Battery Chargers, so you can choose the best charger for your vehicle or an electric device.
What Is An AGM Battery?
An AGM battery is a 12-volt 2000 Ah battery. AGM battery technology was invented in the late 1970s and commercialized in 1985. During that time, they were mostly used as backup power for telephone booths and early computer rooms.
Over time, their applications expanded to include electric vehicles, motorcycles, military vehicles, airplanes, submarines, and office power banks. You can use an AGM battery for storing a large amount of electricity for a lengthy period of time or for long-term power applications.
The AGM battery gets its name from absorbent glass material. It has an effective adsorbent substance in between the plates of the battery. If an accident occurs, this absorbent material will prevent the acid or battery fluid from spilling from the battery core. As a result, an AGM battery cannot be hazardous, caustic, or explosive. Experts all over the world consider AGM batteries to be completely safe.
AGM Battery Chargers
When a battery charger is labeled as an AGM battery charger, it means the charger is made for charging absorbent glass material or gel cell batteries. If you have a gel cell or AGM battery, you will not be able to charge it with a standard battery charger. Because gel cell or absorbent glass material batteries cannot be charged at high speeds as regular standard batteries, These batteries require a slow and continuous charge over several hours.
If you charge an AGM battery with a standard charger, the battery will most probably become damaged, and It won’t be able to hold the same quantity of charge any longer. To charge an absorbent glass material battery, you’ll need a charger specifically made for charging an AGM battery. This type of charger is known as an AGM charger
Some AGM Battery Chargers At a Glance
| UPG 24V 8A AGM-GEL Battery Charger | UPG 24V 5A AGM-GEL Battery Charger | Schumacher SC1308 Battery Charger |
Types of AGM Battery Chargers
There are three varieties of AGM Battery Chargers. Each charger has its own set of features, functions, and capabilities. AGM MAINTAINER, AGM CHARGER, and AGM RESTORER are the three.
AGM MAINTAINER
This sort of charger will not be able to recharge a completely discharged or drained battery. You can only charge a battery that still has some power in it using this battery charger. It will not be able to bring your dead battery cells back to their former healthy state.
AGM RESTORER
This sort of charger can be used to recharge entirely discharged or dead batteries. It accomplishes this by re-aligning battery cell components and breaking down impurities with some of the charging energy. This sort of AGM charger is known as a restorer.
AGM CHARGER
This is a standard AGM charger. Generally, we use this type of charger to charge our regular batteries.
Features of an AGM Battery Charger
Charging Speed
An AGM charger’s charging speed is normally two amps, and it uses the trickle or floats charging method. It takes nearly 5 to 6 hours for an AGM battery charger to fully charge a battery.
Smart Charging
For precision, safety, and long battery life, it has a microprocessor-controlled automatic amperage rate adjustment and a multi-stage charging capacity.
Automatic Shut off
Every AGM charger has an inbuilt sensor that detects overcharging and turns the charger off automatically. It can monitor the voltage levels of each battery and turn off charging when they’re fully charged.
Anti-Spark Technology
They have anti-spark or spark protection technology, as well as overheating technology.
Water or Dust Resistance
These chargers are equipped with water or dust resistance technologies. During the rainy season, you won’t have to worry about your charger.
| Advantages of AGM Charger | Disadvantages of AGM Charger |
| 1. A vibration- and shock-proof design. They are created to tolerate the frequent vibrations of planes, helicopters, and automobiles. 2. They are capable of working in extreme temperatures. If they don’t work at that temperature, they won’t be harmed. 3. They require less maintenance than traditional chargers. 4. It can Automatically detect 6V or 12V batteries. Its special valves extend the battery’s lifespan. | 1, You can only charge an absorbent glass material battery using an AGM charger. 2. It will take too long to charge your AGM battery. 3. Any standard battery can not be charged using an AGM battery charger. |
What Is Standard Battery?
The most popular form of an auto battery is the standard battery or lead-acid battery. It is also known as a flooded battery. A common battery, often known as a lead-acid battery, is developed to power the starting and ignition system of your engine. When the car isn’t operating, it also provides additional power to the vehicle’s electrical components, such as the clock, lights, air conditioning, and computer systems.
The 12-volt lead-acid battery has six cells. Positive and negative plates are put together in an alternating pattern within these cells, separated by a thin layer of microporous plastic known as a separator. The separators and plates are surrounded by an electrolyte solution, or battery acid, which provides a channel for electricity to flow.
Standard Battery Chargers
The standard battery charger uses technology developed specifically for charging lead-acid batteries. In the beginning, almost every conventional battery charger will charge at a fast rate, but once the battery is over half-charged, the charger will convert to a slower charging rate.
When the battery’s sensor detects that the battery is fully charged, the charging is turned off, or the battery is switched to a trickle or float charging method. As a result, your battery will be protected from any harm caused by overcharging.
You can find many standard chargers on the market these days, such as NOCO Genius GEN5X2, BMK 12V 5A, and Mroinge 6V / 12V 1A Battery Charger.
Some Standard Battery Chargers At a Glance
| NOCO GENIUS 1 Charger | NOCO Genius GEN5X2 Charger | BMK 12V 5A Charger | Mroinge 6V / 12V 1A Charger |
Features of a Standard Battery Charger
Like AGM chargers, standard battery chargers have their own set of functions and features. We’ll talk about them in this section of the article.
Quick Charging
Standard battery chargers can charge your lead acid battery quickly because it supports quick charging. It takes almost 12 to 16 hours to charge a sealed lead acid rechargeable battery and up to 48 hours to charge large stationary batteries.
Smart Charging
Smart charging is supported by standard batteries. It can react automatically to a battery’s state of charge and alter its charging activities accordingly.
Automatic Turnoff
Its built-in sensor detects overcharging and automatically shuts down the charger.
| Advantages of a Standard Charger | Disadvantages of a Standard Charger |
1. It has quick charging capabilities. Capable of detecting the battery voltage. 2. The charger comes with a jump start or rapid start feature. Require less maintenance. 3. The charger is equipped with an automatic shut-off feature. Its size is compact and handy. | 1. You can charge an AGM battery using this charger. 2. It’s a little risky to charge a lead-acid battery because it’s constructed of toxic lead and sulfuric acid. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: On a battery charger, what does AGM mean?
It indicates that the charger has been designed specifically for charging AGM or gel cell batteries. The acronym AGM stands for absorbed glass material, and it’s a special form of lead-acid battery.
Q: Can I Use A Regular Battery Charger To Charge An AGM Battery?
No, you don’t. You must use a controlled battery charger since AGM batteries are sensitive to overcharging.
Q: How can I charge my AGM battery?
When charging an AGM battery, you must fully charge the battery. In fact, slightly overcharging the batteries is recommended to give them a boost. Smart AGM chargers take care of everything for you, so you don’t have to worry.
Q: What’s the difference between an AGM and a traditional battery?
ANS: AGM batteries can start an engine more than 60,000 times during their lifetime. That is more than three times what you’d get from a regular battery.
Conclusion
Standard and AGM battery chargers work the same way. Nonetheless, AGM battery chargers may not be the best choice due to their higher cost. If you have a generic battery, a standard charger like the NOCO GENIUS 1 or the BMK 12V 5A Charger will be great for you. It is imperative, however, that you get an AGM charger if you already own an AGM battery.
For a strong and successful charge of your battery, you may want to consider the BMK BLUEMICKEY 12 Volt Portable Battery Charger and Maintainer. Additionally, if you’re interested in a less expensive option that is also versatile, choose the Tender 12 Volt Automatic Battery Charger.