PRODUCT
SPOTLIGHT
At
Clore, we have been saying for several years that if you own an older battery charger, you should be seriously thinking about replacing it.There were many reasons for us to make this suggestion, but we believe that those reasons have now hit such critical mass that the time really is now. Below, we break down the top seven reasons why.
1. AGM Batteries and Start-Stop Systems
AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) batteries are lead-acid batteries that use a special construction to deliver a higher performance than a typical flooded lead-acid battery. In this case, the special construction is that the lead plate in the battery is wrapped using a fiberglass mat material rather than simply being suspended in the liquid electrolyte of a standard flooded battery. The fiberglass mat allows battery manufacturers to 18
Tow Professional | Volume 9 • Issue 3
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make each individual plate thinner with more plates packed into a given battery case size. The AGM construction typically delivers greater starting power (more plate surface yields greater power), improved vibration resistance (the fiberglass mat results in a more stable construction) and increased cycling capability (ability to be drained more deeply without adverse consequence). We have been talking about AGM batteries since 20062008, when they were found in a limited number of vehicles, such as the Gen 1 and Gen 2 Prius, Corvette and Grand Am models, and a smattering of imports. Since then, the AGM has gained considerable share as the OE battery of choice. This is particularly true when it comes to vehicles equipped with a Start-Stop system built for the North American market, where the AGM battery is the dominant type used. But why does the growing popularity of the AGM battery influence the type of battery charger you should be using? AGM batteries require very specific charging routines and precise voltage control for proper charging and long battery life. Otherwise, the battery is not likely to last very long at all. Traditional chargers (volts go up, amps go down) have very little control of voltage output and brings the battery’s
