Romco e-Catalogue 2019

55 Power Supply Dustbane uses AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries in its equipment because of the huge advantage they have for the end-user and the equipment. AGM batteries differ from lead-acid as their electrolyte are held in the glass mats, as opposed to freely flooding the plates. Very thin glass fibers are woven into a mat to increase surface area enough to hold sufficient electrolyte on the cells for their lifetime. The need to constantly check the fluid level is eliminated with these batteries as they are 100% maintenance free. AGM batteries have proven to be more reliable, safer and offer a better performance. Battery Efficiency These batteries stand up well to cold temperatures and have a very low self- discharge (1% to 3% a month). AGM batteries also have very low internal resistance, are capable of delivering high currents on demand and offer a relatively long service life, even when deep cycled. Faster Charge The main advantage of AGM batteries is that they charge up to five times faster than the lead-acid version, and have the ability to deep cycle. AGM technology allows for an 80 percent depth-of-discharge; lead-acid on the other hand, is specified at 50 percent to attain the same cycle life. However, the cost to manufacture such batteries are slightly higher than lead-acid. Less Sulfation While regular lead-acid batteries need a topping charge every six months to prevent the buildup of sulfation, AGM batteries are less prone to sulfation and can sit in storage for longer before a charge becomes necessary.