Next message: Ken James: "Re: lv-ab: Bike battery"
Over two years ago I installed an AGM battery on
my bicycle. I promised a report when I was a few
years into it.
Well I think I have the verdict now.
This battery is a 36 AH capacity wheelchair
(their words, not mine) battery. It is designed
for deep discharge. After I killed the first AGM
within 18 months the guy at Concord told me I was
using a starting type battery. When I told him it
SAID deep cycle right on it he said "Yeah, I know.
It is STILL a starting type battery."
So I paid LESS for a "Wheel chair" battery!
I have run it several hundred times in these 30
months. 3 times I went 7 miles without pedaling at
all. Over an overpass, over 2 other hills,
slightly up hill all the way to the grocery store.
Then I bought enough canned goods to fill my
backpack (that weighed a LOT on my back). Then
back again. 7 MILES ROUND TRIP. No pedaling.
Ok lots of trips to the Post Office (2 mile round
trip), the liquor store (4 mile round trip) etc.
The battery has always been connected to a
standard 6 amp charger when I got back and almost
always allowed to fully recharge before the next
trip (some of those liquor store runs though...).
The battery works today EXACTLY as well as it did
when it was brand new.
No kidding. I can not tell any difference.
I must say though that there is a SIGNIFICANT
decrease in performance when it is cold outside. I
mean under 65 degrees. Maybe I should say cool
outside...
This was always true. The top speed of the bike
is lower and the hill climbing ability goes way
down, just like new.
When it is 70+ degrees out though the thing works
like a charm. Just like new...
So my conclusion is this. IF you are going to be
in warm weather, and IF you need maintenance free
batteries (like I do), and IF you are going to
charge them all the way up on a REGULAR basis, buy
AGM batteries!
BOY! They work GREAT under those conditions!!!
Eric Thompson
S/V Procrastinator
South San Francisco
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