AGM Battery

[Kettlewell]

Read the "11 Steps to Better Battery Life" over at Morgan's Cloud (not sure if it is OK to link to it) if you want to see how an experienced cruisers has managed to get AGMs to work onboard. It sounds like it is doable, but you have to be a lot more meticulous than I have ever been, and I firmly believe that sh*t does happen, often wrecking the best laid plans.

[Sandero]

I've just ordered a pair of UB 40 8D agm's to replace a pair of PowerTech 8D agm housebank which were purchased in spring 08. My management of them hasn't been special using a link 20 to keep an eye on the system, which included a 120 amp alternator with a Balmar MaxCharge 612 (now 614) charger and a pair of 55 watt solar panels on a PV14 regulator. Boat was on mooring and no shore power charge except for winter layup.

The PowerTechs are not dead but their capacity is very small and so after 8 years they are being replaced.

I don't know a thing about the UB40 8Ds but they were the most reasonable AGMs I could find and I assume most are made in China and so it's a bit of a crap shoot. I'll report back when I have more to say.

[Kettlewell]

a pair of PowerTech 8D agm housebank which were purchased in spring 08.

Isn't that a life of 4 years?

[lookoutnw]

Thansk for everyone's input so far. I forgot to add that I have an Auto Gen Start for the Northern Lights genset. It is fully progamable and I will delve deeply teh specs for long term charging schedule. Probably do some emails to teh makers on this too.
Note: O am leaning toward the North Star 210s