I agree partially. Neither Exide Orbital or Johnson controls / Orbital guarntee their AGM batteries much if any longer than a flooded cell battery, I suspect mainly because so many are ruined by owners who do not have a clue how to properly maintain them.
One or both companies used to claim that their spiral cell AGM's may outlast a conventional battery by two or more times, a claim that in my experience is true,IF THRY ARE NOT ABUSED !!
Atleast one spiral cell AGM builder used to lightly glue the tiny cell vent caps on, Normally they will never see enough gassing to pop the glue on those caps. The selling dealer is supposed to check for popped vents on any spiral cell battery returned for warranty. If the caps seal is blown, the battery has been seriously overcharged to the point of boiling away the electrolyte and damage is not the fault of the battery. I have had great luck with them on my equippment with solid state regulated alternators which do a decent job of charging without under / overcharging them.
The purity of the lead used and the many short cell connectors allows them to give 15 seconds of cranking power atleast 200 amps in excess of their CCA numbers, and self discharge is very slow.
I would never install one in an old tractor with a non regulated "cut out" equipped generator or a rider lawn mower with their crude flywheel generator system. Even a mechanical regulator system on a generator / alternator is a bit suspect. The worst thing is the owner that puts an 80 amp unregulated charger on them and walks away for an hour or two, sure death to an AGM battery.
What ticks me the most is the latest trend of putting an Optima "yellow top", deep cycle battery in a starting application.
This is usually guys who like to play with high power sound systems, winches, lights, hydraulic lift kits, drawing sometimes hundreds of amps for an hour or so, then using it to start the engine and let the 140 amp alternator beat that deep cycle battery to death. That size deep cycle battery should never be hit with engine starting loads, them quickly recharged with a 100+ amp alternator. No good for ANY type deep cycle battery. Then I hear these same folks howl about how that worthless Optima yellow top only lasted 6 months in their Jeep with an electric winch, 1000 watt sound system and 34 running lights mounted on top. I maintain that in my experience, a correctly maintained spiral cell AGM battery is an install it and forget it battery that will often wear out the vehchle. Take care of them and they will do the job for 10-20 years, with no more maintenence than an anual check of the tightness of the lead clamps.
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