What is AGM? AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) technology is a process where the electrolyte is held in glass mat separators between the lead plates as compared to a flooded cell where the electrolyte is sloshing around and only contained by the case. AGM are also known as starved electrolyte batteries or dry cell batteries, they will not leak if the case is split (there is no fluid in the battery). What maintenance should I perform? Since Energy1 Batteries are AGM technology there is no maintenance required.  It is a good idea to check terminal connections and the tightness of connections periodically.  A visual inspection of the vent tubing and battery case to be sure there has not been any serious overcharge is also a good practice. What about gassing? These are known as VRLA (valve regulated lead acid) batteries and will not vent to the atmosphere unless internal case pressure reaches 5psi. This will occur due to a serious overcharge from a run away piece of equipment. In the event that this happens, all of our FT Series batteries have a remote venting feature that will allow you to connect a length of tubing (1/4”) and run the end to an outside vent. What is the optimum charge voltage? In a perfect world the charge rate of AGM batteries would be the same in all conditions.  However, ambient temperature and battery temperature both play a major part in determining the optimum charge rate.  It is best to use charging equipment that has adjustable voltage set points or pre sets for different battery types. For systems using adjustable charge rates it is best to pick the average ambient temp from the charging table and find the closest setting.  How quickly can I charge my battery bank? If you are using equipment with a battery temperature sensing option, and you have the charger power available, then it is possible to recharge in a little over one hour. In other words, you can charge at the full battery bank capacity. Do I have to recharge 100% every time? No, the typical cruising routine is to charge to 80 to 85% bank capacity daily, with a full recharge once a week. It is extremely important to avoid  letting the batteries set for extended periods partially discharged.  Leaving the batteries in a state of partial charge or discharge for extended periods will potentially cause sulfation of the batteries. How can I mount my new batteries? Energy1 Batteries can be mounted in any orientation except upside down (inverted). They do not have to be in a box as long as the terminals are covered and the batteries are secured.  However, refer to the Coast Guard and ABYC guidelines for specific installation guidelines. Do I need different Energy1 Batteries for starting and my house bank? NO, because of the manufacturing technology used in Energy1 Batteries, we can pack a huge amount of plates in a given space and that provides excellent CCA along with deep cycle capability. Is the Energy1 Battery affected by Vibration? Energy1 cell packs are very dense and tightly compressed (about 30%) so they are far more resistant to vibration than most batteries. What is the warranty? The warranty is 2 years against manufacturing and/or material defects. Warranty does not cover damage by defective charging equipment or sulfation by improper charging.   Battery Terminology What is CCA? CCA is a term used to describe the batteries ability to supply cranking amps to start the engine.  CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) by definition is the amount of amps a battery can produce for a period of 30 seconds at a temperature of 0° F. What is MCA? MCA (Marine Cranking Amps) is similar to CCA but rated at a temperature of 32° F. What is A/H Capacity? A/H or Amp/Hour capacity is a rating based on the batteries ability to produce a specific number of amps over a 20 hour period.  Hence an Energy1 model NSB210FT is rated at 209.3 A/H.  Simply put the battery can produce 10.5 amps per hour for 20 hours. What is Reserve Capacity? Reserve capacity is the batteries ability to produce 25 amps over a given (Reserve Capacity Minutes) time period until terminal voltage drops to 10.5 Volts DC.  Reserve capacity is that number of minutes.  An example is the Energy1 model NSB210FT has a reserve capacity of 400 minutes.  This battery can produce 25 amps for 400 minutes. What is sulfation? Sulfation is the formation or deposit of lead sulfate on the surface of the lead plates in the battery. If the sulfation goes unchecked, and sits long enough the battery will loose efficiency or not work at all. Sulfation is commonly caused due to the battery sitting at a serious state of discharge for extended periods of time, operating in extreme temperatures, or prolonged over/under charging.