Is the battery type AGM or Gel Cell?
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From: Washington DC
2013 GLK350 4Matic, 2011 BMW 535i, 2012 Nissan Frontier CC SV
Is the battery type AGM or Gel Cell?
Can someone confirm that the battery in GLK is AGM or Gel Cell? I plan to charge the battery in our new 2013 GLK350 every another month because we don't drive it much. I need to know the battery type so I can correctly set up the battery charger. Thanks.
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2012 C63;1971 280SE 3.5(Sold);2023 EQS 450 SUV 4 Matic (Wife's)
Think you will find it is a VRLA type battery. At least the one in my C63 is. Mine is a Varta and it says VRLA on the top. My wife has the GLK at work so I can't check it right now.
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2012 C63;1971 280SE 3.5(Sold);2023 EQS 450 SUV 4 Matic (Wife's)
VRLA is a standard battery akin to the oldest types of lead acid batteries. Use your standard setting on your charger I would think. Here is a link to some definitions of the three types that may help you understand the construction of the three types of batteries and which setting to use on your charger.
http://www.bdbatteries.com/batterycomparison.php
The battery in the GLK Is a VRLA and it also says not to charge at a rate greater than 14.8 volts.
http://www.bdbatteries.com/batterycomparison.php
The battery in the GLK Is a VRLA and it also says not to charge at a rate greater than 14.8 volts.
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From: Northern California
2016 GLE300d 4Matic
The battery is a AGM or Absorbed Glass Mat (starved or low acid) type battery. Interstate sells them for about $260 or get the Bosch (BCI Group L4/H7). When charging use a smart charger (I use a Vector) or set for AGM - not gel or flooded cel.
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Looking at actual battery may be best way to find out!
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A battery maintainer like C-Tek is good if all you want to do is trickle charge.
A heavier duty charger for run down batteries - any good quality will do. Not sure what you mean by new style. Maybe you mean one that allows you to choose type of battery. Yes that would be good if you think you might want to charge gel batteries. A so-called intelligent charger. I realise most of you are in USA, but this is kind of selection we would have to choose from:
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/automo.../chargers.html
I would go with one that can put out 12-15A or 2A and that is the intelligent type. (And I would shop around - just posted that link to illustrate the various types)
Last edited by 107123210; Dec 15, 2013 at 12:09 AM.
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From: N.C. USA
2015, ML250 BlueTEC
need Battery Charger info
[QUOTE=107123210;5875462]It could depend on what you want to use it for.
A battery maintainer like C-Tek is good if all you want to do is trickle charge.
A heavier duty charger for run down batteries - any good quality will do. Not sure what you mean by new style. Maybe you mean one that allows you to choose type of battery. Yes that would be good if you think you might want to charge gel batteries. A so-called intelligent charger. I realise most of you are in USA, but this is kind of selection we would have to choose from:
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/automo.../chargers.html
I would go with one that can put out 12-15A or 2A and that is the intelligent type. (And I would shop around - just posted that link to illustrate the various types)[/QUOTE
Presently have a good heavy duty 30 year old battery charger. Can that be used on AGM or Gell Cell batteries?
A battery maintainer like C-Tek is good if all you want to do is trickle charge.
A heavier duty charger for run down batteries - any good quality will do. Not sure what you mean by new style. Maybe you mean one that allows you to choose type of battery. Yes that would be good if you think you might want to charge gel batteries. A so-called intelligent charger. I realise most of you are in USA, but this is kind of selection we would have to choose from:
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/automo.../chargers.html
I would go with one that can put out 12-15A or 2A and that is the intelligent type. (And I would shop around - just posted that link to illustrate the various types)[/QUOTE
Presently have a good heavy duty 30 year old battery charger. Can that be used on AGM or Gell Cell batteries?
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Sometimes AGM & Gel batteries won't accept a charge when they get run down below a certain voltage. What I have found, is that they will charge if another good battery is connected in parallel and then charger connected.
This is from a battery vendor:
SPECIAL NOTE about Gel Batteries: It is very common for individuals to use the term GEL CELL when referring to sealed, maintenance free batteries, much like one would use Kleenex when referring to facial tissue or "Xerox machine" when referring to a copy machine. Be very careful when specifying a gel cell battery charger, many times we are told by customer they are requiring a charger for a Gel Cell battery and in fact the battery is not a Gel Cell.
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From: N.C. USA
2015, ML250 BlueTEC
What type of battery?
AGM batteries and Flooded (Lead-Acid) batteries are very similar and can be charged with normal chargers. Gel batteries should really be charged with a charger designed for them.
Sometimes AGM & Gel batteries won't accept a charge when they get run down below a certain voltage. What I have found, is that they will charge if another good battery is connected in parallel and then charger connected.
This is from a battery vendor:
Sometimes AGM & Gel batteries won't accept a charge when they get run down below a certain voltage. What I have found, is that they will charge if another good battery is connected in parallel and then charger connected.
This is from a battery vendor:
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Northern California
2016 GLE300d 4Matic
New smart chargers are not expensive. I picked up a 12 amp Vector for not much over $30.
I wouldn't use an old charger because they are not sensitive enough to the changing voltage and resistance as a battery nears full charge. A charger should go through at least the 3 main charging phases, the bulk or constant current phase, the topping phase where the voltage peaks and the current decreases and then the float phase. If your charger tries to put in too much amperage at once (more likely than over-volt) then the low amount of acid used can be evaporated off at a rate the battery can't reabsorb it. This can kill a battery. If the voltage is too low the plates build up lead sulfate deposits on them (sulfation) which reduces the starting capacity of the battery. The float phase keeps it topped off and fights off the self discharge tendencies of lead acid batteries. The trickle charger can be used after all this to keep a fully charged battery at its maximum state of charge when left unused for an extended period of time.
Fortunately a good charger is much cheaper than a new battery.
Your 30 year old charger was designed for the old fashioned "flooded cell" lead acid batteries. This was the kind with 6 caps you added distilled water to when needed. This newer AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) battery is a starved electrolyte battery which means it has far less liquid acid and it's sealed. It is much easier to over charge and ruin the battery - and you can't add electrolyte or distilled water.
I wouldn't use an old charger because they are not sensitive enough to the changing voltage and resistance as a battery nears full charge. A charger should go through at least the 3 main charging phases, the bulk or constant current phase, the topping phase where the voltage peaks and the current decreases and then the float phase. If your charger tries to put in too much amperage at once (more likely than over-volt) then the low amount of acid used can be evaporated off at a rate the battery can't reabsorb it. This can kill a battery. If the voltage is too low the plates build up lead sulfate deposits on them (sulfation) which reduces the starting capacity of the battery. The float phase keeps it topped off and fights off the self discharge tendencies of lead acid batteries. The trickle charger can be used after all this to keep a fully charged battery at its maximum state of charge when left unused for an extended period of time.
Fortunately a good charger is much cheaper than a new battery.
Your 30 year old charger was designed for the old fashioned "flooded cell" lead acid batteries. This was the kind with 6 caps you added distilled water to when needed. This newer AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) battery is a starved electrolyte battery which means it has far less liquid acid and it's sealed. It is much easier to over charge and ruin the battery - and you can't add electrolyte or distilled water.
Last edited by mjhawkins2346; Dec 17, 2013 at 04:55 PM. Reason: more details
