AGM Battery

C

Colonel

Senior Member
Need a new battery for Model A driver. My Optima only lasted three years and had to nurse it through the last 6 months. Want to stay with AGM type. What would you recommend? Thanks
 
Colonel said:
Need a new battery for Model A driver. My Optima only lasted three years and had to nurse it through the last 6 months. Want to stay with AGM type. What would you recommend? Thanks
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Are you using something with a voltage regulator? Like an alternator or a generator with an EVR?

Do you keep a battery minder on the battery when parked?

Do you use a battery disconnect or pull a fuse when parked, to prevent parasitic drain?

The above will help lengthen battery life.
 
Colonel said:
Need a new battery for Model A driver. My Optima only lasted three years and had to nurse it through the last 6 months. Want to stay with AGM type. What would you recommend? Thanks
Click to expand...

I have never used an AGM battery. Is that the normal life expectancy of an AGM battery?

My lead/acid battery in my Town Sedan is now about 12 years old. I follow the routine as Jim does plus I added 2 oz battery oil in each cell. Very rarely do I have to add water.
 
All lead acid batteries are susceptible to sulfur oxidation on the plates and reduces the life of the battery
There are chargers/conditioners that can perform a desulfurization prior to a recharging

removes sulfate deposits from the battery's lead plates and returns them to the battery
acid.

In addition to the suggestions previously noted it would seem that temperature extremes will also shorten the life

I used both AGM and wet cells in cars and as utility units ie. barn lighting and portable winches

So far the best charger maintainers are NOCO brand I even had the local high school competitive robotics team start using them with more consistent performance

John
 
Lithium ion batteries for cars have started to be available. You may want to consider them. They are very small for the amount of current they put out. They are expensive but may be the last battery you will have to buy. Here is a 6 Volt battery for a motorcycle that puts out 120 amps that may be enough for a Model A. You would need different cables or at least different ends. If 120 amps is not enough you could use two in parallel, although charging may be a problem because of the need to equalize the batteries. If this is something that you are interested in, do an internet search.

https://antigravitybatteries.com/products/starter-batteries/special-voltage/ag-802-6v/
 
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Battery oil has been around for a long time, they used it in Edison Batteries for the railroads and telegraph.

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A battery tender is vital to keep batteries alive on low use cars. When a battery is even a little down cold (freezing) weather can greatly effect its life expectancy. I've gotten very long service from all the Optima batteries I've owned. I put a 6V Optima in my car last year. It's got a NuRex 6V high output alternator but I still put it on the tender if I'm not going to use the car for a couple weeks.
 
When properly restored, the original Ford generator can meet all the electrical needs of a stock model A. However, by inherent 3-brush generator design, voltage can easily rise above 8 volts. Anything above 7.2 volts starts to boil out battery electrolyte. This is where Mike Hill's Electronic Voltage Regulator (EVR) really shines. It limits generator voltage to a maximum of 7.2 volts as well as controlling current output. It mounts internally, replacing the 3rd brush assembly - making it a 2-brush generator. The EVR can go a long way towards extending battery life.
 

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ndnchf thanks for posting that and with pictures!!

I am glad someone took up the banner from Tom Wesenberg and is making these again.

We have one in the '30 Roadster and also the '36 PU both stock 6V POS ground as original units and they work GREAT I can't say enough good about these!!

If you don't have an EVR I highly recommend installing one.
 
While Mike designed his EVR for model A generators, I found they working in '32-'37 flathead V8s too. I run one in my '31 pickup and '35 Fordor.
 
Just a note for thought...I've had my current Model A for 19+ years. I've purchased two Optama batteries in that time for it. I do have a six volt alternator...seems to me like the best of the worlds for an A that is driven at least once a week, unless I am on vacation and then it might sit for no more than three weeks at a time. Ernie in Arizona
 
Optima battery quality has been hit and miss lately . As mentioned is other posts a battery minder of some type and a cut off switch help with battery life .
For the Optimas I have had them last anywhere from 3 to 9 years.
 
Just curious - is there a way to get this EVR in a kit form? I'm having my generator rebuilt and think this would be a nice addition
 
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