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I want to use the force charge mode on my Noco Genius 1 and I'm supposed to select the battery type. Options are:

  1. 12V = 12-volt Wet Cell, Gel Cell, Enhanced Flooded, Maintenance-Free and Calcium batteries
  2. 12V AGM = 12-volt AGM batteries
  3. 12V Lithium = 12-volt lithium-ion batteries, including lithium iron phosphate
  4. 6V = 6-volt Wet Cell, Gel Cell, Enhanced Flooded, Maintenance-Free and Calcium batteries

My car has this interstate 124R battery I bought a few years ago from Costo. batter picture

Besides knowing it's a 12V battery, I don't see anywhere that says what type of battery this is. The description on Costco's website reads:

  • Group Size: 124R
  • CCA: 700
  • CA: 875
  • Voltage: 12
  • Ah: 58
  • Termination Code: TOP
  • Wet/Dry: W

I want to be sure I use the right mode. What type of battery is this so I can select the right option?

sushi
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3 Answers3

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That is a standard wet cell, 12V lead acid battery, the default mode on the charger is correct.

GdD
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I want to use the force charge mode on my Noco Genius 1 and I'm supposed to select the battery type. Options are:

12V = 12-volt Wet Cell, Gel Cell, Enhanced Flooded, Maintenance-Free and Calcium batteries

12V AGM = 12-volt AGM batteries

12V Lithium = 12-volt lithium-ion batteries, including lithium iron phosphate

6V = 6-volt Wet Cell, Gel Cell, Enhanced Flooded, Maintenance-Free and Calcium batteries

No recent car has 6V, so you can skip that. You can also skip 12V lithium (which means only lithium iron phosphate as there is no other lithium-based chemistry that offers 12V voltage). The reasons being many why they are not used as starter batteries. Theoretically, a car that has 48V starter system (integrated starter-generator) could use lithium iron phosphate for the 12V battery.

Gel cells, by the way, are not used for cars.

So that leaves 12V and 12V AGM. The correct algorithm for determining if you have AGM is: look at the word "AGM" printed somewhere on your battery label. If you can't find it, it's not AGM.

I can't see AGM printed on your battery label, so the 12V option is the correct one.

juhist
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The manual and the charger interface are way too complex for the task intended and eager to show options instead of doing the job right.

The charging algorithms for Gel and AGM are the same. The flooded/wet batteries differ somewhat in the final target voltage.

If you charge flooded as AGM you risk mildly overcharging it. Bad if you leave it connected to the charger for weeks or months, otherwise it is OK.

If you charge AGM as flooded you will get it somewhat undercharged, e.g. 90-95% instead of 100%. On the other hand, the battery will live somewhat longer if left alone with the charger.

If it is cold (sub-freezing) flooded and AGM behave more or less identically.

So much about differences between the lead-based batteries.

Lithium are somewhat different - they don't like being tricle charged so the charger has to completely cut off after the battery is considered charged. In contrast, lead-acids of all types like to be "floated" (left at 13.4 - 13.6V in order not to lose charge and/or being periodically topped up.

If you need a once-off charging of a flat battery, you can disregard all the differences and charge at whatever algorithm you want as long as it is nominally 12V.


How these differ:

All lead-acids car batteries are heavy. Lead is notorious in this regard. The battery pictured above is ~20kg / 45lbs.

If no bragging labels say "AGM", it is flooded. When gently shaked it makes splashy noises.

AGMs wear bright labels saying "AGM". They are completely silent when shaked.

Gels are not used in cars, but can be found in UPS devices, house alarm systems and big powered toys. If you find a battery in a place like this, it is gel.

Lithium-whatever batteries are lightweigth, Li is the lightest metal. A battery with the same size like the one in the question will be 4-7kg. It will also have a big shiny label saying it is Lithium-something.

Lithium batteries of comparable capacity are still expensive compared to AGM. Li batteries of comparable SIZE are even more expensive (and more powerful as well).

fraxinus
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