AGM batteries
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- March 09, 2026
Just upgraded to an AGM battery? That old garage charger suddenly looks a little too old. So, do agm batteries require a special charger? Yes. But probably not the way it should.
AGMs aren’t your regular flooded batteries. They’re sealed and are sensitive to both voltage spikes and heat. Hook one up to a standard charger, and it’s a gamble.
Sometimes it works. Often it doesn’t. Overcharge even a little, and the damage is permanent.
That’s where a proper AGM charger makes all the difference. It talks to the battery. Listens. Protects.
Treat it right. Skip the right charger, and it’s money down the drain.
What Is an AGM Battery and How Does It Work?
You need to know what you are dealing with first. AGM stands for Absorbent Glass Mat. It sounds technical, but actually quite simple.
In a standard battery, the acid splashes around, and it's a liquid mess. However, an AGM battery traps acid. It is held in place by very fine fiberglass mats. These mats are squeezed tight between the lead
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- May 24, 2025
An AGM battery means Absorbent Glass Mat battery, a sealed lead-acid battery that uses fiberglass mats to hold the electrolyte. This design makes it spill-resistant, maintenance-free, and more durable than a traditional flooded battery.
AGM batteries are commonly used in cars, boats, RVs, motorcycles, solar backup systems, and marine applications. They deliver strong starting power, handle vibration well, and recharge faster than standard lead-acid batteries.
The main advantage of an AGM battery is reliability with low maintenance. However, it usually costs more than a regular battery and needs proper charging to avoid damage. For users who need dependable power, safety, and longer service life, AGM is a solid choice.
What Is an AGM Battery and How Does It Work?
An AGM battery is an Absorbent Glass Mat lead-acid battery that stores electrolyte in fiberglass mats instead of loose liquid. It works by moving chemical energy between lead plates, creating stable power while staying sealed, spill-resistant,
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- June 27, 2021
So, you installed the wrong type of 4D battery. Yeah, don’t whine to me. If you recall, you may have been the one that wanted the cheapest battery you could get your hands on. Or the one that said, “it won’t make that much of a difference. Besides, my dad used these for years!”
I loath these types of conversations. Especially since there is so much information available online these days to help any poor soul make an informed purchase decision. If you are ready to buy a new group 4D battery, keep this 2-part question in the forefront of your mind: How does your primary application withdraw power from your battery? A whole bunch in a short period of time or varied amounts over a longer period?
Deep Cycle Ability vs. Cranking Power
Sprinters and marathon runners have noticeably different body types. Champion sprinters are muscle bound engines ready to exert tremendous force over a very short distance and time frame. In contrast, long distance runners tend to be tall and slender and can maintain
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- November 23, 2018
Australia’s Outback is one of the least hospitable regions in the world. When you’re traversing such a vast and diverse landscape amid deadly heat you must rely on your deep cycle backup battery for survival. North America’s terrain and weather extremes are no different boasting some the worlds fiercest winter weather. When it comes to long term reliability and long-lasting power generation, what brand comes to mind as the best deep cycle battery for the money?
The Landscape for the Best Deep Cycle Battery is Changing
MotoBatt introduced the QuadFlex powersport battery to market in 2009. The standout yellow color, unique 4-terminal design and special attention to balanced-power-delivery made them an instant hit. They are now one of the world’s number one selling aftermarket motorcycle batteries.
Recently, they debuted a new sealed AGM deep cycle line. Targeted towards recreational vehicles and the marine industry, these much larger lead weights are making waves.
When compared to familiar
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- October 30, 2018
Bassmaster Elite is the highest level of bass fishing in the world. Rick Morris is a 20-year veteran on the circuit. Over such a distinguished carrier he has blown through countless batteries. However, after NorthStar approached him to be a sponsor, things changed. He has come to rely on and trust NorthStar batteries steadfast performance.
Choosing the Right Battery is Not Just for Bassmaster Elites
We have all been out on the water at the crack of dawn where the water is like glass, the fog looks like steam rising off the surface and that distinct loon call echoes across the inlet. It is on days like these we find peace in the northern back-woods.
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- April 14, 2018
What changed with the Power Wheels 12 Volt battery? Back in the fall of 2017 we were grumbling over the enormous price increase instituted by Fisher Price for their Power Wheels batteries. Prices rose a jaw dropping 30% to 80%. As battery specialists this price increase was not unexpected; lead prices rose steadily over the previous 18 months. But ultimately, the price increase was not the big shocker. It is what they DIDN’T tell us about the 12V Power Wheels battery that came as a shock!
Power Wheels 12 Volt Battery Discovery
As we received our latest Power Wheels battery shipment I thought I noticed something different. The cartons, each containing six 12-volt batteries, seemed to be heavier. I initially wrote that off as me getting older and weaker.
As the team started packing the individual orders, I immediately homed in on a visible alteration—the stickers had changed! The all gray colored battery with red silk screening and red font stickers now had blue colored stickers. The new
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- March 09, 2017
I took my two boys to the Lowrider Hopping Nationals in Louisville KY over a week ago. We had a mission to learn as much as we could about lowriders and find out from those in the pits what batteries they used, why they use them and how they charge them. We—well, I (my boys did not find the “grown up talk” very exciting) had the privilege of chatting at length with a couple of guys from Those Dudes and Louisville Slugger. These guys were very accommodating and patient as they answered all my questions and educated me on what it takes to build a champion and best of all, how the competition works. I found it all very fascinating as I was ushered in to a part of the automotive world I really knew nothing about. I now have a good grasp on what the perfect lowrider battery should encompass.
Competition Goals
For those of you that may have been like me and know very little about lowriders, allow me to provide a quick overview of how it works. I may get some of the facts a little wrong, but
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- February 21, 2017
I have to admit, I have been very hesitant to write this article and have delayed doing so for several years. My deferment in writing was essentially a giant rationalization to ‘protect’ this motorcycle battery brand (and I guess us as well) from unnecessary blow-back. Compromising thoughts like “it’s not really hurting anyone since the battery is actually pretty good” or “it’s not my place to shake the apple cart” or “so many high profile racing teams use their batteries so that has to speak for something” kept me from raising my concern sooner. In all honesty, what we are about to share regarding this certain battery brand may impact our sales negatively and sour our relationship with the manufacturer. Nonetheless, we feel the questions raised have not been satisfactorily answered. Believe me when I tell you, it is not easy sticking your neck out. Frankly, it is down right uncomfortable. But I refuse to be beholden to the allure of profits and to serve the mighty dollar. We serve the
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- February 03, 2017
The Skull Crusher Project, which Impact Battery sponsors, is heading to Louisville, KY February 24-26 to participate in the 2017 Carl Casper’s Auto Show. As I read through the exhibitors section outlining this year’s attractions, something caught my eye: The Low Rider Hopping Nationals. I have never seen a low rider competition in person before. And if I were to be completely honest, I really have no idea how the competition is judged. But aside from the intrigue of seeing what these guys can create from essentially nothing, a question jumped into my head. Which batteries are the best for lower riders? And with that, it was decided. My boys and I will be driving north in a few weeks to check out some incredible cars and see firsthand what batteries are being used at the Hopping Nationals. More importantly I want to discover why these folks selected the brand of battery strapped in the trunk. What drove them to make that decision?
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- January 12, 2017
Back in the summer of 2013, we sang the praises of the Drakon labeled Pure Lead Acid AGM battery. It was indeed among the best AGM batteries in the world and went head-to-head with the undisputed king-of-the-hill EnerSys and their Odyssey Extreme battery. However, after some mergers and acquisitions, the brand owner, Universal Power Group, restructured and decided to consolidate labels creating greater continuity for their organization. The Drakon name no longer exists and has been transported into the very popular Kinetik battery family. Incidentally, Kinetik Power now has a full line of batteries for powersports, car audio, backup systems and even consumer alkaline and button cell batteries. Their HC-PRO series still utilizes the thin plate pure lead AGM technology first introduced under the Drakon label.
I say all this because there is a very distinguished battery factory in the heart of this great nation that produced the inner workings of the Drakon battery and very few consumers
