Does anyone use Gel Cell batteries?

[Glenn]

They use to be the bee knees when they first came out, but now I'm hard-pressed to find anyone who still uses them.  Just curious if they're fading away.

 

I use AGMs, and have no interest in Gel Cells.  And now with lithium becoming more popular, it feels like Gel Cells are riding off into the sunset.

 

Thoughts?

 

[MN Fisher]

I had a Gel-Cell in my old runabout that I sold about 15 years ago. When I was outfitting the canoe, I went with a 75AH AGM...in the F-9 I've got a 100AH AGM for the TM and a 35AH AGM for the 'house' battery.

 

IIRC: Gel technology was the first to try and stabilize the acid to prevent spills. When AGM came along, Gel was pretty much outclassed....I don't even know why manufacturers still make it available.

[TnRiver46]

I thought AGM was gel cell, if that tells you anything.

I’m all lead 

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, TnRiver46 said:

I thought AGM was gel cell, if that tells you anything.

I’m all lead 

Gel Cells mix the acid with a special silica to make something resembling Jello. This holds the acid in place and makes it resistant to spillage.

 

AGMs use a special glass mat (similar to fiberglass) to hold the acid in place.

 

They're both still lead-acid batteries like the old fashioned flooded ones you have to add water to occasionally, but being sealed, you never add water.

[TnRiver46]

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

Gel Cells mix the acid with a special silica to make something resembling Jello. This holds the acid in place and makes it resistant to spillage.

 

AGMs use a special glass mat (similar to fiberglass) to hold the acid in place.

 

They're both still lead-acid batteries like the old fashioned flooded ones you have to add water to occasionally, but being sealed, you never add water.

Gotcha thanks 

[Bankc]

In 2019 when I went looking for a new battery, I couldn't even find a gel cell available locally.  Though, that might not mean much.  I recently switched to lithium, and the only lithium I could find locally was the Bass Pro house brand.  But there are probably 100+ brands available online of lithium batteries.  The only gel cell battery brands I'm finding online (and admittedly, I haven't done a deep dive) are Renogy, Weize, and Mighty Max, plus a whole bunch of AGM batteries that are mislabeled as gel cell.  

 

I think it's going the way of the Carbon Zinc, NiCad, or NiMH batteries.  

[MN Fisher]

11 minutes ago, Bankc said:

I recently switched to lithium, and the only lithium I could find locally was the Bass Pro house brand.

Which are relabled ReLion batteries.

 

Home Depot has ship-to-store or free home delivery on Mighty Max

[Dogface]

On 3/17/2023 at 2:19 PM, MN Fisher said:

 

Home Depot has ship-to-store or free home delivery on Mighty Max

 

Would one of these work for a 12 V trolling motor? Or would I need to look for something bigger? 

 

 https://www.homedepot.com/p/MIGHTY-MAX-BATTERY-12-Volt-100Ah-Lithium-Replacement-Battery-for-Renogy-PV-Solar-Panels-MAX3894921/323869632

 

BTW They have a battery with similar specs listed for $70 less. What am I missing? 

 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/MIGHTY-MAX-BATTERY-ML100-12LI-12-Volt-100-AH-Deep-Cycle-Lithium-Battery-ML100-12LI/315039944

 

 

[MN Fisher]

23 minutes ago, Dogface said:

 

Would one of these work for a 12 V trolling motor? Or would I need to look for something bigger? 

 

 https://www.homedepot.com/p/MIGHTY-MAX-BATTERY-12-Volt-100Ah-Lithium-Replacement-Battery-for-Renogy-PV-Solar-Panels-MAX3894921/323869632

 

 

While there's not much difference between LiFePo4 batteries, I'd go with the one that's more 'generic'.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/MIGHTY-MAX-BATTERY-ML100-12LI-12-Volt-100-AH-Deep-Cycle-Lithium-Battery-ML100-12LI/315039944

 

100ah should be more than sufficient - one of my trips last year, I put about 3 hours on my 45# Edge and my 100ah MM AGM was only about 20% discharged.

[Dogface]

Thanks MN Fisher. I'm going to need two or maybe three batteries this year but there is so much info out there and I'm not sure what is accurate or hype. 

[MN Fisher]

5 minutes ago, Dogface said:

Thanks MN Fisher. I'm going to need two or maybe three batteries this year but there is so much info out there and I'm not sure was is accurate or hype. 

Just be sure to get a good charger that's lithium compatable

 

Personally - I'd spend the money (and I did) getting a NOCO Genius. They have several models that can simultaneously charge from 1 to 4 batteries and they're compatible with Wet-Cell, Gel, AGM and Lithium

[Glenn]

9 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Just be sure to get a good charger that's lithium compatable

Yep. Lithium batteries are higher capacity the lead batteries and need a charger designed to charge them properly.