What is an AGM Battery?
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- OPTIMA Batteries
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- Glendale, Wisconsin
There are a lot of misconceptions about what an AGM battery is and is not, so let's cut right to the chase on two of the biggest- an AGM battery is a lead-acid battery, but an AGM battery is not a gel battery. The acronym "AGM" stands for "Absorbed Glass Mat," which in the case of a lead-acid battery, means the electrolyte in the battery is absorbed into fiberglass matting in between the plates in the cells.
All OPTIMA batteries are AGM batteries, but no OPTIMA batteries are gel batteries. The "g" in "gel" often gets confused with the "G" in AGM. We even see this common mistake on other battery websites that should know better, so since we've already identified what an AGM battery is, let's clarify that in a gel battery, the electrolyte is somewhat gelatinous in form, typically after it is mixed with a fumed silica. The next gel car battery we see will be the first, as gel batteries are typically found in stand-alone power applications.
The only reason most consumers need to know the difference between AGM and gel batteries, is because many battery chargers have gel-specific or confusing "gel/AGM" settings. Gel batteries tend to have very narrow charging parameters, that may not fully-charge non-gel batteries, so we suggest avoiding using any charger setting that references "gel" when charging an OPTIMA battery. AGM-specific settings are ideal, but regular or "deep-cycle" settings may also be used.
You can always order factory-fresh OPTIMA batteries on this site.
All OPTIMA batteries are AGM batteries, but no OPTIMA batteries are gel batteries. The "g" in "gel" often gets confused with the "G" in AGM. We even see this common mistake on other battery websites that should know better, so since we've already identified what an AGM battery is, let's clarify that in a gel battery, the electrolyte is somewhat gelatinous in form, typically after it is mixed with a fumed silica. The next gel car battery we see will be the first, as gel batteries are typically found in stand-alone power applications.
The only reason most consumers need to know the difference between AGM and gel batteries, is because many battery chargers have gel-specific or confusing "gel/AGM" settings. Gel batteries tend to have very narrow charging parameters, that may not fully-charge non-gel batteries, so we suggest avoiding using any charger setting that references "gel" when charging an OPTIMA battery. AGM-specific settings are ideal, but regular or "deep-cycle" settings may also be used.
You can always order factory-fresh OPTIMA batteries on this site.