I work on these trucks all day. Changing my battery is the first thing I did the Ford batteries suck and corrode. The battery I went with is the X2Power over 2 years ago. I made no changes to the computer and everting is good.
AFTER MARKET BATTERY (S)
- OP 🔹 Lunch Box
- Start date
- Sep 26, 2021
- 2,762
- 7,018
- Navy 68
- 22 Stone Grey Tremor, Lariat, Ultimate
- Ranger 620VS, ATAK 120
It gets complicated trying to explain it, there is an answer, just not one many go into. Flooded batteries and AGM batteries, have a different float value and a peak charge value. Flooded batteries try to maintain a 10% charge rate to avoid boiling or fluid leakage, plus it has a hydrogen discharge which is a different story all together. The charge rate for AGM is ideal at 15% to reach its maximum peak charge rate of 14.7V. If the charge rate is too low, the AGM may not come up to full capacity. (More on this later) These numbers are dictated by the structural makeup of the two different batteries. The chemistry is essentially the same. So here is where it gets ugly.
The alternator runs about 14.2 to 14.5 volts, which is ideal for the Flooded battery, charging at a 10% rate, but slightly less than ideal, for max charge rate of 14.7 for the AGM. This does not mean that the AGM battery cannot be fully "charged", (replenished) by the alternator. Rather, the charge rate will taper off as it approaches max FLOAT voltage. But it is still higher than the float voltage, therefore charging, albeit not at the max rate. If you run your truck for short periods of time without fully charging the battery, (AGM) it can over time, lose capacity.
If you think of a trickle charger, it slowly brings a battery up to full capacity over a long period of time. (Hours) But it still will be fully charged. You don't have to charge the AGM at the max rate of 15%, but it will take longer to recover after a heavy use. This is why most people never notice a difference in their charge rate vs. reliability to start after installing the AGM. It still works.
The link that @henry5six sent explains this quite well. The alternator is not intended as a "charger", it's to replenish the loss used to start the vehicle at a 10% charge rate, less than ideal for the AGM. It also somewhat explains why batteries that don't get charged routinely seem to go bad faster. A flooded battery will sulfate if it loses charge and not recharged soon after a heavy load.
The ideal setup for this would be to have an on-board battery maintainer (such as the Noco) and plug it in periodically to fully charge the AGM. When I see the Forscan changes, I really don't understand what the changes do. If they do anything, the charge rate may be increased to give the charge system that .2 volt increase to allow a max charge rate for AGM. But if you run for a long time, the AGM will eventually charge anyway.
Side note: I think every boat owner out there realizes that the motor will "charge" the battery while running, but as soon as you're done for the day, you plug in your battery charger/maintainer to bring it back to full capacity because the alternator can't fully recharge the starting battery. Flooded or AGM. In addition, the battery gets drained by the computer, just like in the trucks. So, an onboard charger (or external) is required to maintain the battery.
More reading for those interested:
Flooded Batteries vs. AGM Batteries: Understanding the Differences
Compare flooded and AGM batteries to choose the best option for performance and reliability. Take control of your energy use with smart storage solutions.
www.power-sonic.com
Well I’m having to change batteries cause twice today the truck won’t start. Looking at this thread has helped.
Anyone try the walmart agm batteries?
https://www.walmart.com/ip/EverStar...2?classType=REGULAR&athbdg=L1103&from=/search
4 year free replacement, not sure who is making these for walmart.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/EverStar...2?classType=REGULAR&athbdg=L1103&from=/search
4 year free replacement, not sure who is making these for walmart.
- Sep 26, 2021
- 2,762
- 7,018
- Navy 68
- 22 Stone Grey Tremor, Lariat, Ultimate
- Ranger 620VS, ATAK 120
I'd research this carefully. All batteries are not created equal. I'm not sure who makes them for Walmart, but some have issues.
Major Car Battery Brands Ranked Worst To Best - SlashGear
Choosing a new battery is an important and potentially expensive decision. Here are the major car battery brands and why some are better than others.
www.slashgear.com
I put two of these in my previous pickup but I didnt have the truck for more than 9 months and sold it.
I replaced two yellow tops that lasted me for 8 years. Wasnt having issues just wanted to ensure my batteries werent going to depart my WYO trip... during the middle of it.
if the yellow tops wouldnt have been $600 i would have went back with them.
I believe that Johnson Controls has been making the batteries for Walmart. And I understand that they wouldn't be the same quality, but Johnson Controls also makes Optima batteries among other name brands. So I'd say they do at least know how to make a good battery.
its all about quality control and how much of it a certain battery brand is willing to pay for... not who makes them. the mfg'er is just meeting requirements.
welll.. to a degree it does matter. if they can produce something good initially, theyll have a higher pass rate reqardless of the qc specs
welll.. to a degree it does matter. if they can produce something good initially, theyll have a higher pass rate reqardless of the qc specs
So in short, to change the charge settings through Forscan or leave as is?It gets complicated trying to explain it, there is an answer, just not one many go into. Flooded batteries and AGM batteries, have a different float value and a peak charge value. Flooded batteries try to maintain a 10% charge rate to avoid boiling or fluid leakage, plus it has a hydrogen discharge which is a different story all together. The charge rate for AGM is ideal at 15% to reach its maximum peak charge rate of 14.7V. If the charge rate is too low, the AGM may not come up to full capacity. (More on this later) These numbers are dictated by the structural makeup of the two different batteries. The chemistry is essentially the same. So here is where it gets ugly.
The alternator runs about 14.2 to 14.5 volts, which is ideal for the Flooded battery, charging at a 10% rate, but slightly less than ideal, for max charge rate of 14.7 for the AGM. This does not mean that the AGM battery cannot be fully "charged", (replenished) by the alternator. Rather, the charge rate will taper off as it approaches max FLOAT voltage. But it is still higher than the float voltage, therefore charging, albeit not at the max rate. If you run your truck for short periods of time without fully charging the battery, (AGM) it can over time, lose capacity.
If you think of a trickle charger, it slowly brings a battery up to full capacity over a long period of time. (Hours) But it still will be fully charged. You don't have to charge the AGM at the max rate of 15%, but it will take longer to recover after a heavy use. This is why most people never notice a difference in their charge rate vs. reliability to start after installing the AGM. It still works.
The link that @henry5six sent explains this quite well. The alternator is not intended as a "charger", it's to replenish the loss used to start the vehicle at a 10% charge rate, less than ideal for the AGM. It also somewhat explains why batteries that don't get charged routinely seem to go bad faster. A flooded battery will sulfate if it loses charge and not recharged soon after a heavy load.
The ideal setup for this would be to have an on-board battery maintainer (such as the Noco) and plug it in periodically to fully charge the AGM. When I see the Forscan changes, I really don't understand what the changes do. If they do anything, the charge rate may be increased to give the charge system that .2 volt increase to allow a max charge rate for AGM. But if you run for a long time, the AGM will eventually charge anyway.
Side note: I think every boat owner out there realizes that the motor will "charge" the battery while running, but as soon as you're done for the day, you plug in your battery charger/maintainer to bring it back to full capacity because the alternator can't fully recharge the starting battery. Flooded or AGM. In addition, the battery gets drained by the computer, just like in the trucks. So, an onboard charger (or external) is required to maintain the battery.
More reading for those interested:
Flooded Batteries vs. AGM Batteries: Understanding the Differences
Compare flooded and AGM batteries to choose the best option for performance and reliability. Take control of your energy use with smart storage solutions.
Seem neither do quite exactly what AGM needs, if I understand your post correctly.
It almost sounds like it would be best to have an onboard maintainer and plug it in after short trips or one night just to top everything off
I should have mentioned that I don't do short trips. If anything, my engine does not shut off throughout the day from the time it gets started in the morning. I think I am safe in that regard.
Most definitely
- Sep 26, 2021
- 2,762
- 7,018
- Navy 68
- 22 Stone Grey Tremor, Lariat, Ultimate
- Ranger 620VS, ATAK 120
I installed AGM batteries in my 22, they are always charged because I use a trickle charger to keep them up. (Noco 5A model) Even if I didn't have the Noco on it, it still maintains a voltage of about 12.7 volts after sitting for a while. You don't need to change anything if you run your truck for a while after starting and don't leave it idle (not running) for several days in a row. (Like I do.)
IMO, with you having a diesel... i think as long as you run it for a while after you use your inverter setup/winch/any large electric load... you should charge it enough to maintain them just fine.
I would consider adding a noco 5a just for good measure especially since your truck is your livelihood. Buy the noco flush mount recessed male plug that has two female leads (if you have block heater). Mount it somewhere easy. Plug in one extension cord and youll be charging and heating at the same time.
- Jun 17, 2020
- 702
- 2,776
- 2020 F-250 6.7L Tremor
- 2022 Airstream Globetrotter 25FB
Just went ahead and replaced my batteries with a set of Odyssey X2s after reading all the good things people have said about them. Managed to have my laptop on hand and took care of the FORscan change right in the parking lot.
It's an upgrade I had planned on doing when it was time to replace the original batteries. But as look would have it we were out in rural Washington state when they decided to fail. The only place around with 2 batteries that would fit was the local Ford dealer. So my upgrade took a little longer. Noticed a slight hesitation on startup and after checking it today it was confirmed that one battery was failing. We hit the road on Saturday, so I called around and found 2 stores, about 15 miles apart, that each had 1 in stock.
So now we're set to head out this weekend and check Nebraska off our list of states/capitols visited.
It's an upgrade I had planned on doing when it was time to replace the original batteries. But as look would have it we were out in rural Washington state when they decided to fail. The only place around with 2 batteries that would fit was the local Ford dealer. So my upgrade took a little longer. Noticed a slight hesitation on startup and after checking it today it was confirmed that one battery was failing. We hit the road on Saturday, so I called around and found 2 stores, about 15 miles apart, that each had 1 in stock.
So now we're set to head out this weekend and check Nebraska off our list of states/capitols visited.
