AGM battery and cold temps

BirdieJane
BirdieJane Member Posts: 237
edited November 2018 in Battery/Electrical & Solar
We had an AGM battery failure do to cold last weekend. Battery went from a full charge to nothing in 3 hours after the temp dropped to 21 degrees. The Bluetooth app stated the battery temp was at 0. The Renogy tech support stated that once the battery gets so cold, our charge controler would not be able to give accurate readings, it showed 11.6 volts. The next day after temps made it back to 40, the battery began charging via solar again. 
After getting home the battery showed a complete charge, I disconnected the battery and let it rest for 2 hours, then load tested it. It failed the load test, Renogy is sending a replacement. 
We have a 320, the battery is stored in the dog house. So not inside where it is warm. Has anyone had a similar problem with cold temps and an AGM battery?
2017 T@B Outback white w black trim / 2019 Subaru Ascent White with black trim / Birch Bay WA.
aka BirdieJane towed by Quinn
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Comments

  • JohnDanielsCPA
    JohnDanielsCPA Member Posts: 238
    I fully charge my batteries, disconnect them from the T@B and leave them out on my back porch all winter.  Temperatures typically get down into the teens at night and 20s to 30s during the day.  I have never had a problem with them.
    2022 T@B 400 BD
    2019 Ford F-150 3.5L Ecoboost with Long Bed
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  • ChanW
    ChanW Member Posts: 3,165
    edited November 2018
    I have a 6V AGM in my old tractor, outside all winter (for 4 or 5 years now). Never a problem.

    The story is though, with a standard wet-cell lead-acid battery, that if it's dis-charged and it freezes, it will likely destroy it.

    There wasn't anything drawing power from the battery when it died over that three hour period?
    Chan  -  near Buffalo NY
    2014 S Maxx
    2011 Tacoma 4cyl ... edit: 2022 Tacoma 6cyl - oh yeah! 

     A_Little_T@b'll_Do_Ya
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  • DenisP
    DenisP Member Posts: 542
    My 2018 400 has been covered and stored since Oct. 17th with a fully charged battery and switched off.  I checked the 400 yesterday and the battery is at 100% @ 13.7 volts.  There have been multiple days here in Central Mass. with periods of temps in the 20's and 30's.  
    This is in-line with my experience with the AGM batteries in my boat (currently the Optimas are 6 years old.  
    2018 T@b 400, 200ah Lithium with Solar
    2013 Tundra TRD 5.7L
    Massachusetts
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  • BirdieJane
    BirdieJane Member Posts: 237
    Thanks for the input, maybe it just had a bad cell. The battery was at 13.7 at 7:00 Pm. The Alde was set to 65 degrees. At 10:30 the Alde screen was blinking and indicated low battery. I then checked the Renogy charge controller it said 9.6 volts.
    2017 T@B Outback white w black trim / 2019 Subaru Ascent White with black trim / Birch Bay WA.
    aka BirdieJane towed by Quinn
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  • jkjenn
    jkjenn Member Posts: 6,417
    edited November 2018
    BirdieJane said:
    Thanks for the input, maybe it just had a bad cell. The battery was at 13.7 at 7:00 Pm. The Alde was set to 65 degrees. At 10:30 the Alde screen was blinking and indicated low battery. I then checked the Renogy charge controller it said 9.6 volts.
    Try using a multimeter to test the reading for acuracy.

    2021 T@b 320 Boondock "Mattie Ross" | 2021 T@b Nights: 239 | Total nights in a T@b 455 | 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland | T@b owner since 2014

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  • N7SHG_Ham
    N7SHG_Ham Member Posts: 1,261
    My guess is bad battery. I have had Optima AGM in my pickup for many years and also as the battery bank in a utility trailer with a solar system I designed, about 5-7 years typical in both applications and I have to replace, every battery eventually reaches EOL and needs replacement. I live in an area when zero or below is common in winter, I haven't noticed low temperature being an issue, quite the contrary, battery life is typically shorter in hot climates vs cold.
    2019 T@B 400 Boondock Lite
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  • gregp
    gregp Member Posts: 23
    edited December 2018
    I had my AGM 12v battery moved inside.  It will fit behind the power center and the wheel well under the left seat.  That's were mine is located now.  The dealer did the work for me including moving the battery on/off switch.  Greg
    TAB 320S ,  2018 Volvo V90
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