What to do with used AGM 200aH battery?

Aubrey · August 2022

My discovery battery started getting too tired too fast so we got a Renogy 200aH AGM. The old one is not toasted, just old (looks like it came from Nucamp with the 2018 T@B 400)... I hate to send it for scrap if it has some life left in it, but obviously we committed to a fresh battery and wouldn't want to combine the 2... definitely don't want to transport it either..
maybe a 12V fridge for my garage and utilize the solar panels when not camping, cost free refrigeration for shop beers?
Build a powerbank of outlets for solar charging of devices during power outage? Hmmm...

pthomas745 · August 2022

I've kept my original battery in the garage. I have a couple of inverters that I can attach to it and run things with it. If you know how much power your little mini fridge uses, it would work well attached to a solar panel and an appropriately sized inverter. Here is the basic idea (with a different battery). A 12V adapter attached to the battery, and the inverter plugged into the adapter.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/2c/6k7fapt34sz1.jpg

Grumpy_G · August 2022

Granted not everybody has a gate opener but that's where I put old deep cycle batteries to use. Even at a third of the original capacity they still work for another year or two.

Aubrey · August 2022

An automatic gate would be classy, and delay the reassessment of our property after adding a second story!!
I will look into the inverter, is that one like the one we sometimes use in the car through the 12V "lighter" style plug? If so I will find an adapter and experiment some.

Horigan · August 2022

Take it to a place that sells batteries, or a recycle center, and they'll recycle it.

pthomas745 · August 2022

The inverter is the same type you used in your vehicle, yes. That one is a 300 watt inverter. If you want to use bigger devices, the little "plug" adapter will not work. The 15 amp fuse in that cable will blow on a 180 watt device. You would need to use an inverter that attaches directly to the battery, with a larger wattage capacity, to use larger devices. And, a multimeter to keep up with the state of charge of the battery.

Tons of inverters like this: https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-300W-Power-Inverter-Adapter/dp/B004MDXS0U

This is the 12V adapter. Well made cable. Lots of these sorts of things. Check to see what type of battery posts you have to make sure it will attach.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G8WLW2Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

XenanMe · August 2022

I sold my old 200 AGM for a few bucks. A young couple doing “van life” were very excited to have it. Since they were only powering a few lights and a water pump it still had more than enough life for them.

What to do with used AGM 200aH battery?

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