Chrome Battery 12V 15 Ah AGM SLA Battery

Chrome Battery 12V 15 Ah is Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) Sealed Lead Acid (SLA), almost maintenance-free battery.

It is designed to be used in the variety of applications like alarm and security systems, UPS battery, mobile scooters, etc. Chrome Battery 12V 15 Ah features spill-proof design, increased vibration resistance and rather affordable price, making it one of the more popular choices in its class.

Published: April 15, 2019.

Chrome Battery 12V 15 Ah Features and Specifications

Chrome Battery 12V 15 Ah is spill-proof, almost maintenance-free AGM SLA battery.

'Almost' maintenance-free means that from time to time, user has to check battery's T2 terminals for corrosion and to check the contacts between the terminals and cables.

Since the posts are sealed, corrosion due to the acid absorbed in the glass mat is minimal - but, just in case ...

Physical dimensions are (H x L x W) 3.74 x 5.94 x 3.86 inches and it weighs 8.97 pounds (~4.06 kg).

As its name says, Chrome Battery 12V 15 Ah AGM SLA is 6-cells, lead-acid battery featuring nominal voltage of 12 volts and 20h capacity of 15 Ah.

Manufacturer doesn't state battery's CCA and MCA currents, but its maximum 5s discharge current is 180 Amps - battery can be used for starting small internal combustion engines, but it is more optimized for standby and cycle use than for cranking applications.

Maximum charge current is recommended to 34.5 Amps, and charge voltage from 14.4 to 15.0 volts. When the battery is used in stand-by applications, its voltage should be in the 13.5 to 13.8 volts.

During charging, ambient temperature should be in the 0°C (32°F) to 40°C (104°F) range, discharge ambient temperature should be in the -15°C (5°F) to 50°C (122°F) range, and the battery storage temperature should be in the -15°C (5°F) to 40°C (104°F) range.

Of course, room temperatures are optimal for battery performances and durability.

Chrome Battery 12V 15 Ah comes with 18 months warranty and expected stand-by battery life of 3-5 years.

When the battery is used in cycle applications, its durability depends on the discharge depth:

- 100% DoD (fully discharged battery): battery's expected life is ~200 cycles,

- 80% DoD: battery's expected life is ~225 cycles,

- 50% DoD: battery's expected life is ~500 cycles.

Chrome Battery 12V 15 Ah as Starting Battery

Chrome Battery 12V 15 Ah can provide easily 180 Amps for 5 seconds and can be used for cranking smaller engines that feature cranking currents less than that.

Also, Chrome Battery 12V 15 Ah features 15 mΩ internal resistance and larger currents can lead to significant voltage drop - for short, there are better cranking batteries on the market than Chrome Battery 12V 15 Ah, but IMHO that is not what is this battery designed for.

Chrome Battery 12V 15 Ah as Fish Finder Battery

Fish finders' current draw varies from 0.15 Amps (smaller, compact units) to few Amps (larger GPS/Chart-plotter/Fish Finder units), with most popular models requiring 0.2-0.5 Amps when being powered via 12 volts batteries.

Note: for example, one of the most popular fish finders Garmin Striker 4 Fish Finder (Amazon link, link opens in the new window), draws 0.23 Amps.

So, if you plant to power Garmin Striker 4 fish finder with your Chrome Battery 12V 15 Ah battery, you can expect at least 65 hours of constant operation before the battery voltage drops down to 10.5 volts.

Note: 15 Ah / 0.23 A= ~65 hours

However, when the lead acid batteries are being discharged with weak currents for period longer than 20h, their actual capacity is increased, compared to their nominal capacity (measured when being discharged for 20 hours) - that is why one can expect 'at least' 65 hours in this example.

When larger fish finders are powered with this battery, one can expect shorter runtime, depending on the actual current draw.

Chrome Battery 12V 15 Ah can be used as an excellent and affordable mid-range AGM SLA fish finder battery, suitable for broad range of not only fish finders, but other similar devices as well.

For more about this topic, check our Choose the Best Fish Finder Battery article.

Chrome Battery 12V 15 Ah as Kayak Battery

Fishing kayaks range from small inflatable kayaks being able to carry one person and most basic fishing gear to multi-person oceangoing fishing kayaks, being able to carry 1-2 fishermen, fishing gear and supplies for fishing trips that can last for days.

In such situations, fishermen often combine small wind turbine and compact waterproof solar panel with AGM SLA battery.

Chrome Battery 12V 15 Ah battery combines good capacity (15 Ah) with relatively small weight (~9 pounds), providing enough power for small trolling motor (15 Amps for 20 minutes, ~50% DoD), small navigational white LED light (usually less than 1 Amp during night), marine radio (very low current while in standby mode, low current consumption during reception only), fish finder (rarely more than 0.5 Amps for kayak applications), etc.

When being combined with small wind turbine and small solar panel, Chrome Battery 12V 15 Ah battery provides plenty of energy during both day and night, especially when the trolling is done in the morning hours, allowing the battery to be recharged during the day, for nighttime operation.

Long Story Short: if you are looking for well balanced AGM SLA battery in the 12-18 Ah range, consider Chrome Battery 12V 15 Ah.

Design is vibration resistant, rather robust, cranking performances perhaps could be better, but deep cycle and standby applications suit it better.

Also, it is very affordable battery, that will not bust your budget.

For more reviews and recommendations, check Chrome Battery 12V 15 Ah AGM SLA Battery Amazon link (link opens in the new window).