Do all batteries in boat need to be the same (Lead Acid or AGM) to charge properly ?

[Minnecoldah1]

I replaced my Lead Acid (two trolling motor/electronics batteries) with AGM's (Duracell Deep Cycle, Group 27) -- the cranking battery is a 4 year old Lead Acid battery (Duralast, Group 24) -- I have a BPS XPS Pro Series 3 bank charger.

I switched the mode on the charger to AGM (since the two new batteries are AGM) - yet now the charger is giving me a "System Check/Battery Trouble Detection" red light (for charging bank one, which is the Lead Acid cranking battery).

Do I need to buy an AGM cranking battery ? (so that all three batteries would be AGM)

If I do need to purchase an AGM cranking battery (or dual purpose battery ?) would you have any recommendations (I would get a Group 24 as that is what I have space for) ?

Thank you in advance for your help with this.

[ThomasD]

Another option would be to purchase a new charger. With Minn Kota and NOCO chargers you can select battery type for each bank.

[Zone18]

I would also buy a new charger.

[Bill Reynolds]

Seems, It would be cheaper to buy another AGM battery than buy a new charger.

[justinp61]

Personally, I'd buy a new charger, even though you are probably near the end of your battery's life. And I'd buy one that let me select the battery technology for each bank. The reason I'd buy the charger now is it'll work with your current battery and if you upgrade your starting battery to lithium, you already have the charger. I have a three bank, ten amp NOCO and have had no issues i the two years I've had it. Six of one and a half dozen of the other I suppose.

[jjue1979]

It seems that your charger doesn't do individual charging modes per bank, and so it may be trying to charge the lead acid as AGM. You might as well get an AGM one as well, unless you really want to get a newer charger.

[Minnecoldah1]

Thank you for the feedback - I have decided to go with an AGM cranking/dual purpose battery at this point (Memorial Day sale thru O-Reilly Auto Parts) as the current Lead Acid battery is 4 years old (still functioning but coming to the end of its life cycle) - the current charger is working fine (just won't charge different style batteries at the same time) but I do see the value in eventually getting a new/updated charger (the NOCO chargers look nice) that will have the ability to charge a variety of battery styles - and maybe when the AGM's come to the end of their usable life cycle I might take the next step (but this will be 4/5+ years down the road) - thank you again for the feedback and information !