Can batteries test "ok", but still be bad?
Let me begin by saying I have no knowledge/skills when it comes to all things mechanical, etc. This saga begins when I was parked for 5 mo season, and used a battery tender on the engine start batter...
Forum Discussion
First I support the theory that the tender may be too small to tend a battery that is still connected to the RV.. Try a bigger tender or a small "Smart charger" (The smallest Progressive Dynamics 9200 converter would do just fine)
IF your RV has a bi-directional isolator. and a good smart charger (Bigger 9200 for example) just plug it in with the proper adapter and let it tend itself.
Now, to the question "Can they test good and still be bad"
There are many tests. LOAD is one of them. it is indeed possible for a battery to test well on a load test but fail other tests.. Or to test well on other tests but fail load tests.
Though the Load test is one of the better tests you can run. I have seen batteries fail one test but not the other (Usually they fail load first)
And I do not work in the industry, (These were MY own batteries)
I use load test myself (One of the Chicago Tools (Harbor Freight) Dual meter with KNOB testers. I can get it to draw about 450 of it's 500 amp rating)
IF your RV has a bi-directional isolator. and a good smart charger (Bigger 9200 for example) just plug it in with the proper adapter and let it tend itself.
Now, to the question "Can they test good and still be bad"
There are many tests. LOAD is one of them. it is indeed possible for a battery to test well on a load test but fail other tests.. Or to test well on other tests but fail load tests.
Though the Load test is one of the better tests you can run. I have seen batteries fail one test but not the other (Usually they fail load first)
And I do not work in the industry, (These were MY own batteries)
I use load test myself (One of the Chicago Tools (Harbor Freight) Dual meter with KNOB testers. I can get it to draw about 450 of it's 500 amp rating)
