Another AGM conditioning question
This is my chassis battery, an agm I got used and have little experience with. Trickle charger failed in storage, it is dead as a doornail. Not covenient to babysit it for long hours on meanwell or...
Forum Discussion
Some talk about a batttery lasting years, and perhaps for automotive starting duty this is a valid ruler, but in Rv deep cycle usage, total number of cycles and their depth is a much better yardstick.
I would have expected more of a lifespan from lifeline L-16's than you report, especially at only an average 25% depth of discharge.
I don't think anybody can say you did not do your homework, and you obviously did not cheap out on the purchase of equipment.
So how many cycles do you estimate you accumulated in those 4.5 to 5 years?
You are out of lifeline's 4 year warranty, but their response will likely have a bunch of questions attached, insinuating that perhaps you murdered them.
But your reports of voltage held during discharge certainly indicates they are not performing as they should, even if they were only recharged to 95% of optimal.
I am Biased towards giving batteries that have no maximum charge rate, high recharge rates often, as opposed to the low and slow trickle charge mentality often repeated.
Low and slow is perhaps fine, on shallow discharges or when the next discharge does not begin in a few hours.
I wonder if your Solar was seeking and holding Absorption voltage daily, even when you were not cycling them overnight.
If I do not cycle mine overnight, the sun will have it up at absorption voltage early morning and amps will quickly taper to my set threshold then it is float the rest of the mornin and day. I have absorption set for 4 hours but the amperage threshold supercedes the programmed time.
I have a cheapo PWM controller used as a portable on a workshop battery, that has a 2 hour Absorption, and it will seek Vabs and hold it for 2 hours each day, even if the battery des not need 2 hours at absorption, as it was not discharged at all overnight.
I would have expected more of a lifespan from lifeline L-16's than you report, especially at only an average 25% depth of discharge.
I don't think anybody can say you did not do your homework, and you obviously did not cheap out on the purchase of equipment.
So how many cycles do you estimate you accumulated in those 4.5 to 5 years?
You are out of lifeline's 4 year warranty, but their response will likely have a bunch of questions attached, insinuating that perhaps you murdered them.
But your reports of voltage held during discharge certainly indicates they are not performing as they should, even if they were only recharged to 95% of optimal.
I am Biased towards giving batteries that have no maximum charge rate, high recharge rates often, as opposed to the low and slow trickle charge mentality often repeated.
Low and slow is perhaps fine, on shallow discharges or when the next discharge does not begin in a few hours.
I wonder if your Solar was seeking and holding Absorption voltage daily, even when you were not cycling them overnight.
If I do not cycle mine overnight, the sun will have it up at absorption voltage early morning and amps will quickly taper to my set threshold then it is float the rest of the mornin and day. I have absorption set for 4 hours but the amperage threshold supercedes the programmed time.
I have a cheapo PWM controller used as a portable on a workshop battery, that has a 2 hour Absorption, and it will seek Vabs and hold it for 2 hours each day, even if the battery des not need 2 hours at absorption, as it was not discharged at all overnight.
