Thanks Mex, lots of good info there.
I don't know how doomed is doomed though. I saw smokey and then I didn't see smokey. I know it is down there lurking, but if it doesn't come up every time, you can ignore the first time you saw it, right? :)
My "previously enjoyed" T-1275s have been worked up a bit at home with alternating Equalize and Recondition (pulse charging that does not raise voltage)sessions using the VEC1093DBD charger.
They were mostly near 1.255 all cells when "found," but after four days of nursing at home, they are mostly between 1.260- 1.265 with one cell on one battery at 12.75. No smokey.
I have not done a new load-test, but have them back in service at our camp site. I feel confident in these batts. They do everything demanded in the way of high amp draws and recharge well.
I don't know how many deep cycles we do a year, but I am thinking these two-year old beat-up batts could last us the rest of our RVing time (we just turned 70) based on the number of cycles per year we manage. (Not counting the shallow cycles under solar that we do in the summer---are they even "real cycles" against the cycle-count limit?)
There hasn't been much discussion of T-1275s. New they cost near $275 each and weigh 82lbs. So a pair is 300AH and 164lbs for $550
Four 6s (232AH) at $175 each at 67lbs is $700 for 268lbs and 464AH.
Three T-1275s is 450AH for $825 and 246lbs. So three T-1275s is sort of like four 6s except they cost more.
They do high inverter loads better in that they have less voltage drop towards the dreaded 11v inverter alarm. It makes an interesting choice between three T-1275s and four 6s until you can get those 6s for half price at Sam's or Costco.
