House batteries not up to ah rating
Bought 2 new Interstate SRM-24 group 24 RV/Marine batteries a few months ago. I have used the MH 4 times on trips lasting from 3-6 days. Never going below 40 amps before recharging. The rating is 85...
Forum Discussion
DAS26miles wrote:
Mexicowanderer- Batteries recharged to full (60amps that were drawn off the other day). Turned on fan and drawing just under 5 amps. Will run to -30 or 40 amps. Then I will wait an hour or two and check voltage. Then recharge. Will post results sometime tomorrow.
So I am testing to see what difference a slow draw makes on capacity.
Yesterday, the batteries were equalized for 2 hours at just under the suggested volts.
"Just under" suggested voltages is a "fail" when equalizing. You need to get a full 16.0V or as high as you can get a V reading on the battery, before shutting off the charging, with the battery disconnected from everything on the RV.
Get specific gravity readings per cell, that is what is most important, log them all down, before and after an equalization. Wait a day after equalization to take a SG reading, there is a lag period from when the V maxes at 16.0V to when the battery chemistry catches up and homogenizes the whole electrolyte mix 24 hours later.
What you believe is fully charged is for certain not fully charged. Not by a long shot.
