To answer Niner, I used to equalize but no longer do. My WFCO does not go beyond 14 V. My stand-alone auto battery charger won't go up beyond 14 volts. My generator used to go up to 16 V, but the DC output died -- I think there is an internal fuse that I can't get to. Fixing it would cost a bundle. I have been using these batteries for years without equalizing, with no deterioration in performance that I can detect. I keep them fully charged at all times and never go below 12.1 volts.
If the primary purpose of equalization is to avoid sulfur on the plates, then the BatteryMinder Plus (which I use religiously) is supposed to accomplish that. I know that several experts scoff at the manufacturer's claim that the pulse really does the job. But I have faith in the American legal system: if this claim were false, someone would already have sued the pants off the company, and no such litigation has ever been brought. (I have checked on this.)
The other issue is one of convenience vs thrift. I might get better life from my batteries if I put in more work on them. But I have other things to do with my time. So I believe in rational battery maintenance: more than nothing, but not as much as some experts do. If I were running a submarine, my attitude would be very different. This is a conscious and carefully considered decision, not a product of blind ignorance.
