Is killing batteries three times too much?
I use a set of 6V golf cart batteries from Costco. The pair that is in my rig now is two years old and they only last a couple of nights before the low voltage alarm on my CPAP starts sounding. When t...
Forum Discussion
Gjac wrote:Camp, Forrest, Camp! wrote:I think the most cost effective option is to buy the B&D 40 amp charger use it with your Genset to recharge when dry camping. When you get home plug in you single stage charger to top of and maintain the batteries untill your next trip. This way you have two chargers. Also what I have found is that my single stage charger will give a more complete charge once the smart charger says full. I know I can get several more days of camping if I use the single stage charger to float the batteries for a couple of days before camping.
After reading up on sulfate on and what kills lead acid batteries, I have learned some things. Firstly, I have been backwards on my charging routine. I always charge them just before I leave when I should be charging them as soon as I get home. Secondly, the converter/charger in my new RV is not going to be the best way of keeping them healthy. Finally, I should be able to extend the life of my current batteries by performing a desulfation procedure.
For the last option, I can buy the Black and Decker charger identified above which has some nice automatic features. I can make my own desulfation which may/may not work and may/may not burn down my house. Finally, I can buy the BatteryMINDER 12248 which probably won't do as well in recovering my current batteries as the B & D unit, but with the smaller form factor, I can install it in the camper permanently.
Still not sure which option I will take. I haven't stated a good fire in a while.
The 1093 regular charge to FUL gets you to about 97% SOC. To get to 100% you need to run the Equalize right after that first FUL till it says FUL again. It might even take a second run of Equalize. Then put the bank on the single stage converter to float.
To know if you got to 100% you wait for three days after being on float after that equalizing and then check your SG. See that explained here at the very end of this article
http://www.engineersedge.com/battery/specific_gravity_battery.htm
