Q for deep cycle battery experts
Off season/extend storage : Do you use a battery maintainer (like Battery Tender) or do you just use a "good" (higher power) charger and restore the charge every X weeks ?
Forum Discussion
In order of reliability:
Solar with a MPPT charge controller or at least a quality multi-stage PWM CC like the ZAMP ZS-30A. Multi-stage is key, so the batteries are not boiled. The advantage of solar is the ability to get it set, and then forget about it.
Second to solar, if you have power nearby, I would go with a Battery Minder because of its desulfate ability (it charges in pulses so it won't cause the liquid to boil, but does enough to keep stratification from happening.) Better a relatively low amp charge keeping the batteries at/near 100% SoC than to charge/discharge it repeatedly.
Charging it up every month or so does work, but make sure to water the batteries.
Solar with a MPPT charge controller or at least a quality multi-stage PWM CC like the ZAMP ZS-30A. Multi-stage is key, so the batteries are not boiled. The advantage of solar is the ability to get it set, and then forget about it.
Second to solar, if you have power nearby, I would go with a Battery Minder because of its desulfate ability (it charges in pulses so it won't cause the liquid to boil, but does enough to keep stratification from happening.) Better a relatively low amp charge keeping the batteries at/near 100% SoC than to charge/discharge it repeatedly.
Charging it up every month or so does work, but make sure to water the batteries.
