landyacht318 wrote:
Constant what?
Constant current or constant voltage?
For How long do you employ this 'constant' charger when you employ it?
Number of total cycles accumulated in those 12 years, in your estimation?
Average State of discharge, when you do cycle them?
I got an estimated 1200+ deep cycles over a 6 year timespan with my most recent AGM, and easily a 100 of those were to 30% or below state of charge, but the average depth of discharge was in likely the 60 to 65% state of charge range. Prompt high amp recharges to full from their most depleted state, are what i credit to that impressive, in my opinion, lifespan.
If you've found a great formula/charging products for exceptional lifespan of Budget GC-2's, then please share how you did so.
Constant voltage overnight to 2 days, hard to guess on cycles, ave maybe 60-90 days a year only once below 50% SOC. I rarely camp more than 7 days in one spot(one or twice per year) which will bring the SOC down to 50%. Most trips are 1-3 days in one spot ave SOC before charge may be 70-80%. I have a 180 amp alternator that provides some charge while traveling between CG's. No solar. I maintain the 2 Sam's Club "Budget" batteries with a B&D 40 amp charger when it says ful I float the batteries with my 950 Magnatec converter/charger. I don't know why people call these battery boilers it never charged more that 13.6 v and now charges at 13.2 v. The "smart" charger to me does not fully charge the batteries the float after the charger says ful gives me two more days of dry camping, which to me is a more complete charge. I also equalize several times a year and run a desulfate cycle also. Finally I do not keep the MH plugged in when not in use just recharge when SOC reaches 80 %. Over the winter when I don't go south I fully charge and equalize and leave batteries alone until spring. I know most batteries die from sufation but leaving the MH plugged in all the time also sheds lead from the plates. There is probably a happy medium but I don't know how to check for it.
