ISTR Mex recently mentioned that the shunt should be kept from battery gasses, but I don't know the risks. The example earlier in the other thread shown was on AGMs, while you have Wets. Mex will clarify I hope.
EDIT. Here is Mex in the other thread, "Keep shunts, buss bars, fuses and breakers as far away from a flooded battery as possible. A proper hookup will have one single solitary cable connecting the positive post and one single solitary cable connecting the negative post. Of course battery paralleling bridge wires are not counted."
You are right about successive 50-80s. Progressive capacity loss happens and then you have quite a job getting the batts back to 100%.
I had a post a few years ago about that with some graphs, if I can ever find it to link here. Go below the graphs for some numbers.
http://forums.trailerlife.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/24849190.cfmMy recovery method has been to fully recharge the batts at 14.8, then do an equalization style overcharge as the only way I could get their SG back to "baseline" (as new) SG value.
Recently, I forgot and left the bank at 14.8 overnight long after they had reached 14.8. In the morning, (no battery box, the batts are in the front cargo bay of the 5er with some ventilation) the LP alarm was going off and there was a strong smell of battery fumes. But--the SG was right up to baseline.
That suggests you can do a full recovery at voltages below what would harm the 12v systems, but be sure to have lots of ventilation, turn off the LP alarm ahead of time, and be ready to add water afterwards if needed. :)
