Interstate Batteries let me down
This morning I learned that each one of my two Interstate Batteries had a dead cell. These were only 20 months old. Their warranty is 12 months full replacement; then zilch! The ones they replace...
Forum Discussion
Would be interesting to know what Converter/charger you are using in your TT. Would also be interesting to know what year your TT is as well...
I started out with 4ea 85AH GP24 12V Interstates in my 2008 Starcraft 14RT off-road camper and lost one right away due a to a bad cell. It had run down on fluids which caused it to short out one on the cells. This was caused by having a single mode Charger setup that always puts 13.6VDC DC Voltage. The 13.6VDC is known to boil out your fluids over time and to prevent the batteries from shorting out the cells is do a fluid inspection on a regular basis. I was doing it once a week after I lost one of my batteries.
In 2009 I replaced my single mode converter/charger for a multi-mode smart mode charger which took care of my batteries being boiled out of fluids. I still check the fluids regularly out of habit I guess but the fluid level never seem to be needed any replacement distilled water.
My remaining three 85AH standard issue GP24 12V batteries are just now needing replacement and I have really put them to the test over the last several years camping off grid with them.
I have done very good with the performance of my GP24 12V Interstates...
The other thing I really watch is to never let them get discharged below the 12.0VDC level which is the approximate 50% charge state. I stop using the batteries when the DC Volts hits the 12.0VDC mark and recharge for three hours right away to bring them back up to their 90% charge state before using them again.
Roy Ken
I started out with 4ea 85AH GP24 12V Interstates in my 2008 Starcraft 14RT off-road camper and lost one right away due a to a bad cell. It had run down on fluids which caused it to short out one on the cells. This was caused by having a single mode Charger setup that always puts 13.6VDC DC Voltage. The 13.6VDC is known to boil out your fluids over time and to prevent the batteries from shorting out the cells is do a fluid inspection on a regular basis. I was doing it once a week after I lost one of my batteries.
In 2009 I replaced my single mode converter/charger for a multi-mode smart mode charger which took care of my batteries being boiled out of fluids. I still check the fluids regularly out of habit I guess but the fluid level never seem to be needed any replacement distilled water.
My remaining three 85AH standard issue GP24 12V batteries are just now needing replacement and I have really put them to the test over the last several years camping off grid with them.
I have done very good with the performance of my GP24 12V Interstates...
The other thing I really watch is to never let them get discharged below the 12.0VDC level which is the approximate 50% charge state. I stop using the batteries when the DC Volts hits the 12.0VDC mark and recharge for three hours right away to bring them back up to their 90% charge state before using them again.
Roy Ken
