Battery Life?

[Ramblin__Ralph]

For the last 14 years I traveled 5-6 months a year in my truck camper. The rest of the year it sits on the jacks in my driveway. I have a 125w solar panel to keep batteries charged while on and off the road. Rarely, if ever, do the batteries go below the 50% charge level. Have no microwave or a/c, so minimal current draw.

Have no records, but I think I've gotten at least 4 years on previous sets of 2. However, one of my 2 "travel seasons" old current set won't hold a charge overnight. After full charge from solar, it reaches 12.2v overnight (per new charge controller with history function).

Current batteries are Interstate 27DC Marine/RV from Costco. I think at least 2 of my previous sets (which lasted longer) were the Costco branded ones.

So, my questions are:
1) Results for anybody having the same Interstate model?
2) What other brands have you used with good results? BTW, not interested in AGM or lithium.

Thanks,

[2oldman]

Ramblin' Ralph wrote:
2oldman: I've read multiple times that deep discharges shorten the life of a battery, but 50% is no magic number.

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding. I read your post to say your solar charging was only reaching 50%.

[Ramblin__Ralph]

Thanks to all for the replies. Below are answers to the questions.

2oldman: I've read multiple times that deep discharges shorten the life of a battery, but 50% is no magic number.

time2roll: Until last week, I used the same controller for 14 years, a Blue Sky MPPT. So, the batteries seem to be the variable here.

pnichols: I figured there was some sort of alternative motive in your post. :B

Ralph

[pnichols]

Ralph, of course you should probably be using only true deep cycle batteries in your TC. AGM would be best for camping.

We now use a couple of Fullriver 12V Group 31 deep cycle AGM batteries in our small 14 year old Class C. However, the first set of two deep cycle AGM batteries that we used in our Class C lasted around 8 years, were branded as Interstate, and were this 12V Group 29 100 amp hour AGM model:
https://products.interstatebatteries.com/#/product/detail/DCM0100L

P.S. Ralph - My goal in trying to help you out here was to keep you traveling in comfort so that I could continue to get Garmin database updates of your outstanding TC travels and camping spots. 🙂

[time2roll]

4 to 6 years would be normal for these combo batteries. Yes some just get 2 and a lucky few get 10 years out of them.

Post your controller charging profile to see if maybe an adjustment could help.

[2oldman]

Ramblin' Ralph wrote:
Rarely, if ever, reach the 50% charge level.

Tell us why. That's bad for acid batteries.

[Lwiddis]

Four years on my Trojan T125s and so far good. Solar keeps mine changed too, Ralph.

[midnightsadie]

the name interstate is just a trade name, theres only three battery makers in the U.S.A so they say. wal mart used to be made by johson@johnson. .I buy wal mart over five years in my boat for the trolling motor ,pushing four years in my class c. for us rv,ers who don,t use our rigs much they,ll do just fine.