(I have an update on this after one year, and I'm posting this to keep the thread alive, i.e., not locked, until I get a chance to write it up. I'm not sure of the thread-locking algorithm).
After one year, but not many cycles on the new batteries, I got results that I did not anticipate, and that are disappointing. I'd like your analysis of this.
I connected all four batteries individually using essentially the same length wires, home-runned to plus and minus battery bus bars. The plus feed to the panel, engine alternator, and shore power charge terminal are connected the the plus bus, too. A second negative bus is connected to the first via the shunt for the Vectron BMV-600 monitor. The second negative bus also has the panel ground, engine ground, and shore charger ground.
The batteries started out at 531, 509, 496, 501 CCA (Argus AA400). After one year, less than a dozen cycles, no charging over the winter, and on solar daily since early June: 491, 478, 448, 437.
These are Duracell part number 24DCC, 20 amp hour rate:75, BCI Group Size:24, CCA at 0 degrees F:500, all purchased at the same time, fresh, and apparently from the same manufacturing lot.
First test all were close to full charge: 98%, 96%, 100%, 100%. Second test all were at 100%.
All electrolyte levels checked, correct level for all.
Should I cry, or is this close to expected? My cause for concern was that the AA400 reports low BL (Battery Life) values for these for the second test: 92%, 82%, 58% 49%; but I don't know how this measure applies to deep cycle batteries.
Thanks!
jv
After one year, but not many cycles on the new batteries, I got results that I did not anticipate, and that are disappointing. I'd like your analysis of this.
I connected all four batteries individually using essentially the same length wires, home-runned to plus and minus battery bus bars. The plus feed to the panel, engine alternator, and shore power charge terminal are connected the the plus bus, too. A second negative bus is connected to the first via the shunt for the Vectron BMV-600 monitor. The second negative bus also has the panel ground, engine ground, and shore charger ground.
The batteries started out at 531, 509, 496, 501 CCA (Argus AA400). After one year, less than a dozen cycles, no charging over the winter, and on solar daily since early June: 491, 478, 448, 437.
These are Duracell part number 24DCC, 20 amp hour rate:75, BCI Group Size:24, CCA at 0 degrees F:500, all purchased at the same time, fresh, and apparently from the same manufacturing lot.
First test all were close to full charge: 98%, 96%, 100%, 100%. Second test all were at 100%.
All electrolyte levels checked, correct level for all.
Should I cry, or is this close to expected? My cause for concern was that the AA400 reports low BL (Battery Life) values for these for the second test: 92%, 82%, 58% 49%; but I don't know how this measure applies to deep cycle batteries.
Thanks!
jv