battery performance after 2 years

[jfaberna]

In January of 2017 I put 2 6 volt deep cycle US 2200 batteries in series in my RV. I also install a single 100W solar panel and 4 stage controller at the same time.

What I remember is I could go to the RV when it was fully charge and open the slides 2-3 times and the battery indicator in the control center would read 2/3 full.

Now with a full charge one cycle of open and close of the slides leaves the battery indicator at 1/3. The voltage at the battery at this time was 12.82 volts.

I can't believer the batteries are wearing out after just 2 years. The batteries hardly ever require much water to be added.

I thought about the solar charging system being at fault and changed completely, plugged into a 50A outlet before testing. So that's not it.

Before I started the full charge test, I unplugged the 50A cord and the indicator was fully charged as expected.

I hate to start the season with marginal batteries.

Jim

[DQDick]

It takes a lot more juice to work the slides when the hydraulic fluid is cold, but if it was me I'd have the batteries tested. They should have some type of warranty.

[artfuldodger]

Take batts to where you purchased them and have a load test done. Take them in fully charged. If they test poorly, you need new ones.

[fatcatzzz]

Most any auto parts store can load test your batteries.

[jfaberna]

If I want to replace them with AGM batteries, should I go back to 1 12V battery vs. 2 6V? The prices are all over the place for AGM batteries. I assume there are deep cycle batteries as well as auto batteries just like flooded lead acid.

[PNW Fireguy]

I would highly recommen staying with the multiple 6V batteries.

[jfaberna]

Originally Posted by PNW Fireguy

I would highly recommen staying with the multiple 6V batteries.

Why is that?

[AZ Traveler]

You will get more AH out of the 6 volt batteries. You also you consider adding a battery monitor - the charge indicators built into the rig are not very accurate. Also consider equalizing your batteries if you have not done that in awhile.

[jfaberna]

Once I saw what a hassle it was to buy deep cycle AGM batteries local (there weren't any). I found some 6v 210AH from Interstate at my local golf cart shop for $90. I already had a working vent box and the new batteries were exactly the same size physically. The cheapest 12V AGM with 200 AH was ~$375.

So $375 - $180 = $195 or ~10 bottles of bourbon.

I think I made the right choice.

[AZ Traveler]

Compare them to Lithium and you can buy even more bourbon.

[jfaberna]

Originally Posted by AZ Traveler

Compare them to Lithium and you can buy even more bourbon.

We don't have the camping life style that requires us to go all out with solar, inverter, and lithium. The day you see me camping on batteries in the desert is the day you know I'm really lost.

[grampachet]

I have 24 month warranted batteries. After 20 months I have taken three different batteries back on their warranty and received new ones or a full refund with no questions.
After 20 months they would test weak, therefore new ones were in order.