Capt.Storm
Brockport NY.
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Joined: 04/18/2010
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Chuck&Gail wrote:If you replace your Trojan batteries after only four years, and live in Colorado, please PM me. I'll come take them off your hands for you at no charge.
Unless I wreck a battery by mistake, never have so far, it better last LOTS more than 4 years!!! Don't think I ever had a battery go bad that fast in my life, and I'm old. Last TT battery was 8 years old when a cell went bad, but it was a cheap deep cycle Marine type that came stock on last TT.
That's what I'm saying..you really have to neglect a battery not to get some good years out of one.
One thing I'm doing now is to not leave the charger going all the time that I'm plugged in at home.
I let it do its thing for 3 or 4 days after using it then turn the batt disconnect to off.
I think a batt needs to go up and down somewhat ...not a big fan of float.
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88lover
Florida
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Joined: 08/27/2005
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Chuck&Gail wrote:If you replace your Trojan batteries after only four years, and live in Colorado, please PM me. I'll come take them off your hands for you at no charge.
Unless I wreck a battery by mistake, never have so far, it better last LOTS more than 4 years!!! Don't think I ever had a battery go bad that fast in my life, and I'm old. Last TT battery was 8 years old when a cell went bad, but it was a cheap deep cycle Marine type that came stock on last TT. I guess you make your own bullets?. Since I am old, I don't know if I will outlive the battery, but I hope so 
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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Hi 88lover,
Some AGM companies do recommend equalization.
I agree on the Gel cells though. Equalization is a quick way to ruin them.
Equalization is to bring up "weak" cells to full capacity while (slightly) overcharging the other cells. (I wonder if 2 volt cells can have an individual two volt charger? hmmmmm) (3 hours minimum @ 15.5 volts at the c/20 rate)
Equalization is to "stir the electrolyte". (a few minutes at 15.5 volts)
Equalization is to desulphate the plates. (a "tuned" pulse charge, sometimes at intensely high voltage up to 72!)
The first two are *definitely* real. The last one...well the companies that sell desulphators say they work.....
Regards, Don
Kustom Koach Class C 28'5" 256 watts solar, 875 amp hours in two battery banks 12 volt batteries 2500 watt inverter.
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mena661
Southern California
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88lover wrote:238 I could have gotten cheaper but would have had to pay freight and wait. I needed battery NOW Looks like a good price to me.
2006 Ford F250 Lariat 6.0 PSD 2WD
2010 Keystone Outback Super-Lite 285FL 5er, Reese Signature Series 18K w/Manual Slider
Four Trojan L16 6V's (740Ah)
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Capt.Storm
Brockport NY.
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238...
I could go through 4,60 dollar batts.
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mena661
Southern California
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Capt.Storm wrote:238...
I could go through 4,60 dollar batts. Yeah, but how many AH's are those 4 $60 units? And he may not have room for 4 batteries.
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88lover
Florida
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mena661 wrote:Capt.Storm wrote:238...
I could go through 4,60 dollar batts. Yeah, but how many AH's are those 4 $60 units? And he may not have room for 4 batteries. I have a Truck Camper and have room for 1 battery. Every thing else I try has pooped out at 4AM and the alarm on the co2 detector goes off which makes me have to start the truck.
So from what I learned, I can equalize by using my 30 year old Schumacher charger by putting it into the 10A mode?. The charger can be put into 30A but the warning says to do so for no longer than 2 minutes with 8 minutes off. Or am I wasteing my time and need to buy a new charger. (Some one recommended a Black and Decker, but I have never found BD to be satisfactory tools). My hydrometer is broken so a new one is on my list of things to buy.
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BFL13
Victoria, BC
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Joined: 02/15/2006
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IMO you don't need to be worrying about equalizing so much, at least until you see that it needs it. Your main worry is keeping that nice battery in good shape.
Now that you are taking more of an interest in these things, just start watching the battery voltage with a digital multi-meter and the SG with an hydrometer more often until you get a handle on how things are really going.
IMO do not buy a new charger like the VEC1093DBD just for its Equalize function. Your old manual charger can do that better.
You probably only really need to equalize/desulfate if the hydrometer says so. eg, if the converter drops into float, but the SG is still in the white and not into the green.
Pay more attention to what the converter is doing at different times and take voltage measurements at the battery posts to confirm what stage the converter is in. Your converter is a good one for keeping the battery in good shape, and will do a fast enough charge if you use the Charge Wizard to put it into boost as needed.
If the real problem is camping off grid for enough days in a row without the battery getting too low at 4am , then the real question is how best to keep the battery charged up enough while off-grid. Once home, now you might need to do a desulfation session using the old charger if the hydrometer says so.
2003 Chev 2500HD ExtCab, LB, 2WD, 6.0/4.10 Gas
2003 Komfort 26FS 5er (28.5 Ft-RK-10,000lb GVWR)
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PUCampin
Castaic
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Joined: 07/28/2003
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I purchased a Vector (now owned by Black and Decker) vec1097A smart charger. It has a 2/10/30A charge options, equalization function, desulphate function, and lots of bells and whistles. With shipping it was $85 from boatandrvaccessories.com, there are several other models with equalize and desulphate. My WFCO 3 stage converter charges and floats my batteries ok, but does not have the capabilities of the vector. So every once in a while I will disconnect the batteries from the TT, and run the equalize and desulphate using the vector. I am now finishing my 5th year with a pair of Interstate SRM-24 batteries, and I can go for a 4day weekend without recharging as long as I am somewhat conservative. Usage includes water pump, stove vent fan, vent fantastic fan,LED lighting, a fair amount of usage of the 22" LED baclit TV, charging cellphones.
Before I bought the vector, the batteries were loosing capacity. The WFCO just can't give them everthing they needed. The first trip out after getting the vector and doing the desulphate and equalize cycle, the capacity was back. It was worth the investment to me.
Daniel
2007 Expedition EL 4x4 Tow pkg
2006 Pioneer 180CK (No more PUcampin!)
Nights in 10: 15
Nights in 11: 9  Rained out, sick kids, flat broke, you name it! Bad year for campin
Me DW and the 3 in 3 
DD 6/14/06, DS  11/27/07, DD  11/11/08
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profdant139
Southern California
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Joined: 11/14/2005
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I've got two group 31 batteries from Napa -- when I am not camping, I have them on one of those "Battery Minder" things that has a "desulphurize" function. I check the water levels, and I never discharge them below 50 percent (around 12.1 volts), and I use my hydrometer every so often. I've only had them for three years, so we will see how long they last. With normal use, each battery gives me about four or five days of power before I switch to the spare.
Based on what I have read above in this thread, is it correct that the desulphuring thing is to stir the sediment? Is that the same as equalizing?
I sure wish that there was a "Battery Bible" that would give us the gospel truth about proper battery care -- there is so much contradictory information out there.
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