"Velvet Paws" wrote in message
...
On 17 Mar 2005 17:14:24 -0800, wrote:

I have 2 4D Lifeline batteries. I bought them new last Augaust before
we left for Mexico. We have been having a great time but the batteries
are not doing nearly as well as advertised. They are in one bank of 420
amps for the house bank and I use it for everything including starting
the engine and leave another battery charged for emergency starting. We
use about 60 amps a day. I have been discharging to between 80 and 100
amps then charge back to between 20 to 40, depending on how long we
want to hear the motor running. I had thought this was a good way to
maintain the batteries. Unfortunately we are now down to about 12.1
volts after about a 60 amp discharge. I have done a 5 hour 15.5 volt
equalization and it now goes down to about 80 amps before it reaches
12.1 volts. I feel I should expect it to go down 200 amps before it
reaches 12 volts. Should I equalize again? Did I get bad batteries? or
am I doing something wrong? I have checked all connections and


Steve D'Antonio wrote a neat article on just this question in the
Nov/Dec issue of Ocean Navigator. And ON has made the article
available freely on its website at
http://www.oceannavigator.com/site/c...id=8685&page=1

Nice article. My experience with both flooded and AGM differs a bit from
the author. My flooded batteries always showed 12.8V fully charged (Trojan
T105s). My AGMs have always showed 12.6V fully charged (Concorde
Lifeline), Under load the AGMs sag more than flooded batteries but then
level out and exhibit proper capacity.

Strange!
Doug

Cheers

Bil