I rechecked my voltage settings and they are right where the
manufactuer recommends. I have both the Xantrex truecharger for shore
power as well as the smart charger for the alternator. So I do not
think I have burned them up, but keeping then between -80 and sometimes
-100, then charging up to -20 on a 420 amp hour system seemed
resonable. From the ressearch I have done and other crusiers, it seems
like the older ones held up better then the new ones. I hve seen
several articles complaining about their performance, in ON and this
month in Latitude 38. I do remember that once we started living on the
hook last Oct the voltage would be at 12.2 with -80. But was told not
to worry about it because it could be measuring lower voltage from
having a load. So I didn't and this morning it is at 12.2 with onle -45
amp hours, after being fully charged to a standing voltage of 12.7
yesterday. It doesn't seem to go to the 12.85 like the starting battery
of the same vintage and type does.
I didn't like the ON article that was posted, it doesn't address
what crusiers should do to make them perform. If I would have seen the
article before I purchased them I would have never done so. The article
stated that the flodded type have the same problems as AGMs with
sulfation on the plates. But dosent follow up that equilizing is a
common method of maintaining the floded type, but the manufacturer only
recently recommends it on the Lifeline AGMs. If you follow the article,
the batteries should be sold with a big warning lable and a good set of
instructions. I was told that they were bullet proof, could take abuse
and all the amp hours you can through at them. The article makes it
sound like if you are .1 volt off and don't fully recharge, you are
tosting the batteries. That was not what was sold to me.
If any one has experence in bringing them back to life I would love
it. I want to leave from Cabo to Hawaii in three weeks and am
contimplating diching them and putting in flodded before I go, but what
a waste. I will contact Lifeline and see if tehy have any support in
Mexico, unlikly.

Thanks for all the suggestions.
John
S/V Pangea