WalkaboutTed
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2016
- Messages
- 910
- Reaction score
- 3
I committed batterycide. But I really don't know how it happened and I'm turning to collective wisdom here for possible answers. So, bear with me.
History: I have 300ah of the el cheapo UPG 121000 AGM batteries in my van (Blanca). I've had them almost 3 years, with no problems and never going below 60-70%. I have them powered with 420w of solar with a BlueSkies 3000i charge controller. I also have a CTEK d250s and a SmartPass, though they have no part in this mystery.
I left the van parked for 5 weeks while I went off to gallivant with Hubby. The batteries were fine (between the three vehicles, I have 1150ah of AGMs and I watch them like hawk and make sure that they always are taking in about 1amp per 100ah before I let them go to float). During the 5 weeks, Blanca was parked where she got full New Mexico desert sun about 5 hours a day. The only battery drain was the fridge, which uses about 50ah a day (I've measured it multiple times).
Since Blanca wasn't getting full sun every day, nor was she getting any power from the alternator, I decided to put on a trickle charger, a CTEK Multi 3300, which will supply up to 3.5 amps/hour. I figured that the sun would do most of the charging with the trickle charger making up the balance.
So we got back last night. The batteries were at 13.2v. Hmmm. So I unplugged the charger and they dropped to 12.8v immediately. Uh-oh! I set the alarm for 0430, before sunrise. 11.9v!
So what happened? I've not checked anything else in the 15 hours I've been home yet, but suggestions of what to do are welcomed. Thank you!
History: I have 300ah of the el cheapo UPG 121000 AGM batteries in my van (Blanca). I've had them almost 3 years, with no problems and never going below 60-70%. I have them powered with 420w of solar with a BlueSkies 3000i charge controller. I also have a CTEK d250s and a SmartPass, though they have no part in this mystery.
I left the van parked for 5 weeks while I went off to gallivant with Hubby. The batteries were fine (between the three vehicles, I have 1150ah of AGMs and I watch them like hawk and make sure that they always are taking in about 1amp per 100ah before I let them go to float). During the 5 weeks, Blanca was parked where she got full New Mexico desert sun about 5 hours a day. The only battery drain was the fridge, which uses about 50ah a day (I've measured it multiple times).
Since Blanca wasn't getting full sun every day, nor was she getting any power from the alternator, I decided to put on a trickle charger, a CTEK Multi 3300, which will supply up to 3.5 amps/hour. I figured that the sun would do most of the charging with the trickle charger making up the balance.
So we got back last night. The batteries were at 13.2v. Hmmm. So I unplugged the charger and they dropped to 12.8v immediately. Uh-oh! I set the alarm for 0430, before sunrise. 11.9v!
So what happened? I've not checked anything else in the 15 hours I've been home yet, but suggestions of what to do are welcomed. Thank you!