Not sure where to put this one, so we'll start afresh
A few folk, notably @Boots in Action and @mikerezny, will be horrified at how this story starts out, but bear with me. Its a love story and like all love stories there's a vixen, some heartache and a happy ending. (that's a Disney happy ending, for those who want to leave now
)
I've only ever used the Setec for our onboard batteries, the MkII from 2009 to 2014 in our second Jayco, and the MkIII from 2014 to today in the current van. Ive only had solar since 2014, and a 150w panel and PWM on that until last year. I've bought my Full River 120ah in 2009 and its been in constant service from then till now, yes over 11 years old now. I try as best I can to nurse the batteries and look after them, and vans stored plugged into 240v, but we a re power hungry travelers with multiple tech devices, multiple TV's, Sat TV, Xbox, diesel heater etc. Despite my best efforts the batteries have been hammered at times over the years particularly whilst we traveled for 14mths. They've been run down, used with the 2.5kW inverter for the hairdryer, microwave, Engel etc etc, even the aircon just for a laugh too see if I could smoke something.
When we bought the current van the Full River was 5 years old and I expected it to be on the decline. I wanted 2 x agms, didnt want to mix old with new, and the new van came with a 100ah Bosch gel. Not an ideal combo I know but I had no use for 1 x agm or 1 x gel so better to just throw them in together, get some use, kill them both and start afresh when they died. After 18 months paired up together, the Full River tested up at 100% so I left well enough alone.
The van's battery reserves have decreased over the last 12 to 18 months. Suspecting the combo of age , extensive use, less than ideal charging regime, differing batteries chemistry and different capacities of the batteries, the funeral was being planned ....but hey, that said I'd had a great run. Took them to a mate who owns a Battery World I had him load test both a few days ago.
The gel was dead as a Dodo couldnt even start the machine, but my 11 (yes eleven) year old Full River 120ah agm battery sat on the load tester for the rest of the day still going strong when closed up for the day. The following morning Full River has come up at 115ah capacity. Amazed is an understatement. Ive grabbed 2 x new 130ah agms and Ill use the Full River in the car as a dual battery.
Great real-world test of Full River agm, Setec mkII and MkIII chargers despite doing the completely wrong thing with all of it
A few folk, notably @Boots in Action and @mikerezny, will be horrified at how this story starts out, but bear with me. Its a love story and like all love stories there's a vixen, some heartache and a happy ending. (that's a Disney happy ending, for those who want to leave now
)I've only ever used the Setec for our onboard batteries, the MkII from 2009 to 2014 in our second Jayco, and the MkIII from 2014 to today in the current van. Ive only had solar since 2014, and a 150w panel and PWM on that until last year. I've bought my Full River 120ah in 2009 and its been in constant service from then till now, yes over 11 years old now. I try as best I can to nurse the batteries and look after them, and vans stored plugged into 240v, but we a re power hungry travelers with multiple tech devices, multiple TV's, Sat TV, Xbox, diesel heater etc. Despite my best efforts the batteries have been hammered at times over the years particularly whilst we traveled for 14mths. They've been run down, used with the 2.5kW inverter for the hairdryer, microwave, Engel etc etc, even the aircon just for a laugh too see if I could smoke something.
When we bought the current van the Full River was 5 years old and I expected it to be on the decline. I wanted 2 x agms, didnt want to mix old with new, and the new van came with a 100ah Bosch gel. Not an ideal combo I know but I had no use for 1 x agm or 1 x gel so better to just throw them in together, get some use, kill them both and start afresh when they died. After 18 months paired up together, the Full River tested up at 100% so I left well enough alone.
The van's battery reserves have decreased over the last 12 to 18 months. Suspecting the combo of age , extensive use, less than ideal charging regime, differing batteries chemistry and different capacities of the batteries, the funeral was being planned ....but hey, that said I'd had a great run. Took them to a mate who owns a Battery World I had him load test both a few days ago.
The gel was dead as a Dodo couldnt even start the machine, but my 11 (yes eleven) year old Full River 120ah agm battery sat on the load tester for the rest of the day still going strong when closed up for the day. The following morning Full River has come up at 115ah capacity. Amazed is an understatement. Ive grabbed 2 x new 130ah agms and Ill use the Full River in the car as a dual battery.
Great real-world test of Full River agm, Setec mkII and MkIII chargers despite doing the completely wrong thing with all of it
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