Longer Boondock
For second trip to Mammoth Lakes campground I wanted more days boondocking. Added two new interstate batteries from Costco in parallel as well as portable 100 watt panel with extended branch connectors to my 100 watt roof top (parallel). Worked great for 8 days, no generator. Shady so portable needed to reach the sun.
However, back home I began to see the voltage drop overnight. With one Powerstride before the change, never shore power, the roof 100 watt solar kept the battery at 13.5. Battery in "store". This for over a year
Now mornings would be at 12.7 or 12.8 and 82%. Seemed solar was not cranking amps even in sun. By mid day when I was always at 100% I was still in mid 80% in full sun. After many tests and tech help from GoSolar it seemed might be batteries.
So, Interstates are removed and tested at 12.94 and 12.93 each. Every hour they dropped and after 3 hours are at 12.83. My Powerstride, after sitting 6 weeks never dropped. Hooked back up to AS they got to 13.5 in 2 hours.
I did test Ph on all cells of both batteries and passed. So, seems they are not holding a charge and time to take back to Costco, yes?
I want to have 2 batteries for dry camping and I don't want to change converter (again, almost never use shore power) so stay with flooded? Which ones? Guess Powersrtide might be great candidate.
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