05-21-2011
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 1,663
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Given the type of cruising you describe, probably not, unless you get a particularly great deal on a larger alternator and external regulator.
The Costco batteries should last 3-5 years if you take care of them, meaning if you don't cycle them below 50% state-of-charge (SOC) very often, and if you keep them fully charged and on an adequate float level.
In the past year I've raised the float voltage on my six Trojan T-105 house batteries to 14.0, and my absorption and "repeat absorption" level to 14.5 volts, with a repeat interval of 30 minutes every 2 days (the charger is a programmable Victron Phoenix Multi-Plus 2500). In the past six months I've measured a remarkable increase in the capacity of these batteries; they test pretty nearly as new.
By contrast, four other T-105's maintained by an Iota DLS-55/IQ4 24/7 have continued to decline in their capacity.
Choosing higher voltages isn't for everyone, as it requires close monitoring to be sure the batteries don't boil over or lose too much water. Mine all have WaterMiser caps, and I've not noticed any increased loss of water since I bumped up the voltages last September.
Bottom line: if you just float flooded lead-acid batteries at the usual 13.2-13.6 volts, they are going to deteriorate considerably over time. They really require periodic "over-charging" or "equalization" in order to obtain the greatest longevity. They also require periodic "exercising", i.e., discharging under load to 50% SOC and fully recharging.
I think your setup is good for the next couple of years until you decide to upgrade and go cruising.
Bill
Last edited by btrayfors; 05-21-2011 at 11:05 PM.
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