Field Report
Trimetric and Battery
Saturday I returned from a week at the Saline hot springs. Washboard on the flats before the "salt tram" worse than I have ever experienced it. 3 hours of semi-violent shaking and vibration each way. Camper came through it great. Although I lost power to my separate voltmeter (need to check the fuses).. Now home the Trimetric reports battery max full at 91%.
Range day one started out at 97% full to 85% low in morning after 13 hours in the dark. At the end of the week (day 6), range 93% - 77%.. Been home 2 days . Trickle charger shows green (charged) voltage 13.6 (float stage) Percent of full - 91%. Charged the Engle compressor fridge, IPAD (reading an e-book), very little lights and a little fan as the days were hot - 97* at 2pm.
Battery:
79 amp hour - HD Deep Cycle AGM from East Penn Manufacturing. Group 24M Model 8A24M."Intimidator"
age 18 months on a 24 month guaranteed battery.
I know that as it ages its efficiency declines. Without a battery monitor I would never know its state over time.
I will edit this comment after my body heals enough to troubleshoot the voltmeter problem. Heals because on day 3 I fell down walking in camp in middle of afternoon (yes I was sober) when one foot slipped on loose pebbles causing abrasions and contusions and a broken toe.
Solar panel and 3M VSB 4950 tape.
Panel adhesion continues to be excellent. Connector performing flawlessly. Review installation page 12 #111
Edit 3/24
Moving around better now. Troubleshooting the voltmeter. I checked the two 12 volt ports. Neither were working. Hmmmmm. Checked the master switch. It was pushed in. Pulled it out...Bingo everything worked. All the bouncing around while I was on washboard caused an item to shift and turn off the master switch.
I remembered my instructor when I went to computer schooll. If something suddenly stops working, check the general operating procedures first as usually the answer is something simple.
Second, after two days on the trickle charger the battery condition went back to 100% and has stayed that way the last 3 days..
Update 7/28/17
Been busy with personal projects the past 4 months. Truck sitting in carport much of that time. Battery staying at 100% . Neighbors white roof which slopes to the south is bouncing the rays to the solar panel and maintaing the battery.