(you can refer to this post on this thread
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f103/yet-...ml#post4304070 for backstory if you're curious)
The 8-battery (2s4p configuration) bank of the New Aire bank was run down to 0.7 volts (per battery). I was very concerned about how much damage had been done by this. The manufacturer said this was an unrecoverable situation.
The batteries in my NA are these:
http://discoverbattery.com/en/produc.../view/EVGC6A-B
In this configuration, a new set is 800AH at 12 volts. That's at the 20 hour rate.
I know AGM is more resistant to these sorts of situations but I was convinced I had a highly-damaged bank. I would like to do a proper load test, but I don't have the equipment for that, nor do I have a reference test (when they were new).
Here's what I have done so far. Yesterday at 5:30pm Eastern, I disconnected shore power. Starting voltage after a 30-second bleed-off period was 12.8. I proceeded to run 1500 watts off the inverter and intermittently 3000 watts (saw anywhere from 21-25 amps on the 120 line). At 3000 watts I was observing about 265 amps DC on the Silverleaf panel (keeping in mind that does NOT represent all 12v loads). That's 33 amps per battery. The specs say 25 amps = 420 minutes. So say 300 minutes at 33 amps. And that's to 0. I'd probably try to test to 50, so 150 minutes. I haven't done that yet.
What I did do was run 3000 watts long enough for me to feel comfortable the bank could handle a heavy load. Under that kind of load, I believe the Xantrex saw an input voltage around 11.2 (from memory ... I'll have to double check that). I have no idea what's normal.
If another New Aire owner could run 3000 watts (I used a toaster oven and microwave at same time) with a full battery (starting at 12.8) and let me know what the voltage was per the Silverleaf panel under load, I'd appreciate it!
After that, I left the NA in a state I've left it in before - fridge on and bathroom lights on - overnight. The battery was at 12.7. It's now 1pm Eastern and the batteries read 12.2 volts (was 12.4 at 8am). That's on par with what I was expecting. They're now at about 50%. That's 400 AH at 12v or 4.8 kWh over 20 hours (measured at the battery, assuming a good bank).
I think my last test will be to run 3000 watts via the inverter for 2-2.5 hours and check voltage after that and see if I'm around 50%. If so, I'm in good shape. Thus far, my testing has returned confidence in the bank that I assumed (and was told) was otherwise dead.
I have a Victron BMV 712 on hand and need to install it for proper accuracy. I still need to get the wiring I need and whatnot to accomplish that installation, however.