I have to agree with Paul. Yellow top batteries are not all they are cracked up to be, however they should have worked, maybe not just as long. I like his choice of the AGM BA-UB-GC-2 golf cart batteries even though they are relatively expensive. I used 24 of them coupled into 6 paralleled groups of 4 (24 volt) for a solar project at a friends place in Baja. that's 1260 AHrs or 30 KWHrs. They have performed superbly and run everything from refrigerators and a microwave to a washing machine and of course all the house lights.
(I sent this out earlier, but it did not make the cut or something.) Hi Guys, Why not use AGM batteries and reduce the explosion problems. They can be mounted in any position and do not have need for water filling or venting applications, however I would recommend they not be sealed in a box and have some slight venting. There is some good battery information at: http://www.impulseelectronics.com/batteries_tech.htm and http://www.impulseelectronics.com/batteries2.htm. Marvin - W6MJM
