Pittsburgh...BRRRR. (-3 actual, 25 mph = -25 feel tonight)
Have two domestic side deep cell batteries and two chassis batteries. Each battery set is separated via a latch disconnect, and therefore each of the four batteries is charged separately.
Question: With battery integrity/preservation being the primary objective, at what battery voltage reading (using a multi-meter) is charging recommended? And should they be charged at 2 amp or 10 amp? (Battery "maintainer" is not an option.)

Ted, I am not sure about the correct answers to your questions. There are electrical guru members here that can better answer your questions.

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Here is something you may like. Santa, (my oldest brother) stuffed this Stanley Charger into my stocking. So far I like the reconditioning feature. I resurrected two batteries. I keep batteries on my bench to test stuff. This charger has an alternator check mode also.

Thanks Kevin. Will consider. Have a lot of "out of season" equipment and vehicles with batteries that require on going attention. I once had a battery overcharge on a charger's maintenance mode. I noticed the side casing distorted outward!

My juvenile understanding of batteries is that the voltage is created from the chemical reaction between the lead and hydrochloric acid. And that it is this electrical charge in the lead plates that minimalizes the acid from eroding the plates. (Eventually the acid wins - the plates erode to the point where the fallen lead particulates create an electrical short between a couple plates, and the battery life ends.) In addition, battery life can be shortened by the build up of sulfate on the plates surfaces. This build up occurs during charging and can be reduced via the maintenance mode on the charger.

My question deals with the first mentioned cause - plate disintegration. A fully charged battery should carry about 12.5V, correct? How much lower does the voltage need to get to resulting in the plates being less protected?

Incidentally, regarding the sulfate: I read somewhere that to reduce the build up while charging the battery casing can be lightly tapped (wood block and small hammer}. Any truth?

I installed a Progressive Dynamics Power Converter with Intellicharger in Old Blue shortly after I got her in 2005. The 4 Optima AGM batteries were a few years old at the time. Tere also installed a battery separator system around 2013. Roger Pense replaced the batteries last year. They lasted about 15 years.

Jim

My Regal has had a Progressive Dynamics charger on for 6 years. Never had to add water once, batteries always topped off. Good unit, not sure what the final float voltage is.