Golf Cart or A G M 12 volt Batteries

lawrosa wrote:


Whatever you decide go 6 volt...

6 volt AGM so no watering 1300 bucks
6 volt lead acid if you want to do maintenance. 600 bucks

I would do that if it weren't for the fact I can get two 12v 200ah lithium ion batteries, complete with on-board battery monitors, for about $1.4K. Read it and weep, I'm just the messenger.

Sorry for being redundant.

AlaskaShooter wrote:
Another option to consider if you have heavily fertilized and watered your orchard of money trees. New battery technology. Prices will hopefully drop over time.

https://battlebornbatteries.com/

Light weight and lots of grunt.

Or just get the batteries from China.

I'll be using materials mostly obtained from China (helps to be near a port city) because all the stuff comes from there, anyway. I can get 500 watts of solar panels at 36V for $100 plus shipping. Charge controller from there, too. I can get two 12V 100ah li-ion batteries for $1000. *Two.* No brainers, really.

Yeah, yeah I know, buy American, American workers. No. Just no. I have made many decisions with those two things in mind, but at my age and income level, I no longer have the choice of doing that and frankly, considerations I must not utter, here, leave me apathetic about all that. I'm doing what's best for my family, and it's not open to debate. Besides, where do you think Renogy gets THEIR panels?

Another option to consider if you have heavily fertilized and watered your orchard of money trees. New battery technology. Prices will hopefully drop over time.

https://battlebornbatteries.com/

Light weight and lots of grunt.

OP - Thanks for serving - twice!!!

No right or wrong answer here, just options:)!

If you do not feel you'll be off Shore Power much of the time, say 20-30% or less as an example. And are frugal on power usage, the you could start out with two four batteries to start. See how things go. As mentioned by others, wet cell batteries, GC2 6V, larger 12V, with a dab of mineral oil or a watering system where you just easily squeeze a turkey baster ball to top off all cells - would be an inexpensive way to go. If you want the added safety of having more reserve power, you could go with 6 batteries to start with and be done with it.

-Three pairs of Sams or Costco 6V wet cells would be the economic way to go
-Bump up price some to a Trojan or Crown battery, and you should see a bit more overall AH's in the bank, and a potentially a longer lasting battery
-Bump up to larger size (Taller, but same footprint, and you again add to the price and also to the total AH's in the bank. For example, if you have the head room in the battery bay, Trojan have the T-125's and T-145's, which add AH's tp their conventional GC2 T-105 battery

-If you don't want to bother with any maintenance concerns at all, and don't mind spending some more money. You could go to AGM.As mentioned, in the 6V GC2 config. Or you could go to 12V 8D's, and probably get three into the same space that X's 6 GC2's will fit. The do charge a bit faster, so if you do start boon docking more, you will have faster recharge times via generator with AGM's.

So, really you're in the driver's seat. And if your batteries are say midlife, you might look into conditioning/equalizing them, and then having the load tested, to see if they still have some life ahead for you. If so, then you could go get some usage with the coach, and see what you feel your battery energy needs are. This could help you make your decision between all of the options.

Can be a PITA, with lost of opinions on Wet vs AGM vs now Lithium:)! And this gang, myself included, are more then willing to help you spend your money:)!

Best of luck to you,
Smitty

I might try that. I'll give it a couple of months and see how much water I have to add. I've got a smart 4 stage charger.

timjet wrote:
2 6 volt golf cart batteries connected in series will give you about 210 AH and cost about $170. 2 12 volt AGM's connected in parallel will give about the same AH and cost about $600.
AGM's are maintenance free, golf cart batteries are not.

I'm switching my house batts from AGM's to golf cart batts.

What maintenance?

I put a little mineral oil in each cell in my batteries 3 years ago when I bought them, the levels are still at the same level today.

It’s plugged in 24/7/365 when not on the road.

timjet wrote:
2 12 volt AGM's connected in parallel will give about the same AH and cost about $600.

No doubt AGMs will cost more; they ARE better.

That's the price my RV dealer tried to give me......from NAPA.

Found the same batteries from an independent battery dealer at $400 a pair. Quite a difference.

2 6 volt golf cart batteries connected in series will give you about 210 AH and cost about $170. 2 12 volt AGM's connected in parallel will give about the same AH and cost about $600.
AGM's are maintenance free, golf cart batteries are not.

I'm switching my house batts from AGM's to golf cart batts.

Yup, better to separate this into several questions:

Start vs Deep cycle

Battery technology (wet vs AGM)

6 VDC wired in series vs 12 VDC