Sorry, don't have enough internet access at the moment to do a proper search, so I thought I'd ask here :)Talking with a local guy today who seems to know his stuff. He gave me a tip that the local golf course has carts that use four 12v batteries for their 48v instead of six 8v batts.He says these 12v batts are Trojans and they have about the same AH as a pair of 6s. If so, they must be about 150 lbs each!Does anyone know of such a thing? The place that supplies them is near, so I will check it out next week. The real tip, is he said they often swap out batteries with the golf course and you can get two-year old ones of these for $60 each!!! Apparently the hippy off-grid solar types around here snap these up in large quantities. If this is all true, I am thinking it would be fun to get one and do a desufation routine on it and so forth and it would be like having another pair of 6s for as long as it keeps going. ????

They may be using the Trojan T1275 models. They will be lacking in Battery Reserve I imagine... These weigh 82LBs each...Here is a PDF file showing the various specifications of the Trojan Battery line up..Cost is going to be hugh factor...TROJAN BATTERY LINE-UP

I think (Emphasis on THINK) that Club Car has gone the 12 volt routeMight be E-Z-Go however.. But it's one of them.YES I have seen, and worked on, such a golf car

They do it to SAVE on copper wire BFL13. Half the amperage, smaller switches, smaller motor. Same wattage. 48 volt chargers are common.The issue is THE BATTERIES. How do they stack up against the T-105. Not nice when they float belly up at 70% of the lifespan. The sales PRESSURE PRICE COMPETITION for 12 volt batteries versus 6 volt was a joke.

So if one says another battery is good, how does it compare to the T-105 and T-125? Nice thing is the 6 volt come in "Easy" to lift 62 or 67 pound packages.I did use a 5SHP Trojan batterie in a one man manlift. It was 85 pounds and 165 AH at 12 VDC. It was much larger than a group 27,and difficult to move around, unless you are able to lift 85 pounds. Have you heard of a 8D battery? We used those 120 pound 12 volt batteries in the generators, with 8.3L and larger diesel engines. I would much rather install 4 of the 67 pound T-125's than a pair of 8D's. Those are just to heavy - at 120 pounds each.So how does the 8D compare to the T-105? Well the water capcity is about the same per cell, so is the lead content. Just the 8D is in one reall REALLY difficult to lift package. Lifespan might be the same, just I don't want to lift it. Changing golf carts from 36 to 48 volts means the amperage can go way down, and wattage (therefor horsepower) is the same. This can mean smaller wire size, smaller controller amperage rating, motor that can be smaller, with smaller wire internally due to the decreased amperage. Going to 72 volts might be next. That would be 6 each 12 volt batteries in a row, or 9 each 8 volts. Many car conversions are running 72 to 144 volts, with either 6 or 8 volt batteries. Fred.

It's not a T1275 with that weight. More like a J185 and they range from 175-225Ah each.http://www.trojanbattery.com/Products/J185H12V.aspx

12v Golf Cart Battery Question | Good Sam Community

47 Replies

BFL13
Explorer II
Aug 08, 2013
I agree with the three 12s in this case. Last time I had three 12s I just treated them as a pair, with loads on the outer ends. I think this gives the middle batt an easier ride?

So with one pair of 6s perhaps getting shaky (some black stuff in hydrometer if do four sucks a cell, but clear if only do one suck per cell---which is what I do now, so they look good--out of sight, out of mind) although seemingly at full capacity, and one pair in excellent shape,

I was thinking of putting the good pair of 6s in the middle with loads on that, with a pair of batts on either side as "downstream" so those two pairs on the outer ends get an easier ride and the good pair of 6s in the middle takes the weight.

I can't add one 12 to each end with the four 6s in the middle due to compartment sizes. Has to be either a pair of 6s or a pair of 12s in the middle of the three pairs.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Aug 08, 2013
Hi mena,

Thanks--I'd do it as in my original post then, treating the pair of t1275's as one large 12 volt source, and connecting the three large 12 volts a la #3 at smartgauge.
mena661
Explorer
Aug 08, 2013
pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

If on the other hand the t1275 end up as 243 amp-hours each, then just wire as #3 as per the smart gauge site for four 12 volt jars.
T1275's are 150Ah each when new.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Aug 08, 2013
Hi,

If on the other hand the t1275 end up as 243 amp-hours each, then just wire as #3 as per the smart gauge site for four 12 volt jars.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Aug 08, 2013
Hi,

T1275 you say? Used? Hmmmm amp hours of capacity for each of your (6v x 2)?

Your bank of sixes is already balanced yes?

I would feed the t1275's into a common bus with the bank of sixes after wiring them as method #2 from the smart gauge site.

if the t1275's end up being more like 115 amp-hours each (allowing for age and abuse) I'd rewire using method #3 for two six, two six, and two t-1275 (with the t-1275 made into a single batter via method #2)

+xxx xxx- (two sixes) (232 amp hours) bat 1

+xxx xxx- (second set of sixes) (232 amp hours) bat 2

+xxxxxx- (t1275)
{......} (pair = approx 232 amp hours) bat 3
+xxxxxx- (#2 t1275)

feed to a common bus with equal length cables for each individual bank.
mena661
Explorer
Aug 08, 2013
BFL13 wrote:

Ok checked it again on and off, on again with no solar running this time. One amp! So sue me! :)
I was hoping it was 1/2 an amp. LOL! :)
BFL13
Explorer II
Aug 08, 2013
mena661 wrote:
Wow, only a 1/2 amp?

Ok checked it again on and off, on again with no solar running this time. One amp! So sue me! :)
mena661
Explorer
Aug 08, 2013
Wow, only a 1/2 amp?
BFL13
Explorer II
Aug 08, 2013
I decided to do the Mr Wiz trick and desulphate while still operating.

On whole house via inverter so plugged in the 1093 and clamped to batteries (supplying the inverter) and started the "Recondition" 24 hr cycle. Added approx. half an amp draw according to the Trimetric.

So will try that for a few days to see if things get better (or not)
mena661
Explorer
Aug 08, 2013
BFL13 wrote:
the solution to which I leave to PT !! :)
LOL! I would do the same thing. :)

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12v Golf Cart Battery Question

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