6 volt vs 12 volt batteries for boondocking

pnichols wrote:

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:

Oooooo and dat's the rub.

There are no group 24 and group 27 batteries that have the .070" plate thickness of the most puny GC220.

Or any of the AGM batteries having anywhere near the plate thickness of the Lifeline.

Or larger batteries having .330" plate thickness of my Rolls cells.

David ... be careful about the Lifeline plate thickness as being the head-and-shoulders champion. Note that we do not know the thickness of the plates in my Fullriver AGM Group 31 115 AH batteries, which weigh a little over 72 lbs. each ... while the 130 AH AGM Group 31 Lifeline batteries weigh arouund 75 lbs. each. Which means that the amp-hours per unit of lead volume of the two brand names is VERY CLOSE. Dividing 115 by 72 equals about 1.60 amp-hours per lb. for the Fullrivers, while dividing 130 by 75 equals 1.73 amp-hours per lb. for the Lifelines.

The Lifeline does indeed win (very) slightly in energy storage per volume unit of lead ... but certain potential buyers of the two brands would have to be able to tolerate the two down-sides of the Lifelines over the particular Fullrivers I'm comparing them to before going with the Lifelines. All this means that plate thickness of the two brand names is very close to the same - since both battery brands are of about the same Group 31 dimensions.

I will try to be quite objective and reserved. The Lifeline has .090" positive plates, the Fullriver you use has .040" plates. Apply 14.4 volts unlimited capacity to your Fullriver. Now do the same to a 31 Lifeline. Seeing is believing. The Lifeline will accept close to 100 amperes. Essentially a C1 rate. The Fullriver? Hmmm. How an it be possible for a battery with a significantly higher CCA rating have a significantly inferior charging (ampacity) acceptance?

Measure 10 square inches of glass mat from each battery. Immerse in 1.300 SG electrolyte. weigh both. Then measure mat thickness. The Lifeline has a significantly inferior CCA rating as compared to the Fullriver. Keep in mind that hugely superior charge acceptance.

Plate alignment in the Lifeline is >.001< due to laser robotics. Misalign plates just .005" and see what happens.

There is a lot more involved in producing a good battery than weight, plate count, and ampere hours. Meticulous attention to construction design specifications is one key difference between an excellent battery, Trojan and a superb battery, Rolls.

The Chinese are loathe to commit AG, silver as a grain structure modifier for grids. yet it is to be honest, quite a plus.

The Mil-Spec qualification process in the USA military would not approve of many absorbed glass mat batteries outside of the Lifeline. Same thing for many commercial passenger aircraft.

My Lifelines are to be handed down to the kids. Call them heirlooms. I do indeed take good care of them.