batteries, amp hours etc

What you have is about the same AH as two GC's. I certainly wouldn't junk them. I'd keep using them; when its time to replace them, I'd go for two GC's.

Doug

takaya49 wrote:
which is better(ok I already know the 6v x 2 is) but just wondering what the numbers mean.

(much clipped)

So the 12V batteries have a amp hour rating of 115, the golf cart a rating of 220 ?

is this a no contest between the 2 or??

Well... you left out one item on the 12 volt batteries....

I know of one retailer which rates their batteries at the one amp rate, not the 20 hour rate, So a Group 24 battery (About 75 amp hours at the 20 hour rate) delivers over 100 amp hours at the lower rate.

You forgot to mention the rate on the 12 volts.

So, IF the 12's are group 24, 27 or 29, the GC-2 Golf car will have more amp hours,, Group 31's however deliver more amp hours still.

BUT. the cost per amp hour is generally lowest with the GC2

In addition The Golf Car (GC) battery is a DEEP CYCLE, designed to be run down to half full and often.

Marine/Deep cycle (WHich is more likely in the group 2x or 31 sizes) are not as loving of a 50 percent state of charge, Tends to age them quickly. Thus amplifying the cost with more frequent replacement.

The capacity of those two banks are about the same 230 AH for the 12v and 220 AH for pair of 6vs so it really depends on your use which is better

If you don't deep discharge (<80%SOC) very often or use a high powered inverter occasionally then the 12 volts are theorically better

If you deep discharge fairly often then the heavy duty design of the golf cart batteries is better and they will last significantly longer in that kind of service than the 12volts

Just depends on what you want to do with them

You have 230 amp hours of 12v today. Those 6v batteries would give you 220 amp hours at 12 v.

Jim

takaya49 wrote:
which is better(ok I already know the 6v x 2 is) but just wondering what the numbers mean.

My current set up:
2 12 V batteries wired in parr. amp hours 115

other

2 6 V batteries/gold cart wired in series. what I dont know is what is labelled on them
220AH rate at 20 hours
min @ 25 amps:425

So the 12V batteries have a amp hour rating of 115, the golf cart a rating of 220 ?

is this a no contest between the 2 or??

Since 6 volt is half of 12, the battery will have twice the amps but the same total "power". That's an over simplification, but I think you get the idea.

Six volt batteries have three cells, so the cells can be larger with thicker plates than the same size 12 volt, which will have six cells. The thicker plates will allow discharging and recharging much better than the thin plate batteries, so that is why most of us use pairs of 6 volt batteries instead of a pair of 12 volt.

takaya49 wrote:
So the 12V batteries have a amp hour rating of 115, the golf cart a rating of 220 ?

They're rated 220 at 6 volts, but you have 12v system, so the 6v must be in series, which doubles the voltage, but Ah remain the same. So the 12v and 6v are about the same.


This tutorial may be of some help. 12v side of life.

If you are going to go boon docking where you don't have external power plugged in the more amp hour battery capacity the better. BUT, if you hook up to external power most all the time it really doesn't matter which batteries you use as long as they are in good shape.