Costco GC2 Batts
Well, One of my 4 year 4 month old GC2s from Costco just coughed up a cell during a cold Coast camp trip!! Sure I could buy another $86 Batt,, but I would still have a 4+ year old one.. Ordered two ...
Forum Discussion
let's have some fun shall we ? Say your battery bank is Interstate (Costco) CG2-RD at 208 AH 107 minute 75 AMP reserve rate. Let's look at the charging specs shall we? Charging amps at C/10 = 23.2. Bulk at 14.46 to 80 percent of SOC. Then absorb at 15.3 for 2 to 4 hours to 97% then float at 13.4. The resting voltage is 12.96 and specific gravity is 1.285 fully charged.(although every one I have dipped fully charged has been 1.300 specific gravity on new batteries.)
How many charger's that you know of can do this? (The one I use that does cost over $600) And you can count on one hand how many converter's can do this. (But you would need to chop off all your fingers and thumb to get the correct number ??)
Battery construction: Hybrid, It has a low antimony (under 2 percent) positive plates and calcium negative plates. So why is this construction important? A high antimony 5-6% battery will accept a charge real well if deeply discharged. If over charged or high float voltage, will cause the negative plate to be poisoned by antinomy. This cause's excessive water use and big self discharge. The advantages of a calcium battery are tolerance to heat, low water consumption and a low discharge rate.
So a Hybrid battery advantage would be lower self discharge (especially when new) slower negative plate antinomy poisoning from overcharging. Better in higher heat and lowered water consumption.
The disadvantage is it is more difficult to recharge during deep discharge. Less antinomy. Calcium creates a oxidation boundary layer on the negative plate during a deep discharge that resists the charging process. ( This is the reason for the higher absorb voltage) Also a higher specific gravity acid will give more AH for a given construction....... But at a cost of a higher plate corrosion rate.
So why would they build a Hybrid deep cycle? That's easy, "longer shelf life" (lower self discharge) and lower "warranty" issue's due to better tolerance to overcharging and antinomy poisoning.
There are other ways to charge that battery. A lot has to do with how it is discharged. (How many amps and DOD as well as frequency of discharge)
How many charger's that you know of can do this? (The one I use that does cost over $600) And you can count on one hand how many converter's can do this. (But you would need to chop off all your fingers and thumb to get the correct number ??)
Battery construction: Hybrid, It has a low antimony (under 2 percent) positive plates and calcium negative plates. So why is this construction important? A high antimony 5-6% battery will accept a charge real well if deeply discharged. If over charged or high float voltage, will cause the negative plate to be poisoned by antinomy. This cause's excessive water use and big self discharge. The advantages of a calcium battery are tolerance to heat, low water consumption and a low discharge rate.
So a Hybrid battery advantage would be lower self discharge (especially when new) slower negative plate antinomy poisoning from overcharging. Better in higher heat and lowered water consumption.
The disadvantage is it is more difficult to recharge during deep discharge. Less antinomy. Calcium creates a oxidation boundary layer on the negative plate during a deep discharge that resists the charging process. ( This is the reason for the higher absorb voltage) Also a higher specific gravity acid will give more AH for a given construction....... But at a cost of a higher plate corrosion rate.
So why would they build a Hybrid deep cycle? That's easy, "longer shelf life" (lower self discharge) and lower "warranty" issue's due to better tolerance to overcharging and antinomy poisoning.
There are other ways to charge that battery. A lot has to do with how it is discharged. (How many amps and DOD as well as frequency of discharge)
