Forum Discussion

popeye59's avatar
popeye59
Explorer
May 14, 2017

Golf Cart battery sizes... Decisions, decisions

I used to have a pair of US145XC2 golf cart batteries on my Rockwood ROO until someone decided they wanted them more and stole them. So I know that a 250AH battery will be plenty. Since then I only put a single 12VDC battery on as we stopped boondocking for a while. Now we are planning on doing some more boondocking and now I need to figure out if a pair of 235AH golf cart batteries will be enough for my camper to go 3 days of dry camping or if I should go with the 255AH ones. $70 difference per battery is making me lean towards the smaller ones. Does anyone have any experience with Duracell golf cart batteries? I can get a corporate discount at Batteries Plus, and that's the brand they carry for this size.
  • Artum_Snowbird's avatar
    Artum_Snowbird
    Explorer
    May 14, 2017
    Just depends on your usage. Furnace is the biggest load, but fridges are also in there. It's doable for sure.

    I use a voltmeter to measure the standing voltage in the batteries and you can chart the fall so you can really get an idea how much is there and how much is left before re-charging
  • popeye59's avatar
    popeye59
    Explorer
    May 14, 2017
    Summer camping only so furnace use should be minimal. I've replaced the overhead incandescent bulbs with LED boards too.
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    May 14, 2017
    The 235s should be okay. Consider solar, even a small 100 watt system, and then you won't have any concern. What about a chain pulled tight around the battery boxes? Won't stop a committed thief but will a causal one.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    May 14, 2017
    Put the $140 toward some solar would be the best value IMO.
    Some minimal metal strap or cable might also be in order.
  • theoldwizard1's avatar
    theoldwizard1
    Explorer II
    May 14, 2017
    Without solar or any other means of replenishing your batteries I would be nervous about going 3 days. You can partially charge them off the TV, but you will never get them back to 100 percent.

    Also, now is a good time to upgrade your converter/charger to one that does 3 stage charging.
  • popeye59's avatar
    popeye59
    Explorer
    May 14, 2017
    I had some steel pipes welded on the trailer frame with large nuts on top with a large steel pipe through the nuts just clearing the top of the battery boxes and a heavy padlock holding the top pipe in place. The cut the padlock with bolt cutters. I put the batteries in my shed and leave the battery box lids off so they think I have no battery.
  • Boon_Docker's avatar
    Boon_Docker
    Explorer III
    May 14, 2017
    I don't think the extra $70 per is worth the extra 15ah you will gain.
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    May 14, 2017
    There are locks that can't be cut off unless you have an acetylene torch.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    May 14, 2017
    pianotuna wrote:
    There are locks that can't be cut off unless you have an acetylene torch.


    Never seen those. always managed to cut em with my cutter (not bolt cutters though) plus there are always other ways.. I see TV shows where the door is locked so the star can't get out of the room.. Walls are made of paper but he can't get out of the room.

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