Replacing 12-volt batteries with 6-volt
Have you replaced two 12-volt batteries in parallel with two 6-volt batteries in series to improve ampere hours? Were the results satisfactory? Please elaborate. Was the rewiring difficult?
Forum Discussion
3 tons wrote:ktmrfs wrote:
6V advantage
1) can take 500+ charge discharge cycles to under 50% (more like 25%) SOC
Disadvantage:
do NOT work well with high current loads, like even 1000W inverter. First ALL the current is coming from each battery vs 1/2 the current from each battery in a similar parallel 12V, Next, they have much higher internal resistance than a 12V which means more voltage drop
6V vs 12V IMHO really depends on YOUR application. If you only occasionally dry camp, or often use high inverter loads, then 12V may be a better alternative.
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Note that I have for a out 6 years routinely run my Coleman Mach 1 P.S. 11kbtu air conditioner for brief periods (up to an hour or more concurrent with 440w solar) from two 6v GC’s without a hitch (via ProSine 2.0 - 04 aught cables), with locked rotor starting amps at about 140amps - now running Costco GC’s...Cables do MATTER...
On 2 GC with short 4/0 welding cable I was able to run a 1KW load or so with my setup as well. However, usually only worked if the SOC of the batteries was in the 75% + or so or the inverter would kick out on startup. Now I have 4 GC and don't have a problem untill less than 50% SOC.
Now low voltage cutout likely varies by inverter so what works for one may not work for another. And the solar input helps as well. In any event the internal resistance of GC is higher than 12V and for the same AH you have 1/2 the load sharing with GC compared to 12v.
