Gdetrailer wrote:
Lifeline has basically debunked the constant myth on this forum that a 8D 12V is BETTER than a 6V GC battery according the first bolded text.
In a nutshell BOTH the 6V GC battery AND the 12V 8D cousin IS the SAME as far as construction/quality, ect.
As far as the second bolded text, while the use of 6V GC batts will require an additional external "interconnect" cable, it is no worse than all of the LEAD INTERNAL "interconnects" which are INSIDE the battery.
Not to mention If one does their homework you can come up with very nice heavy interconnects to use between the 6V batteries which will easily be better than the all lead internal interconnects.
Folks SKIMP on the interconnects which leads to the myth that 6V batteries are not as good as the 8D 12V battery.
I made 1/0 interconnects from the leftover wiring I had left from my Inverter connection.. Most folks opt for 2 ga or even 10 gauge and wonder why they encounter a large voltage drop and blame it on the 6V batteries.. USING STOUT INTERCONNECT CABLE takes care of most issues with GC battery resistances.
Not to mention folks whine about having to "maintain" the battery interconnects, IF THEY DID IT CORRECTLY THE FIRST TIME THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO KEEP REDOING IT!!!
Folks fail to use a bit of GREASE on the battery terminals and then whine about having corrosion at the terminals. I use "NoALOX" which is a electrical grease which was designed to interface electrical connections between copper and aluminum, copper to copper, aluminum to aluminum
NoALOX prevents moisture and even acid from getting between the battery terminal and the interconnect. Do it right the first time and never need to do it again.
Couple of other points..
GC batteries ARE lower cost per lb and per Ahr than the 8D, I see no advantage to paying more for a 8D when it has the same electrical and mechanical characteristics as the 6V GC according to Lifeline.
GC batteries ARE EASY to find and available pretty much everywhere, 8Ds not so much.
GC batteries are half the weigh of 8Ds (70 lbs for GCs vs 140 lbs for 8D), therefore much easier to handle or move, I would rather handle 70 lbs twice before moving 140 lbs ONCE.
GC batteries often can be used in spaces and configurations that 8Ds WON'T FIT without major alterations so therefore GCs are pretty much a "drop in replacement" for a group 24 or group 27 12V two battery configuration..
Would love to have the space for 8D's, but I wanted to upgrade my two group 24 dual purpose marines that came with the coach, so I got two Lifeline 6v's. They fit great in the space. Oh yeah I did 4/0 for the interconnect between them and to the inverter charger because why not :B.
