Forum Discussion

MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
Dec 07, 2018

WHEN I ASKED LIFELINE ABOUT THEIR GOLF CAR BATTERIES

In relationship to say their 8-D battery, this is the answer I got...

Justin Godber

12:48 PM (0 minutes ago)

to me

When you talk about 1 battery vs. 2 six volts there is no advantage or disadvantage either way. The only advantage is the 6 volts are much easier to move around by yourself.

When you get into a 6 or 8 battery bank of six volts you can physically get more amp hour into the same space as the 8D’s using 6 volts. Example for the GPL-4CT, you can fit 3 in the place of 1 x 8D. If you had 2 x 8D’s you could fit 6 x GPL-4CT’s. GPL-4CT x 6 is 660 amp hour whereas 2 of the 8D’s would be 510 amp hour within the same footprint.


I knew this twenty years ago. But the superstition about "Golf Car" being a better battery somehow, just will not disappear.

The FOOTPRINT may be the deciding factor for many people. But as far as plates and general construction goes, choosing a 3-cell battery doubles the number of series cables needed

Nuff Said
  • AGM is all about the same. Flooded I understand is somewhat different.

    Easier to move around can be a big benefit on the road. Not sure if 8D or Golf Car is more common if needed on the road.

    I see little issue with the extra connection, especially with AGM.
  • When is Lifeline going to start selling NMC batteries with servicable BMS?
  • If it is fair to say you can get 6 6s in place of 2 8Ds then why isn't it fair to say you can only get 2 6s in place of 1 8D ?

    (unless you can find a way to use three 6s :)--yes we had threads about that )
  • However, they are comparing 1 8D battery to 2 6V batteries. The 8D is substantially larger and likely not a fair comparison to a standard 12 V deep cycle RV/Marine battery. He even admits that 3 6V's would fit in the same space so, logically, the 8D should have 1/3 more plates or similar parts a pieces than 2 standard 6V's.
  • MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
    In relationship to say their 8-D battery, this is the answer I got...

    Justin Godber

    12:48 PM (0 minutes ago)

    to me

    When you talk about 1 battery vs. 2 six volts there is no advantage or disadvantage either way. The only advantage is the 6 volts are much easier to move around by yourself.

    When you get into a 6 or 8 battery bank of six volts you can physically get more amp hour into the same space as the 8D’s using 6 volts. Example for the GPL-4CT, you can fit 3 in the place of 1 x 8D. If you had 2 x 8D’s you could fit 6 x GPL-4CT’s. GPL-4CT x 6 is 660 amp hour whereas 2 of the 8D’s would be 510 amp hour within the same footprint.


    I knew this twenty years ago. But the superstition about "Golf Car" being a better battery somehow, just will not disappear.

    The FOOTPRINT may be the deciding factor for many people. But as far as plates and general construction goes, choosing a 3-cell battery doubles the number of series cables needed

    Nuff Said


    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..

    Carry on..



  • "easier to move around" is a big benefit to GC-2 and one can often find better pricing on them.

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