MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
The antimony content should be exactly the SAME between the 12-volt batteries and the 6-volt batteries. The acid density should be EXACTLY the same between the 6 volt and the 12 volt batteries. Both should use the same type of separator. And if joined should be monitored so the more reluctant (higher resistance) batteries get a chance to charge. This causes an issue when a series pair of golf car batteries lag slightly behind a 12 volt battery when charging. The six's may take an extra ten percent time at 14.8 volts for instance. Do you want to expose those 12's all the time to ten percent more time at 14.8 volts? You can argue until the veins on your neck stand out but a square wave battery resistance checker will bear this out in numbers for you to see and hopefully to appreciate.
Golf car batteries are NOT starting batteries. If there is an inverter involved, and high power is needed to withdraw or to recharge quickly then AGM is a logical choice. I guarantee a pair of group 31 batteries can feed a gigantic inverter with a scary amount of energy.
You all, can do yourself a giant favor and read up on a phenomenon called CHARGE EFFICIENCY FACTOR or CEF. It is a component of battery management that is rarely if ever mentioned on this forum never mind discussed.
Golf car batteries are a COMPROMISE. So are flooded lead acid batteries. AGM batteries are no exception. They all have DIFFERENT strong points and weak points. Sorting out these points is what is needed. What is wanted and what is required is the job at hand not erasing all the negative points about a type and hyping the positive. That is silly to the extreme IMHO.
A person inquires "What Is The Best Battery?"
They need to be queried CLOSELY as to their intended wants and needs. Their question must be reworked to "WHAT IS THE BEST BATTERY FOR MY INTENDED NEEDS AND WANTS?" This requires asking them questions. Several questions before any attempt is made to arrive at a suggestion/answer.
The same applies for maintenance. What my the greatest answer on earth for one person may be a joke for another. The poster needs to be queried. Several pertinent questions. Extracting the correct pertinent information is the key to suggesting an intelligent answer.
Of course this is just my opinion...
x2.
And regarding GC and starting. An intersting comparison. My diesel truck has two 65AH 12V starting batteries each with a 750CCA rating. Under heavy load, I'll bet one of those batteries has lower voltage drop than 4 of my GC with combined 500AH rating. In fact,not sure if the 4GC would even supply 750A without going below the voltage spec for measuring CCA.
GC, like any battery choice, has it's place, but I agree, heavy inverter loads and GC are NOT a very optimum combination.
