Wolf Creek 850 Solar Install

Roundtowner wrote:
b, when you replaced your batteries, what did you replace them with: type, size, and brand? I'm planning to replace my wet cells with AGM and am curious with what others have been successful doing. Thanks for you info, Larry.

Hi Larry, the quick and easy answer is;

2 - Lifeline GPL-6CT for a total of 300 AmpH @ approx $415 ea. for 300w of solar.

What is important to know, I chose these batteries, as well as the previous AGM batteries, due to the fact I had relocated my battery bank (Bank 1 of 2 Banks) from it’s original location. Lance had an outside location for two FWC batteries. Due to the issue of loss of capacity capabilities, during colder periods of use, I moved them into the living portion (cabinet) of my Lance Camper. This greatly minimized the loss of capabilities during colder seasons of use. Your needs maybe different.

I have an upcoming article on choosing Solar, where I will be discussing the advantages and disadvantages of Batteries. One particular point is, if you anticipate extreme use of your batteries, such as complete discharge, marginal maintaining due to storage periods, you may wish to invest in a less expensive set of batteries, due to this type of use. While many will claim long years of use of their batteries, they neglect to note batteries are actually aged by cycles. So if you are using your batteries minimally and they are well maintained, they will last longer. If you cycle, charge them and then take them down to 12.2v (approx.) every day, as I do, they will last a shorter period of time. When you are putting a project together, such as autami has done, decide where your $$ and priorities are most needed. Most people are better served by using their existing batteries and go through a trial period. This is in learning how to use and manage their solar collection and harvesting, before investing in a set of expensive batteries, which possibly will suffer with you as you get your learning curve consistent. Which allows you to budget for a future set of good long lasting batteries, like the Lifeline 6v AGM. As an example, my Eagle AGM lasted 6 years of continuous and daily use and abuse.

As a note, my second bank is Interstate 6v GC2 batteries and located in an area not occupied. If I were to replace these batteries for Lifeline AGMs, it would be a cost of; $4,200. That is a lot of money for me, so I purchased GC2 FWC at a cost, $1,000 (for 1,560w of solar), for the same batteries that will have the approx. same longevity. So, for me the decision was easy and I have a lot of free time to keep an eye on a set of FWC batteries. These FWC batteries have performed, flawlessly, for over 4 years of daily AmpH use of 120-200 amps a day.

b