Batteries

[rodwha]

It seems running two golf cart batteries in a series is the way to fill my two battery compartments (when I get them). I see they run slightly larger than a more typical 12 volt. I assume these fit the standard housings just fine?

I've read good things about lithium batteries. How do these compare?

What are good quality batteries for the money? Any to avoid? I noticed a six pack for just $100 so I assume these are likely not that good as a single lower grade (215 ah) Duracell costs that. How about the Interstate 2300 with 242 ah at 65 lbs? At ~$180/ea I'd feel good about these. Great vehicle batteries.

[pianotuna]

A rather interesting graph of the new carbon foam technology!

[pianotuna]

handybob is mostly a rant and quite dated.

I chose to get used AGM surplus telecom jars. I'm happy with the results.

Battery selection needs to match the user. A power pole princess needs very little in the way of capacity. A full timer who boondocks needs every watt-hour of battery they can squeeze into the available space. That makes LI and carbon foam chemistries extremely interesting.

carl2591 wrote:
while the lifetime AGM batteries are a good product for sure, but at a cost that is two-three times that of a Wet cell GC battery.

There are thousands of GC batteries in use every day that last 7 or more years. Having worked around golf carts for some years they get a work out every day. With proper charging, which a lot of folks and battery charger manufactures dont know much about, the average battery can go 7 or more years with little issue.

The biggest issue with most RV installed chargers is they do not charge at high enough voltage for long enough to fully charge the battery.This is especially with a lot of solar charge controllers.

If you read Handy bob solar's web you will see what is up with that.

https://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/the-rv-battery-charging-puzzle-2/


In some cases AGM batteries make better sense but for many, me included, good quality GC batteries charged and maintained properly look to be a better deal.

Veebyes wrote:
Installed a 4D Lifeline AGM battery in spring of 2010. Disconnected for the winter last week. Still going strong. 7 years & about 150 nights use per year. Near 6 months storage each year with zero maintenance.

In 7 years you would most likely be into your 3rd pair of wet cell GC batterys.

[MNGeeks61]

My 2 cents:

I had an old 2004 golf cart that I sold to my sister in law - at that time, the batteries in it were Trojan T-105's. They lasted 9 years of summer use.

In our newer golf cart, we again purchased 6 T-105's for $120 each installed and load tested. I anticipate they should last 7-8 years as well.

I heard the Trojan is one of the few manufacturers that uses a higher percentage of lead in their plates. But not sure if that's just a rumor.

[mchero]

I'm with Carl,
I installed 4 Sams Club GC batteries back in 2005 with a new converter, still in service 10 years later. Will be due to be replaced though. Good value.

RM

[carl2591]

while the lifetime AGM batteries are a good product for sure, but at a cost that is two-three times that of a Wet cell GC battery.

There are thousands of GC batteries in use every day that last 7 or more years. Having worked around golf carts for some years they get a work out every day. With proper charging, which a lot of folks and battery charger manufactures dont know much about, the average battery can go 7 or more years with little issue.

The biggest issue with most RV installed chargers is they do not charge at high enough voltage for long enough to fully charge the battery.This is especially with a lot of solar charge controllers.

If you read Handy bob solar's web you will see what is up with that.

https://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/the-rv-battery-charging-puzzle-2/


In some cases AGM batteries make better sense but for many, me included, good quality GC batteries charged and maintained properly look to be a better deal.

Veebyes wrote:
Installed a 4D Lifeline AGM battery in spring of 2010. Disconnected for the winter last week. Still going strong. 7 years & about 150 nights use per year. Near 6 months storage each year with zero maintenance.

In 7 years you would most likely be into your 3rd pair of wet cell GC batterys.

[mchero]

Sams Club golf cart batteries if you want longevity. Also, don't forget about what you would do if you needed to replace one under warranty. Pretty easy to find a local Sam's Club or Costco is it not. Yeah, Trojan are good also if want the name.

[Veebyes]

Installed a 4D Lifeline AGM battery in spring of 2010. Disconnected for the winter last week. Still going strong. 7 years & about 150 nights use per year. Near 6 months storage each year with zero maintenance.

In 7 years you would most likely be into your 3rd pair of wet cell GC batterys.

[EsoxLucius]

pianotuna wrote:
The newest kid of the block is carbon foam. It can be taken down to 20% state of charge and offers 1000 cycles to that depth. No sulphation so can be partial charged without damage!

rodwha wrote:
I'm guessing carbon foam is also cost prohibitive like lithium?

$486 for 116 AH Group 31 12 VDC carbon foam AGM battery.

http://www.bruceschwab.com/uploads/2016-firefly-handout-2pg-1.pdf

[tatest]

Not understanding "battery housing" because I just have a tray under the steps and have to drop the batteries into it. I'm guessing you have some kind of a box, and these come in all different sizes and shapes.

Batteries also come in a lot of different sizes and shapes. For nearly equivalent footprints, some of the most popular 6V deep cycle batteries are somewhat taller than the nearest size automotive battery group sizes. But that is just a generalization. You have to measure your "battery housing" and check that against the sizes of available 6V and 12V batteries. Golf cart batteries get you into a whole new area, because 8V batteries are also common for this application, and you can't make those work for a 12V application.

If they can fit, best bargains in lead-acid batteries are flooded wet cells, whether 6V or 12V packages, from discount markets like Sam's or Costco, because they are decent quality at a good price. Second best, or maybe as good a deal, would be from a golf cart dealer, if they have 6V batteries in a size that fits.

Brand doesn't mean much, there are a lot of brands feeding from a smaller number of manufacturers in North America, or a large number of smaller suppliers offshore. For flooded wet cell batteries, I like Trojan for quality, but tend to buy whatever is convenient locally, knowing I'll be replacing it towards the end of the warranty period.

Best quality lead-acid batteries, whether 6V or 12V, and a lot less troublesome, would be high quality AGM batteries, Lifeline being one of the best suppliers. Sears has been in this market for deep cycle, offering more than one grade/warranty period, but I would go with Lifeline if I wanted to put in AGM batteries.

Lithium is a whole different technology. Weight is way down, energy density way up, charging technology is different, and cost per KWH storage is maybe 10x lead-acid or more. Then you have to find package sizes that fit your need, or change your battery soaces to fit what is available. Lithium technology is lately starting to show up as a factory option (more often a special all-electric model) in the RV market, but it is not just replacing lead-acid with lithium tech batteries, it is replacing the whole electrical system and sometimes the whole mix of RV systems and appliances.

[allen8106]

I installed 2 Crown 240 ah 6 volt batteries. $135 each. Best lead acid battery on the market IMHO.

[rodwha]

I'm guessing carbon foam is also cost prohibitive like lithium?

[pianotuna]

The newest kid of the block is carbon foam. It can be taken down to 20% state of charge and offers 1000 cycles to that depth. No sulphation so can be partial charged without damage!

[EsoxLucius]

coolmom42 wrote:
Trojan T-105 golf cart batteries. They will last for many years if you take care of them.

+1

This is where you want to go.

[rodwha]

I was shown the price for several lithium batteries. WAY TOO MUCH!

We do not have a Sam's or Costco membership (or store nearby).

I wondered, as I don't see anything on having to replace or modify a battery housing to work with the 6 volt golf cart batteries, if they'd work in most any circumstance. Apparently not and something I'll obviously find out about the time I'm back to purchase.

The "six pack" was a deal for six batteries. The price was ridiculously cheap.