Golf Cart battery sizes... Decisions, decisions

[popeye59]

I used to have a pair of US145XC2 golf cart batteries on my Rockwood ROO until someone decided they wanted them more and stole them. So I know that a 250AH battery will be plenty. Since then I only put a single 12VDC battery on as we stopped boondocking for a while. Now we are planning on doing some more boondocking and now I need to figure out if a pair of 235AH golf cart batteries will be enough for my camper to go 3 days of dry camping or if I should go with the 255AH ones. $70 difference per battery is making me lean towards the smaller ones. Does anyone have any experience with Duracell golf cart batteries? I can get a corporate discount at Batteries Plus, and that's the brand they carry for this size.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

That's the secret. American Lock makes the best security padlocks but the professional grades are not cheap. The hasp will snap the jaws of a 48" made in USA Rigid bolt cutter and laugh in the process. Thieves normally do not carry generator, extension cords, cutters liquid nitrogen and ear plugs for snoopy neighbors.

[popeye59]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
My stuff has 3/16" 3-sided 316 stainless box welded to steel. Allstate 275 rod welded. Reach underneath to unlock padlock. Ever try to cut 316 stainless? It eats cutting wheels for lunch.

As long as the lock can't be reached with bolt cutters...

[popeye59]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Tire crayon. Write

BAD CELL

BAD CELL

With arrow pointing to it. Gotta be smarter than the problem.

They aren't stealing batteries to use, they take them to the scrap yards and sell them.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

My stuff has 3/16" 3-sided 316 stainless box welded to steel. Allstate 275 rod welded. Reach underneath to unlock padlock. Ever try to cut 316 stainless? It eats cutting wheels for lunch.

[Huntindog]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi wa8yxm,

The locks have a hardened steel rod that is loose inside the center of the pin. When you try to use a cut off wheel the rod just spins. I think it is too tough for a bolt cutter as well. That leaves a torch as the only solution for the lock part.

https://www.wayfair.ca/Master-Lock-Armorlock-Padlock-37D-L3333-K~YG2605.html?refid=GX77818329407-YG2...



My new generator clam shell rack will have two of them, and dual receiver locks with the same technology.

Of course it only slows down a determined thief, but it may be noisy and time consuming. They can move on to the next RV instead.

Ummm. Having extensive cutoff wheel experience.... I would not use the wheel on the rod. I would just cut the body of the lock, or whatever it is attached to.
Noisy, yes. But very fast.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Tire crayon. Write

BAD CELL

BAD CELL

With arrow pointing to it. Gotta be smarter than the problem.

[popeye59]

I would rather lug the batteries into my fenced in backyard and put in my locked shed with motion sensor lights in the backyard and leave the box open with the wires hanging because around here, the thugs are vindictive SOB's. My sister's neighbor had installed a steel battery box - one of those expensive high security lock box. They beat the daylights out of it and still couldn't get in so they slashed all 4 tires and broke 2 windows. I would rather have them just walk by and not antagonize them for the 2 more years I'm going to be living here.

[pianotuna]

mike-s,

That was the only picture I could find of the type of lock. I don't think mine have rivets and they are about 150 miles from me at this point in time.

I am thinking of putting a sign on that says "danger high voltage".

[mike-s]

pianotuna wrote:
The locks have a hardened steel rod that is loose inside the center of the pin. When you try to use a cut off wheel the rod just spins. I think it is too tough for a bolt cutter as well. That leaves a torch as the only solution for the lock part.

I take it you've never busted into a Master style laminated lock by simply grinding off the heads of the rivets which hold the laminations together, then delaminating it. Way easier than trying to cut the shackle.

[RDMueller]

I have a pair of Trojan T105s (225 AH) and we easily get by for 3 nights with no recharging and not go below 50%. That's of course with little or no furnace use and we did convert our lights to LED.

[DrewE]

At least around here, the Duracell golf cart batteries from Sam's Club are (were) made by East Penn. Perfectly OK batteries so far as I'm concerned. In the summer, and without solar, I can probably get about seven days from the pair with modest light and gadget usage, but some fridges and whatnot use more power than mine. I say probably because I've yet to have reason to boondock for that long in one place in the summertime.

[time2roll]

try "duracell" in the search box
Seem as good as any that I read

[popeye59]

Okay, well, I'm not installing solar, I'm not looking for a method to secure them, I was just hoping someone had experience with the Duracell golf cart batteries.

[pianotuna]

Hi wa8yxm,

The locks have a hardened steel rod that is loose inside the center of the pin. When you try to use a cut off wheel the rod just spins. I think it is too tough for a bolt cutter as well. That leaves a torch as the only solution for the lock part.

https://www.wayfair.ca/Master-Lock-Armorlock-Padlock-37D-L3333-K~YG2605.html?refid=GX77818329407-YG2...



My new generator clam shell rack will have two of them, and dual receiver locks with the same technology.

Of course it only slows down a determined thief, but it may be noisy and time consuming. They can move on to the next RV instead.