6v or 12v?

pianotuna wrote:
Since the current for twin six volts is going to be double that of twelve volt jars in parallel, there is MORE chance of plates warping from high loads.

Related to that ... I've often read the "6 volt golf cart (i.e. deep cycle) batteries have thicker plates so they last longer than 12 volt batteries" argument thrown up countless times in the forums. The implication is that this is true even if the 12 volt batteries being compared are of true deep cycle design.

Well, 6 volt GC/deep cycle batteries better have thicker plates than 12 volt deep cycle battery plates because the plates in each 6 volt battery in a series bank are carrying twice the current as the plates in each 12 volt battery in an equivalent capacity parallel bank.

Hence, I expect that equal quality and equally maintained 6 volt deep cycle versus 12 volt deep cycle batteries would have about the same lifespan - so much as lifespan depends upon the thickness of the battery plates.