Edd;
As others have said, golf cart batteries have the advantages of being inexpensive, durable, compact, and very rugged. They also have much higher storage capacity than a typical 12v deep cycle battery. For example, Freds Trojan GC2 batteries can be up to almost 300 amp-hour capacity. A 12v deep cycle battery would be in the range of 90 to 115 AH. Two GC2s wired in series would give you 12v and almost 300AH, vs about 200 AH for two 12v batteries. The forklift manufacturer I worked for used GC5 batteries that were well over 400AH capacity. When I redid the battery bank on Imzadi, I had hoped to have 4 golf cart batteries in the house bank with about 650AH. But the drawback to golf cart batteries is that they are about 1 to 1 ½ taller than an automotive size battery like a group 27. The extra height just would not fit in the locker where my batteries are. So I ended up with 4 group 27 deep cycle batteries and around 460AH in my house bank. Joe mentioned charging in his post. GC batteries are flooded cells like any other wet battery, and require the same charging profile as any other lead acid battery. Sulfation is a process that occurs during storage, and high current charging more or less corrects it. Sulfation occurs in golf cart batteries more than in lower capacity types because your alternator seldom puts high current into the battery, since normal use doesnt reduce the capacity or battery voltage very much. If you have an automatic battery charger that has an equalization cycle, that equalization cycle will almost eliminate the sulfation and make the batteries last much longer. Rick Brass Washington, NC From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Frederick G Street via CnC-List Sent: Sunday, December 14, 2014 7:44 PM To: Edd Schillay; cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Re: Stus-List Batteries -- Anyone use 6V's? Edd Ive got one pair of Trojan 6-volt deep cycle batteries now, with plans to add another pair next season. If properly charged, theyll last a long time. Fred Street -- Minneapolis S/V Oceanis (1979 C&C Landfall 38) -- on the hard in Bayfield, WI :^( On Dec 14, 2014, at 2:18 PM, Edd Schillay via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com <mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > wrote: Listers, I know the battery topic has been discharged (pun intended) quite a bit, but I've been hearing about people using chained 6V Golf Cart batteries as a preferred alternate to the Marine 12Vs for the house bank. Has anyone tried this? If so, how many do you use? 4? 6? 8? Any problems? Happy with the results? 4.5 months to the relaunch....... All the best, Edd
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