Golf cart batteries

[Andrew_B]

I've just been reading a few articles on a US boating web site about pros and cons of using several 6v golf cart batteries wired together instead of the usual 12v batteries.
Most people seem to go for 4 x 225ah 6v for the house bank (obviously to power the freezer and AC).

Does anyone use these or have any info?

Many thanks

 

[david_e]

You could try the powakaddy website. I know that they are damn fine batteries and made by a firm called Sonnenschein or similar.

 

[aztec]

ok, the score is that these batteries are deep cycle. they are designed to allow you to deplete and rechharge many times without knocking the lead off the plates... for this you pay!

you can get deepn cycle batt's here. made for invalid mobiles, and wheelchairs. but try to buy them, they cost a fortune, go pay a visit to your battery dealer. he'll lie to you to sell batteries but give good advice if he knows that you're looking for quality.... not just a cheap fix.

(and that's coming from the tighest bloke in the world!)

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/s.amos/index.html>http://homepage.ntlworld.com/s.amos/index.html</A>

 

[Prana]

When I bought my boat it had 6 Trojan 105 6v batteries installed. These were wired in pairs to provide a fairly hefty 12v house bank. With an alternator that could put out 80+ amps I could run the autohelm, nav lights etc for a week without having to charge the batteries. At anchor solar panels would keep everything running. I've been very happy with the set up, found the batteries can take quite a bit of abuse and neglect (despite my best intentions!) and are still working fine after 5 years.

 

[Tradewinds]

I've used a bank of Trojan T105s (6v x 225ah) since 96/97. These were used full time liveaboard fashion until end 99 then just kept topped up since. IMO I wouldn't say they were any better or worse than any other good quality 12v deep cycle battery - however I'd probably replace with same next time.

UK contact for Trojan batteries is

david.wallace@squadronbattery.com

 

[Grehan]

Forgive my ignorance, but why is a pair of 6vs better than one 12v?

 

[Tradewinds]

As far as I know they aren't. I think it's just that the 6v golf cart batteries (esp Trojans) gained a reputation in the USA for being fairly abuse-proof so people started to use them on yachts.

 

[VMALLOWS]

It's simply down to weight/handling/availability. A 115A 12v battery is about as much as most people want to manoever (lift up from the dingy?). Likewise a 225A 6v battery.