Moving from 12v to 6v batteries?

[philwebb]

I wouldn't use tap water to top up your batteries. If your tap water contains dissolved salts such as carbonates it will ruin the battery acid eventually. Rain water should be OK if you can't get distilled or deionised water.

 

[GHA]

How is it possible to determine "very good ones". To get specific this is the type this chap recommended. It wasn't battery mega store but I'm posting the link for ease:

https://www.batterymegastore.co.uk/.../hankook-ax31-950.html#productCollateralTabs1

Lifeline AGMs seem to be held in high regard - you can equalise them, others quite possibly not, black mark for full time cruising if you can't.

 

[Plevier]

How is it possible to determine "very good ones". To get specific this is the type this chap recommended. It wasn't battery mega store but I'm posting the link for ease:

https://www.batterymegastore.co.uk/.../hankook-ax31-950.html#productCollateralTabs1

That battery is made by AtlasBX a substantial Korean firm. They call it a dual purpose starting and cycling battery. They claim that it will give twice the cycle life of a flooded battery but they give no figures for either nor say what sort of flooded battery. The flooded version of the same battery is about half the price.
I'll add a link to the website later.
Reasonable products, not rubbish but in no way deep cycle like T-105.
Even Battery Mega call it a leisure battery.

website http://www.atlasbx.co.kr/en/product/marine01.jsp you'll see the AGM M31-950 listed
catalogue here http://www.atlasbx.co.kr/en/images/product/E-NEX(2017)_re.pdf AGM series on last couple of pages
here's a wet one from same family https://www.batterymegastore.co.uk/marine-batteries/deep-cycle/hankook-dc31.html (but again don't believe the deep cycle claim)

 

[Mistroma]

That battery is made by AtlasBX a substantial Korean firm. They call it a dual purpose starting and cycling battery. They claim that it will give twice the cycle life of a flooded battery but they give no figures for either nor say what sort of flooded battery. The flooded version of the same battery is about half the price.
I'll add a link to the website later.
Reasonable products, not rubbish but in no way deep cycle like T-105.
Even Battery Mega call it a leisure battery.

I agree, no specific data only ad-speak claims. Advert even shows a Start/Stop logo for car use. I wouldn't even consider them on my boat even if same price as T105s, let alone 30% premium. Benefits of AGM might suit others with different requirements.

Trojan are one of the few firms giving data of much use. You won't achieve their lifespan figures in real life use but at least you can compare their own 12V and 6V range.

 

[Plevier]

Lifeline AGMs seem to be held in high regard - you can equalise them, others quite possibly not, black mark for full time cruising if you can't.

Yes they do, but at a price.
It's difficult to know what's good - there are lots of sub standard ones at rip off prices.
I would expect the Victron ones presently figuring in another thread to be good.
Experiences recounted on this forum suggest the Trojan AGM ones are not that great.

I'm not convinced any of them will match the T-105 in severe cycling. However the T-105 isn't the answer for everyone. It's not justified for non-intensive users, weekenders etc. If you're in that category just get the Hankook/Numax level of product and save money and get 3-5 years life and easier maintenance. The last ones I bought were Hankook.

 

[Tim Good]

I'm not convinced any of them will match the T-105 in severe cycling. However the T-105 isn't the answer for everyone. It's not justified for non-intensive users, weekenders etc. If you're in that category just get the Hankook/Numax level of product and save money and get 3-5 years life and easier maintenance. The last ones I bought were Hankook.

That's the problem. I've got away with my Boach stater batteries that came with my boat so far but I've only been around Scotland and Norway. In April I go south and albeit will have more sun for my 360w panels to work with, I'll be away living aboard for a few years. Here is what I got at the moment, apparently installed 2012. They've been taken below 50% a number of times and once down to about almost nothing. That's said they still got us through an entire 7 months in Norway and still seem to work "ok"...