Rolls Batteries instead of Trojan?

Tim Good

Tim Good

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 Feb 2010
Messages
2,892
Location
Bristol
Visit site
So since Trojan make them in odd sizes what are people's opinion of Rolls instead?

Ok everyone says Trojan T-105s as series pairs or T-1275 are the way to go and nowone ever seems to complain about them. They have the stamp of 1200 cycles from Trojan but they're just too wide and tall for me.

If weight is anything to go by then the Rolls 12V 12FS120 certainly hits that mark at 40kg a pop for a 120ah!!!
 
I had similar size issues so went down the Rolls AGM Road.

Its now 5 years since they were fitted and so far so good. We are 6 months a year cruising northern europe and 6 months year stopped liveaboards.

4 x Rolls Series 5 S12-128 AGM and and a 95 for the engine start.

Cheers

Trev
 
My house bank wet Rolls batteries are coming up for their 10th birthday. They are just starting to show their age (getting teenage type tantrums)

Sorry can't remember which series they are, but IIRC they are 2 x 135ah and 2 x 95ah.
 
Just ordered Rolls 12v AGMs 215Ahr. each. Impressed by the 70% depth of discharge (i.e. used down to 30% of capacity) but they still specify 1000 cycles. For me it means I can have a smaller battery bank but the same amount of useable power.

Good to hear those who have had these batts a while, are pleased with them.

Trevorr, I have just sent you a PM.
 
trevorr said:
I'm sorry, you must be mistaken, I wasn't asking for opinions on my choice of batteries.
Click to expand...

I agree... you didnt ask for opinions... you made some statements.

I didnt give an opinion.... I made a statement.... having had a look at Taynas site.

Some might find it interesting, or useful, which is good - some may find it uninteresting, irritating, useless, in which case they could ignore it??

Not sure where I'm mistaken... Have I got the price wrong? Is the comparison not fair, or invalid, or something else?
 
Richard10002 said:
Over £300 each delivered from Tayna, so 3 times the price of a similar sized wet battery from a reasonable brand?
Click to expand...

Cant really see the reason for you drawing our attention to just a price comparison between a wet battery and an AGM. Whilst the same chemistry they are different beasts.

If you are to make comparisons on price please also state the full facts like the cyclic performance of your bargain battery with its DoD.

I'm all for a bargain but we all have different expectations from our batteries; some people travel along canals whilst others don't see land for several weeks and needs will be very different.
 
Dave100456 said:
Cant really see the reason for you drawing our attention to just a price comparison between a wet battery and an AGM. Whilst the same chemistry they are different beasts.

If you are to make comparisons on price please also state the full facts like the cyclic performance of your bargain battery with its DoD.

I'm all for a bargain but we all have different expectations from our batteries; some people travel along canals whilst others don't see land for several weeks and needs will be very different.
Click to expand...

OK
 
So anyway back to the discussion :)

When comparing The Rolls Marine Endurance range I notice the 105ah battery (12FS105) is 25kg whilst the 120ah (12FS120) is 40kg!!!!! I don't have to be a math genious to see that the extra weight is not directionally proportional to capacity.

Do you think this is similar to how the Trojan Traction batteries such as the T105 and T1275 are abnormally heavy for their capacity and as such, have particularly thick plates which make them so durable and long lasting?
 
northcave said:
When comparing The Rolls Marine Endurance range I notice the 105ah battery (12FS105) is 25kg whilst the 120ah (12FS120) is 40kg!!!!! I don't have to be a math genious to see that the extra weight is not directionally proportional to capacity.

Do you think this is similar to how the Trojan Traction batteries such as the T105 and T1275 are abnormally heavy for their capacity and as such, have particularly thick plates which make them so durable and long lasting?
Click to expand...

Precisely. Our friend Plevier has often written as much.
The downside, of course, is that thick, heavy plates have less surface area per unit mass, hence they are not so suited to delivering very high current. That said, Trojan specifically state that T105s can be used for engine starting if necessary. (Obviously it's also the case that banks of multiple deep cycle batteries don't need large CCA ability, anyway, since the draw per battery is relatively modest.)
 
macd said:
Precisely. Our friend Plevier has often written as much.
The downside, of course, is that thick, heavy plates have less surface area per unit mass, hence they are not so suited to delivering very high current. That said, Trojan specifically state that T105s can be used for engine starting if necessary. (Obviously it's also the case that banks of multiple deep cycle batteries don't need large CCA ability, anyway, since the draw per battery is relatively modest.)
Click to expand...

Interesting. This may solve my problem then of getting Trojan durability in a battery that will fit. So the 120s seem like good value and comparable to the Trojians at a more standard size to fit in battery boxes. But 40kg each!!! That's 60kg more than I already have! Ok my boat is 17t but an extra 60kg on the stardboard side when the water tank is also in starboard... is a hell of a lot.
 
northcave said:
Interesting. This may solve my problem then of getting Trojan durability in a battery that will fit. So the 120s seem like good value and comparable to the Trojians at a more standard size to fit in battery boxes. But 40kg each!!! That's 60kg more than I already have! Ok my boat is 17t but an extra 60kg on the stardboard side when the water tank is also in starboard... is a hell of a lot.
Click to expand...

Yes, but consider the improved performance on starboard tack ;)
 
northcave said:
Interesting. This may solve my problem then of getting Trojan durability in a battery that will fit. So the 120s seem like good value and comparable to the Trojians at a more standard size to fit in battery boxes. But 40kg each!!! That's 60kg more than I already have! Ok my boat is 17t but an extra 60kg on the stardboard side when the water tank is also in starboard... is a hell of a lot.
Click to expand...

Weight is a big indicator but not the only thing to watch. I quizzed Trojan's tech. support in 2012 about graphs they produced for 6V & 12V range. I can't remember all the details but was looking at 27TMX 12V and T105 6V alongside others. T105 were a lot cheaper than Trojan 12V options I could buy in UK. Main thing I remember was that T105s were about 250gms/Ah and 27TMX were around 240gms/Ah though they only had 50% predicted lifespan of the T105s (figs. on like for like 12V banks). Trojan support guys confirmed that this was correct.

It did seem to be odd that Trojan would sell more expensive 12V with 50% expected life of 6V which had similar weight for a given 12V bank. No idea if that data is still available from Trojan and I also don't know if other manufacturers do something similar.
 
Last edited:
Mistroma said:
Weight is a big indicator but not the only thing to watch. I quizzed Trojan's tech. support in 2012 about graphs they produced for 6V & 12V range. I can't remember all the details but was looking at 27TMX 12V and T105 6V alongside others. T105 were a lot cheaper than Trojan 12V options I could buy in UK. Main thing I remember was that T105s were about 250gms/Ah and 27TMX were around 240gms/Ah though they only had 50% predicted lifespan of the T105s (figs. on like for like 12V banks). Trojan support guys confirmed that this was correct.

.
Click to expand...
Wonder how closely life cycle is linked to plate thickness?

2 x t105 would have half the number of plates as 27tmx for the same ah at 12v wouldn't they?
 
Richard10002 said:
I agree... you didnt ask for opinions... you made some statements.

I didnt give an opinion.... I made a statement.... having had a look at Taynas site.

Some might find it interesting, or useful, which is good - some may find it uninteresting, irritating, useless, in which case they could ignore it??

Not sure where I'm mistaken... Have I got the price wrong? Is the comparison not fair, or invalid, or something else?
Click to expand...
Some touchy folk on here! Heres another statement, I bought 4 Numax 110 amphr leisure at £80 each, they lasted 9 years. So why pay nearly 4 times as much for a battery that wont last much longer?
 
skipper_stu said:
Some touchy folk on here! Heres another statement, I bought 4 Numax 110 amphr leisure at £80 each, they lasted 9 years. So why pay nearly 4 times as much for a battery that wont last much longer?
Click to expand...

Whats your use profile ? eg how often do you drop to 50% or less of capacity and how often are they fully recharged after that
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top