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ToolmanJohn View Drop Down
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Posts: 451 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: One Battery..or Two?
    Posted: 06 May 2017 at 9:41pm
Two 12 volt batteries in parallel, double the amps, voltage remains 12 volts.

Two 6 volt batteries in series, double the volts, amps remains the same.

True 6 volt golf cart batteries ( TRUE DEEP CYCLE), offer MORE amp hours than a 12 volt RV/Marine battery. There are very few 12 volt TRUE DEEP CYCLE batteries on the market, and they cost a fortune.

I looked at (briefly) the lithium ion (iron) RV batteries, wow, sticker shock. They have some serious advantages over wet cell batteries. They can charge quicker, have very high discharge rates, can be fully discharged at their full rate until they give up (they are internally protected from being depleted too low, which hurts them), and they can be charged to 100% again with no sulfation/memory problems. They are also MUCH lighter for the same amp-hour rating as a wet cell. They do not out gas, making them good for inside installation.

They do get derated in colder temperatures, but all batteries do.

I'm currently looking at getting to Trojan T-105 batteries locally, because the Costo, Sams, don't carry a comparable battery, and shipping instead would be almost as much as the batteries themselves!! i think $200 each is not too bad for a price.

 My example:   (2) Interstate HD24-DP 12 volt batteries in parallel. The RC (reserve capacity) of these dual purpose (starting / "deep"cycle) batteries is 200 minutes at a 25AH discharge rate. That is double the 100 minutes of only one battery alone.


But two Trojan T-15 batteries in series at 12 volts, delivers 447 minutes @ 25AH. One 6 volt is 447 minutes @ 25AH. The two 6 volt batteries have more than double the reserve capacity, are only a little taller, and weigh a bit more, but have MUCH more energy density. And they can be more deeply discharged and last longer than the dual purpose batteries. Properly maintained (distilled water, and desulfation charge cycles when needed) can make them last 6-7 years. If you don't let your batteries get low on water, and don't deeply discharge them, they can last a long long time.


The downside. Up front cost. Takes longer the charge them to 100%. More tongue weight (which may not matter depending on tow vehicle).
2017 ATC 7X20 Custom Toy Hauler
2013 R-Pod 177 (SOLD)
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Itinerate Pod View Drop Down
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Posts: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 May 2017 at 7:58pm
Originally posted by Pod People

For what it is worth, the GC2 batteries are generally available at lots of retail stores including Sam;s Club and Costco.  We got ours at Sam's for about $120 each after turning in the old ones for the core charge.    the good thing about buying them from Sam's or Costco is that these stores are everywhere, so if you need replacements it is easy to find them .  The ones we bought have 115 Amp hours each (if I remember correctly).  Wire them in series and we have 230AH available.
Vann

Each battery would be 230 AHr @ 6V.  Two of the them wired in series, gives you 230 Ahr at 12V.

Two 12V batteries at 100 Ahr wired in parallel, gives you 200 AHr at 12V.
Jim & Kathy
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jato View Drop Down
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Posts: 3257 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 May 2017 at 4:59pm
Interesting to note that when we purchased 126 new golf carts from Yamaha we were given the opportunity to test drive their new electric carts (we purchased gasoline powered carts).  I was very impressed, lots of power BUT also surprised that they have moved away from 6 volt batteries used in the 36 volt systems for many years.  Now they have gone to a 48 volt system and use 6  8volt batteries instead.  Hopefully the 6 volt batteries will be around for a long time.
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Pod People View Drop Down
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Posts: 1078 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 May 2017 at 4:40pm
For what it is worth, the GC2 batteries are generally available at lots of retail stores including Sam;s Club and Costco.  We got ours at Sam's for about $120 each after turning in the old ones for the core charge.    the good thing about buying them from Sam's or Costco is that these stores are everywhere, so if you need replacements it is easy to find them .  The ones we bought have 115 Amp hours each (if I remember correctly).  Wire them in series and we have 230AH available.
Vann

Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179
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IdahoBoy View Drop Down
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Posts: 65 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 May 2017 at 4:13pm
Thanks!
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furpod View Drop Down
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 May 2017 at 2:13pm
Originally posted by IdahoBoy

Excuse my ignorance, but what is a GC2?


GC2 is a standard 6v battery for golf carts. Very good true deep cycle batteries that fit in the foot print of two group 24 12v's. Dual GC2's is the most aH storage you can put on the tongue of a Pod with out any modifications.
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lostagain View Drop Down
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Posts: 2595 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 May 2017 at 11:33am
I just switched out my 12v group 24 deep cycle for 2 GC2's (golf cart batteries), so now I'll find out how much time I'll get from them.  I am waiting for a some 8 awg connectors to finish the pig tails to connect to the battery for a fast connection to the 100w solar panel and controller.  Hopefully, this will make us pretty self sufficient for purposes of electricity.  The only issue will be if we need the AC.  In that case, we'll have to connect to shore power or use a generator, which I can put in the back of my truck if we're going where we think we'll need it.  I'm saving my old 12v as a spare and will keep it charged in the garage so it's ready to load if we anticipate needing it.
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IdahoBoy View Drop Down
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Posts: 65 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 May 2017 at 11:00am
Excuse my ignorance, but what is a GC2?
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jato View Drop Down
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Posts: 3257 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 May 2017 at 8:09pm
We use 2  12v  group size 24 deep cycle.  When these expire, they are beginning year 7 now, I plan on replacing with 2  6v golf cart batteries.  As for now we plan on 3 days per battery when the night temps are upper 30's to lower 50's, that is using the furnace a fair amount at night to keep it around 60.  During the day, not much gets used as we are normally outside hiking.  Fridge, HW tank, and LED lights use minimal battery compared to the furnace.  
God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."
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TheBum View Drop Down
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Posts: 1407 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 May 2017 at 3:52pm
Dual GC2s here, 230Ah.
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