Golf Cart Batteries ?

[phwrd]

Hey there ya'll,

I read that golf cart batteries are the best deep cycle's made. Anybody have any experience or opinion on this?

Thinking of getting a couple to hook together as house battery's.

Thanks to all of you "old" salts out there that are willing to help us newbies.

phwrd

 

[DJ]

Re: Golf Cart Batteries ?

Hey there ya'll,

I read that golf cart batteries are the best deep cycle's made. Anybody have any experience or opinion on this?


The answer, in m y opinion is-NO! The 6V batteries are ancient technology and require great amounts of service/maintenance.

I would not allow a 6-V on any boat I'd be on.

Use 12V deep cycle (marine) batt's. They are easier to handle and provide much more power..

 

[Boatist]

Re: Golf Cart Batteries ?

I think they are no better than any other battery. Now if you buy two large 6 volt batteries and hook up in serries then you may end up with a bigger battery than a single 12 volt battery. If that is the case then you should have a longer lasting battery. But you can also buy a big 12 volt battery and do the same thing.

Either way you have 6 cells to go bad.

Question really is what to you need in a battery? Do you have a heavy load and long times between charges? Do you have a light load and just want to have enough capacity to last the weekend.

If you have heavy loads then you need a battery with enough plates to supply the needed current with out the plates buckling or warping, More like a starting battery. Then to last a long time would need to be a very large battery.

For light loads for a weekend then a large deep cycle will probably do.

No matter what you get if you run the battery down more than 50 percent or you leave it discharged then it will not last long.

Start out by making a list of what the battery will power.
Then write down how long between charges.
Now you can figure how much capacity you need.

In some cases it may make more since to buy a Generator to recharge.

 

[onenomad]

Re: Golf Cart Batteries ?

If you can find a copy of the book, "Ample Power, Living on 12volts", it is a wealth of information on marine 12v use. After living aboard full time, and cruising the Pacific west coast (northern B.C. to southern Mexico) for a number of years, I will go against the grain here and say "yes", the 6v golf carts are better. Made to be more durable and last longer (more discharge/charge cycles) than a typical 12v deep cycle marine battery. If you have need to "live off the grid", and must generate your own power, you will appreciate what a bank of 6v golf cart batts can do for you. The bank will be quite large and heavy, but will supply "house power" aplenty. However, if your needs are for short term power, I think the golf carts are probably overkill. You would still need a cranking battery for starter power. Just my experience.
Regards,
Gerry

 

[Bondo]

Re: Golf Cart Batteries ?

I will go against the grain here and say "yes", the 6v golf carts are better. Made to be more durable and last longer (more discharge/charge cycles) than a typical 12v deep cycle marine battery.

Ayuh,...... I Agree.....

If the extra weight isn't an issue on your boat,....
It's th Best way to store the Most reserve power......

 

[seatek]

Re: Golf Cart Batteries ?

Hey there ya'll,

I read that golf cart batteries are the best deep cycle's made. Anybody have any experience or opinion on this?

Thinking of getting a couple to hook together as house battery's.

Thanks to all of you "old" salts out there that are willing to help us newbies.

phwrd

And the BEST batteries for this are Trojan batteries.
I've had 30 years experience with them, by far the best.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Golf Cart Batteries ?

There is no question the 6volt Golf cart battery will store more power,handle many more cycles and as the british say are "cheap as chips.An excellent source dollars to amp hours.Of course you do have the complication of multiple batteries.I have a Gem car that operates on 6 12 Trojan deep cycle batteries The new Gems have 9 8 volt deepcycles which yields sopmething like 30% more range.The 6 volt would be even better but there is just no room for 12 batteries.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Golf Cart Batteries ?

And the BEST batteries for this are Trojan batteries.
I've had 30 years experience with them, by far the best.

Absolutely Trojan is top of the line.I run Trojan 12 volts in my Gem car.
about $150 each for the 30 XHS

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Golf Cart Batteries ?

have to say i have had 3 trojans in the last year, go bad, because of a dead cell. they were the best battery, this is first time i have ever had one go bad. trojan, replace it, over and over.

 

[bamafutbal]

Re: Golf Cart Batteries ?

love my 48volts on my club car, can go 72 holes without recharging and its pushing my cart up to 22mph