Deep Cycle vs Golf Cart Batteries

ForceFed70 · Aug 16, 2017

Time to buy new batteries for the solar system up at the cabin.

Here's my question to you folks - Are golf cart batteries worth the extra 20% in cost? Storage capacities are very close for 2. My understanding is that golf cart may last longer and better handle deep discharge?

Batteries only get drained below 50% 3 or 4 times a year and the cabin is only used 5 or 6 times a year total.

rustyjames · Aug 17, 2017

With lead batteries you only get what you pay for; it's a false economy to buy the cheap ones. Deep discharges definitely shorten life. It's best practice to avoid discharges below 50%, with 80% preferred. And always keep them fully charged.

Showkey · Aug 17, 2017

With light occasional use......any reason you would not use an ultra quiet compact generator ( like an EU 2000 Honda) and gasoline and skip the batteries all together.

ticklechicken · Aug 17, 2017

The difference between deep cycle and golf cart is the golf cart battery's ability to supply very high amps (going up a hill). You don't need this is a typical deep cycle application (RV lights).

For the same cost of the golf cart batteries, you could buy extra deep cycle and add them in parallel. That will lower your discharge percentage between uses. You would end up with better life at the same cost.

theoldwizard1 · Aug 17, 2017

ticklechicken said:
For the same cost of the golf cart batteries, you could buy extra deep cycle and add them in parallel. That will lower your discharge percentage between uses. You would end up with better life at the same cost.

This topic comes up in RV forums all of the time ! The worst choice of course is a standard car battery. If you take them down to 50% "state of charge" (SOC) they won't last long. Marine dual purpose batteries are not much better.

Both Costco and Sams Club sell golf cart batteries at very reasonable price and are highly recommended for RV applications. They function well and can be repeatedly taken down to 50% SOC. They are significantly less expensive then than "renewable energy" batteries (Trojan, Rolls).

That is what I would buy. Save a couple of bucks and get the "flooded" (wet) batteries. Yes, they require maintenance, but they typically have a bit more capacity than AGM and, as I said, cost less.

rustyjames said:
With lead batteries you only get what you pay for ...

TRUE ! Heavier batteries (more lead) have more capacity.

ForceFed70 · Aug 18, 2017

Showkey said:
With light occasional use......any reason you would not use an ultra quiet compact generator ( like an EU 2000 Honda) and gasoline and skip the batteries all together.

There's a few reasons why I wouldn't use a generator as described:
- Cabin is difficult to access with no road leading to it. Must take a fishing boat across the bay, hike 15min around, or take a 10km ATV trail. I don't want to haul a generator with me. I don't want to leave a generator up there and risk it being stolen
- Batteries are used to run a small refrigerator along with lights in the evening. I'd need to run it for many hours a day.
- The whole reason I go to the cabin is "to get away from it all" running even a quiet generator would ruin the experience for me.

ForceFed70 · Aug 18, 2017

ticklechicken said:
The difference between deep cycle and golf cart is the golf cart battery's ability to supply very high amps (going up a hill). You don't need this is a typical deep cycle application (RV lights).

For the same cost of the golf cart batteries, you could buy extra deep cycle and add them in parallel. That will lower your discharge percentage between uses. You would end up with better life at the same cost.

Golf cart batteries have thicker plates and actually have less ability to deliver high current. For short term high current loads you are better off with a traditional deep cycle or automotive starting battery.

My plan is to buy 2 batteries. I suppose I could buy 3 deep cycle, but at only 20% less cost I'd still end up spending significantly more for 3x deep cycle vs 2x golf cart.

My last set of batteries were golf cart and lasted 8 years. With that lifespan it's clear I'm not abusing them. What I'm struggling with is trying to understand what type of lifespan I could expect out of a deep cycle. Would using deep cycle and saving 20% upfront cause their lifespan to drop more than 20%? If so I'm better off with the golf cart.

laser3kw · Aug 18, 2017

google "solar deep cycle vs golf cart batteries" for some interesting reading

link to battery discussion

another link

Falcon67 · Aug 18, 2017

When we had a cart, we had good service out of the Sam's 6V batteries - about $90 each here. That was on a cart used occasionally around the house/yard, left outside, charged once in a while.

nsula_country · Aug 18, 2017

Falcon67 said:
When we had a cart, we had good service out of the Sam's 6V batteries - about $90 each here. That was on a cart used occasionally around the house/yard, left outside, charged once in a while.

For $100 you can have Trojans. Have had good luck out of Trojans for Golf cart service. usually about 8 years. US Battery is another good brand. The Sams Club batteries are hit or miss from "what I've heard" from people that have used them.

CT

theoldwizard1 · Aug 18, 2017

ForceFed70 said:
Golf cart batteries have thicker plates and actually have less ability to deliver high current. For short term high current loads you are better off with a traditional deep cycle or automotive starting battery.

This is not a "short term" or particularly "high current" situation !

A typical gof cart lead acid battery (GC-2) has a reserve capacity of 400-500 minutes (down to 50% state of charge) at a discharge rate of 25A (FAR from high current). Of course golf cart batteries are 6V, so you will need TWO !

I have no idea what you load will be, but it don't I don't know if 2 batteries will carry you through the night. Most inverters will kick off at somewhere between 10.0v and 11.0V

ForceFed70 said:
What I'm struggling with is trying to understand what type of lifespan I could expect out of a deep cycle. Would using deep cycle and saving 20% upfront cause their lifespan to drop more than 20%?

You are over thinking it ! Just get 2 golf carts batteries !!

ForceFed70 · Aug 19, 2017

theoldwizard1 said:
This is not a "short term" or particularly "high current" situation !

A typical gof cart lead acid battery (GC-2) has a reserve capacity of 400-500 minutes (down to 50% state of charge) at a discharge rate of 25A (FAR from high current). Of course golf cart batteries are 6V, so you will need TWO !

I have no idea what you load will be, but it don't I don't know if 2 batteries will carry you through the night. Most inverters will kick off at somewhere between 10.0v and 11.0V

You are over thinking it ! Just get 2 golf carts batteries !!

I agree with your load assessment. I need fairly low amps most of the time. Only when the wife is running the vacuum cleaner, or when we use the toaster do we draw a lot of amps. Even then - it's a small VC and only a 2 slice toaster to help reduce that load.

2 batteries with 200W of panels will last us 4-5 days if it's sunny out. 3-4 if it's cloudy. Most of my net draw seems to be from the small fridge. If not using the fridge we could last forever.

I know 2 golf cart batteries would be best. I'm just tempted to cheap out with regular deep cycle. Think I've decided on the golf cart batteries tho - too much of a PITA to keep switching them.

theoldwizard1 · Aug 19, 2017

ForceFed70 said:
I know 2 golf cart batteries would be best. I'm just tempted to cheap out with regular deep cycle. Think I've decided on the golf cart batteries tho - too much of a PITA to keep switching them.

I am not certain what you mean by the statement "regular deep cycle batteries". The only commonly available deep cycle battery is a golf cart battery. Marine batteries are not true deep cycle. They should only be discharged to 80%, while deep cycle batteries can be discharged to 50%.

Toomanytools? · Aug 19, 2017

Sounds like you answered your own question you had golf cart batteries that lasted 8 years. I use two Trojan T105 6v batteries in series first set last about 8-9 years on my second set. Cost is about $120 +/- each. There are some true solar batteries but the cost really goes up. http://http://www.trojanbattery.com/markets/renewable-energy-re/?_vsrefdom=adwords&gclid=CjwKEAjww9_MBRCWpNG2-ojs1ysSJACVowlm1shR8Os-Mm5yRMv-F6lQBdZR61JAzd7s_aTlafsDghoCepnw_wcB

theoldwizard1 · Aug 19, 2017

Toomanytools? said:
I use two Trojan T105 6v batteries in series first set last about 8-9 years on my second set. Cost is about $120 +/- each.

That is a very good price for Trojan T105 batteries. Depending on where you live, they can be difficult to source locally. GC-2 batteries are about $90 at Costco or Sams.

allenb12 · Aug 20, 2017

The batteries in my Golf Cart are from Sams. They are 5 years old and still going strong. I do check the water once a month and only use distilled water.

Deep Cycle vs Golf Cart Batteries

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