[Rhodes22-list] Battteries

Sat Apr 14 08:39:10 EDT 2007

Bill,

Your post has several errors. I don't know enough about battery design to 
explain in detail. Golf Carts usage runs down the battery almost every day. 
They are designed to run down to low levels and then quickly recharged. I am 
not saying they are lighter or cheaper. I am saying they can be run down and 
recharged (more times) and still live a long life. As you point out they are 
expensive. There is a reason Golf Courses buy these expensive batteries and 
it is not just size. Most 12-volt batteries are not built to the same 
specifications as 6-volt Golf Cart batteries. There are other types of 6 
volts batteries (motorcycle, old VW) that are dirt-cheap. There is a reason.

The durability is why world cruisers like them. They may not be able to run 
to Walmart when the battery dies. You ask why don't they make 12-volt Golf 
Cart batteries? If they used the same technology they would be too big and 
heavy for Golf Cart. Many cruisers will tell you that Trojan Batteries (6 
or12 volt) are the absolute best. They have a price tag quite a bit 
different then Walmart. They are hundreds per and they are not your average 
battery. My buddy has a solar powered cabin and he swears by them.

For my use the Walmart Marine batteries made sense. If I were cruising 
around the world I would have something different.

Wally

>From: Bill Effros <bill at effros.com>
>Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Battteries
>Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2007 15:32:01 -0300
>
>Wally,
>
>The benefits of 6 volt golf cart batteries don't apply to sailboats either.
>
>12 Volt batteries can be built to the same specifications, and they are.
>
>Why not just get a 12 volt golf cart battery instead of 2 6s and avoid
>all the extra exposed wiring in a marine environment?
>
>Electric Golf carts can't put back the juice they use.  My boat has
>never been externally charged--the electricity is self sustaining with
>solar and engine.  And I use just as much electricity as I want,
>whenever I want.  It's a no-brainer.  As soon as you start really
>looking into golf cart batteries you smack your head --
>
>They run $300 each!  Got to have 4 of them to replace $100 worth of 12
>volts that will last for 5 years...
>
>now I'm really done with this topic.
>
>bill effros
>
>
>
>TN Rhodey wrote:
> > Bill, You ask why don't cars have 2 6-volt batteries...   Cars have a 
>high
> > output alternator. The benefits of 6 volt golf cart battery don't apply.
> > Cars need high output for starting.
> >
> > If I had a live aboard I would consider using 6 volt batteries. The big
> > advantage to the golf cart battery is that they hold up much better when
> > abused. They can be re-charged faster and last longer than 12 volts. 
>That is
> > why cruisers love them.
> >
> > Wally
> >
> >
> >
> >> From: Bill Effros <bill at effros.com>
> >> Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >> To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Battteries
> >> Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2007 13:36:10 -0300
> >>
> >> Bob,
> >>
> >> Stay away from this complexity.  It's simply not needed in our boats.
> >> Nobody runs out of power on our boats.  The golf cart batteries don't
> >> fit anywhere.
> >>
> >> If you are worried about this, get an outboard with electric
> >> start/generator.  If your battery runs out, you pull the starter cord,
> >> start your motor, and it will provide you with enough electricity to
> >> power your running lights.  That's all you need.  If it's daytime, you
> >> don't need any power at all.
> >>
> >> When a golf cart battery is dead a golf cart can't move.  Not so a
> >> sailboat.
> >>
> >> Your car doesn't have 2 golf cart batteries wired in series.  Why not?
> >>
> >> The biggest draw most of us put on our batteries is the stereo system.
> >>
> >> I'm done.
> >>
> >> Bill Effros
> >>
> >> Bob Fletcher wrote:
> >>
> >>> In his book "Sailboat Electonics Simplified" Don Casey has an 
>extensive
> >>> discussin of battery types and configurations.  He seems to endorse 
>the
> >>> option of two 6 volt golf cart batteries wired in series.  Apparently
> >>>
> >> they
> >>
> >>> are rugged and much more affordable than "dedicated" marine batteries.
> >>>
> >>> Bob Fletcher
> >>>
> >>> ----- Original Message -----
> >>> From: "John Lock" <jlock at relevantarts.com>
> >>> To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >>> Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 10:32 AM
> >>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Battteries
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> At 11:57 AM 4/11/2007 -0400, CORLEYMICHAELSIX at aol.com wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> Got to buy new battery(s) for my 99 Rhodes.  It is set up for and 
>had
> >>>>>
> >> 2
> >>
> >>>>> batteries before I put it in storage.  Intending to buy deep cycle
> >>>>> wet  cells,
> >>>>> debating weather to buy one Group 27 or 2 Group 24s or 2 Group
> >>>>> 27s.   Have solar
> >>>>> panels, VHF, digital depth gauge and knot meter, pull  start 
>outboard.
> >>>>> Need
> >>>>> advice.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>> Strangely enough, I was just reading an article about batteries the
> >>>> other day!  This article was written from an RV perspective, but I'm
> >>>> guessing our boat usage is pretty similar.  One very intriguing
> >>>> alternative was using 2, 6-volt golf cart batteries in series to
> >>>> produce 12 volts.  Apparently golf cart batteries offer some of the
> >>>> highest amp-hour ratings available.
> >>>>
> >>>> See article at
> >>>> http://www.ccis.com/home/mnemeth/12volt/12volt.htm   Scroll down to
> >>>> "Selecting batteries".
> >>>>
> >>>> Cheers!
> >>>>
> >>>> John Lock
> >>>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> >>>> s/v Pandion - '79 Rhodes 22
> >>>> Lake Sinclair, GA
> >>>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> >>>>
> >>>> __________________________________________________
> >>>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>> __________________________________________________
> >>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >> __________________________________________________
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> >>
> >
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