6 Volt Batteries for Dry Camping

[Kodydog]

I know, I know another battery question!

Does anyone have any experience with the larger 6volt Trojan batteries such as the J305 series? They can provide up to 360 Amps at 20 hrs versus 240 for the T-125's. I know that weight is 98lbs per battery for the J305's versus 66 lbs for the T-125's. So other than weight and cost what other issues can I run into?

I want to replace my 3 12volts with 4 six volts and have the height to put in the taller batteries. We dry camp some and I hate running the generator. Solar is in the future but the house batteries need to be upgraded first.

[AZgl1500]

The more mass the batteries have in the plates, the more power you will get from them. And, with proper care they will last you many years.

I used to use 2 volt cells in our Microwave Repeater tower sites. 8 inches thick, by 24 inches deep, by 36 inches tall. 24 of those suckers (48 volts) on two big racks would keep a remote repeater site running for 3 days until we could slog in through the snow to fix whatever broke, or replace the Propane in the generator tank.

[mythplaced]

GREAT batteries....VERY HEAVY #135 each

Only one caveat.....

Make sure you have the charger capacity to fully charge them....with a 50 amp charger it takes darn near all day.....

with 150 amp takes about 3+ hours....

Takes HUGE solar to charge 900 AH..(the capacity you are talking about.)

[BryanL]

re: "The more mass the batteries have in the plates, the more power you will get from them." -- not quite so as mass that is inside of a material cannot react and cannot, therefore, be used to produce energy. That is the reason why batteries typically use Faure type pasted plate construction.

The fact is that, for batteries you typically find for RV use, the available usable energy runs about 10 to 15 watt hours per pound no matter the type or voltage.

Another item is that, for typical RV use, you can expect around 5 years of life. This depends mostly upon proper use and maintenance, not battery type or voltage.

For solar, a good rule of thumb is to have at least one watt of solar panel for each pound of battery. That will barely get to a decent charging current (one that will mix the electrolyte) in optimum conditions.

When it comes to expanding the battery bank, keep in mind that it takes an awful lot of change to make much difference. A battery bank should have three days worth of capacity plus reserve. That plus the fact that 100# of battery stores only a couple of percent of a typical household's daily energy needs and you can see why.

[AZgl1500]

I over simplified my answer. Thanks for the more detailed version.

[ralper]

If you are going to add solar I think you are going overboard with this battery system you have in mind. 300 watts of panels and 4 t-105 batteries, properly installed, should do the job depending on your power usage.

[mythplaced]

4 X T105 Batteries 450 Ah @ 12 V
4 X C16 Batteries 900 Ah @ 12 V

Twice the storage capacity,
Twice the weight
Twice the charging need Solar or other
Twice the length of non-generator boondock time...(Priceless)

[Kodydog]

I think the best answer is to stay with the Trojan T-125 batteries and push to install the solar sooner than later. A couple of 200W pannels well installed, good batteries and I should be good to go.

Thanks to all.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Just for the record, Kodydog is talking about the J305H battery, not L16's.
4 x J305H yields 720 AH (20 hr rate)

[Revodoc]

Those Trojans are about the best, big on price too!!!

[Kodydog]

The purpose of the thread was to ask a question about using larger size 6 volt deep cycles sometimes used in floor polishers versus the standard golf cart size batteries. The brand of battery is a secondary issue.

[BryanL]

re: "The purpose of the thread was to ask a question about using larger size" -- the major problem is that they really can't be handled by one person without special equipment.

It is hazardous enough, both in terms of ergonomics as well as in risk of spill, to manhandle a standard sized 60 to 100 pound battery. Doubling or tripling the weight (or more) gets to being an issue, especially when trying to fit it into a barely big enough space.

[Revodoc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kodydog The purpose of the thread was to ask a question about using larger size 6 volt deep cycles sometimes used in floor polishers versus the standard golf cart size batteries. The brand of battery is a secondary issue.

[cocoHenry]

Hi folks, I use four Trojan 305H batteries in my bank. The first set lasted seven years with regular mainenance including regular watering bi weekly and equalizing every other month. My solar system has four 75 watt panels on a lifter tracker. My inverter is a Statpower pure sine wave 3000 watt with a 150 amp smart charger. The batteries while costing more have been great. They are mounted in a 36' fiver. If you have the room I would not be afraid of using them.

Henry