I'm not sure what the pros and cons are of going with eith 2, 6's or 2, 12,s? I'm looking at 6 or 12 volt golf cart batteries or just big deep cycle marine or Rv batteries. My load won't be that large. Lights and some electronics and maybe a tv for the most part, and the furnace when the Cubic mini wood stove isn't fired up.
12 volt or 6 volt batteries?
- Thread starter Fatboyz
- Start date
workerdrone
Part time fulltimer
The 6 volt golf cart batteries are heavier duty and likely to last longer in equivailent deep cycle duty.
The 12 volt batteries will probably have better starting amps and you can use them separately should you ever have a battery failure I guess?
The 12 volt batteries will probably have better starting amps and you can use them separately should you ever have a battery failure I guess?
I wish our batteries were priced like you fellas down in the states. I'm seeing 60-80.00 in the US for GC2 batteries. Here the cheapest 220ah GC2 is 189.99!
robgendreau
Explorer
I'll have Mr Trudeau bring a pair back for you in the diplomatic pouch when he leaves CA.... :smiley_drive:
Yeah, although some of the better quality ones here are more like $120-150USD, like the Interstates I think Costco sells. Some of the cheapos are often refurbs, which might not be good deals. They are good, reliable, and robust batteries, and if you've got room often preferred for RV use. Most of my friends in bigger rigs have them.
Yeah, although some of the better quality ones here are more like $120-150USD, like the Interstates I think Costco sells. Some of the cheapos are often refurbs, which might not be good deals. They are good, reliable, and robust batteries, and if you've got room often preferred for RV use. Most of my friends in bigger rigs have them.
DiploStrat
Expedition Leader
Too much nonsense in this thread. For current production lead acid, there are no 12v batteries, there are no 6v batteries. For our purposes, there are only 2v cells. Put three in case, you have a 6v battery, put in six, 12v.
The difference that matters to you is the design of a battery - starter or deep cycle. For camper use you want a deep cycle battery, usually at 12v. So you can do this with 12v batteries in parallel, 6v batteries in series, or 6v in series/parallel.
You can learn more here: https://cookfb.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/battery-charge-slides.pdf
Then you can choose the set up that is best for your needs. In a given market, you may get a better price with a 6v or a 12v, but it has nothing to do with the nominal voltage of the battery.
The difference that matters to you is the design of a battery - starter or deep cycle. For camper use you want a deep cycle battery, usually at 12v. So you can do this with 12v batteries in parallel, 6v batteries in series, or 6v in series/parallel.
You can learn more here: https://cookfb.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/battery-charge-slides.pdf
Then you can choose the set up that is best for your needs. In a given market, you may get a better price with a 6v or a 12v, but it has nothing to do with the nominal voltage of the battery.
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Dual 6v GC or similar batteries benefit from a large market of hard users. The large market drives the price down and the usage requirements make for batteries with better lead, thicker plates, etc etc. As far as 6v vs 12v, both are fine though running 2 6v in series eliminates battery "balance" concerns as all current in or out has to flow through both batteries equally. As stated previously the good ones are more like 120 dollars or so here in the states.
DiploStrat
Expedition Leader
Remember, a "marine" battery is NOT a deep cycle battery; depending on the manufacturer, it is simply a starter battery with slightly thicker plates. Better, but not a true deep cycle battery.
If you don't buy from a reputable specialist like Lifeline, then be sure that the battery you buy is sold for something like forklift or golf cart use.
As noted, most of these are sold as 6v units because they would be too heavy to work with as 12v.
What I meant by a "marine battery" is a deep cycle battery for marine use on Electric trolling motors. THey're used for a true draw down use. We have two suppliers locally that I can get lead acid Golf Cart specific batteries from.
Thanks for the input.
dwh
Tail-End Charlie
6v batteries have bigger 2v cells than 12v batteries. For truly serious deep cycle applications, they make giant 2v batteries (one big 2v cell) that you rig in series to get the voltage you want.
There are some advantages to larger cells, though the primary advantage to using big 2v cells is being able to rig a big battery bank using only series connections - which helps keep all the batteries equally balanced (already mentioned by someone on this thread). Equal balancing is harder to achieve with paralleled connections.
There are some advantages to larger cells, though the primary advantage to using big 2v cells is being able to rig a big battery bank using only series connections - which helps keep all the batteries equally balanced (already mentioned by someone on this thread). Equal balancing is harder to achieve with paralleled connections.
ronaldos
New member
6 Volt batteries have longer life because 6 Volt batteries have thicker plates, you can discharge and charge them more often than 12V batteries. Because of this, 6 Volt batteries generally have a longer life. and the 6 Volt Battery is lighter. But one battery isn't enough: Most RVs need 12 Volts to function, so you'll need two 6 Volt batteries versus one 12 Volt battery. 12 Volt batteries with no limits: 12 Volt batteries are used for parallel circuits, so there is no limit to the number of 12 Volt batteries you can connect to add amp hours. You can continue to add 12 Volt batteries, but it's important to be aware of the size and space they will take up.
My rig has 2 6v batteries wired to create 12v (can't remember if this is serial or parallel) and has a "Vehicle Boost" switch. If engine battery dead, starting rig while pressing vehicle boost will start it from the 6v batteries.