Working on my 550 build, I have 300 watts of solar on the roof. My plan was to use 2 GC2 6 volt golf cart batteries. This would give 230 AH of storage. The cost here in Alberta is $185.00 each. I was just at the local farm supply called Peavy Mart and they have a 12 volt Tractor battery that is 360 AH, and is only $240.00. This would sure give me lots of backup starting power for the truck at 1200 cranking amps too. I'm not sure how it would stack up against golf cart batteries for storage though? I do have room for it in my planned battery storage compartment so that's not an issue. Thoughts?
Golf cart or Cat/Tractor battery for house battery.
- Thread starter Fatboyz
- Start date
I would use a tractor that runs on a battery. Of course, it can save a lot of money on gasoline, but for me is more important is the amount of time it can work in a row. This is why I would rather choose to work with traditional tractors. I am using a medium-sized tractor from Zetor. It is a very good company that makes qualitative and durable equipment for farmers. I didn't know about them since last year, and I was shocked that I didn't know about such a great company that has such a big history of making tractors for farmers.
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https://www.heming-engineering.co.uk/tractors-and-machinery/zetor-tractors
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https://www.heming-engineering.co.uk/tractors-and-machinery/zetor-tractors
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DaveInDenver
Middle Income Semi-Redneck
The question was about a tractor battery, which if it's truly a tractor battery would mean it's deep cycle similar to a golf cart, marine or RV type. Tractor batteries are designed to be drawn down in use and not expected to float with the alternator keeping it topped up like an automotive SLI. If the price per A-hr and lead weight is similar might be fine since the end result is going to be basically similar to a pair of 6V GC types.
Deep cycling battery is the best general term.
Then you have Ah capacity, energy storage, density.
Then you have ability to hit higher C-rates, power capacity - usually not an issue for House usage.
Whether it is used for propulsion (traction) or not is by the by,
winching, fast heating HWS, big water pump, aircon, an electric galley are other examples where C-rate if the chemistry may be an issue, nothing special about "traction" as far as physics is concerned
outside of a marketing label.
Now a "tractor" battery sounds to me like a Starter type
as stated not going to last long in deep cycling usage.
Then you have Ah capacity, energy storage, density.
Then you have ability to hit higher C-rates, power capacity - usually not an issue for House usage.
Whether it is used for propulsion (traction) or not is by the by,
winching, fast heating HWS, big water pump, aircon, an electric galley are other examples where C-rate if the chemistry may be an issue, nothing special about "traction" as far as physics is concerned
outside of a marketing label.
Now a "tractor" battery sounds to me like a Starter type
as stated not going to last long in deep cycling usage.
workerdrone
Part time fulltimer
Had 4 GC2's in our 550, with 300 watts of solar, would probably have been fine with just the two but it was nice when we had a few days with no solar input or parked under tree cover. You'll charge 'em up fast.