Battery Change Out

[Zman18]

What would be the down side of replaceing my current house batteries (Two 6 volt in series) with one 12 volt?

 

[Scott B]

Less amp hours. Depends what the 2 6V are and what you replace them with, but most likely considerably less amp hours. You may or may not need them, depending on how you use the boat.

 

[Steve Dion]

You may lose some amps depending on what you replace them with.

A typical G31 12V would be 100-110 amps. Your two 6V could easily be 200-240 amps or so. Depending on your requirements that may be enough. The actual usable amps is only about 50% of the total available.

 

[Bill Roosa]

One 12 volt weighs more than one 6 volt so you have to do some heavy lifting instead of two trips. Also lose the ability to "pack them in the corner" with only one battery.
For the record the AH for two 6 volts do not add together like some seem to think. Two 6 volt 110 AH batteries connected in series for 12 volts only gives you 110 AH not 220. They do add together when connected in parallel but then only produce 6 volts.

 

[Maine Sail]

For the record the AH for two 6 volts do not add together like some seem to think. Two 6 volt 110 AH batteries connected in series for 12 volts only gives you 110 AH not 220. They do add together when connected in parallel but then only produce 6 volts.

Most standard golf car batteries are 215 - 230 Ah's, not 110 Ah's, so two in series will still produce about 215-230 Ah's and four in series/parallel would give 430-460 Ah's..

 

[Bill1565]

It's been my experience that 6v deep cycles out last 12v deep cycles by more than 2:1. Fewer thicker lead plates or something.