I am interested in replacing my group 27 batteries (I use a bank of two batteries for my house batteries) with 2 6-volt golf cart batteries (probably Trojan T-105). Any problems that I might encounter?
want to use 6 volt batteries
- Thread starter Bill22177
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We Switched
We switched because of a battery failure brought on by a heart charger failure. In Venezuela the cost would have been prohibative. Make sure the total dimensions that includes the handles will fit in the space. You will have to make a cable to tie the positive and negative together to make to 6's in to one 12 volt. Depending on the battery cable ends that you have now you may have to switch from clamps to bolt on type ends. Over all the project was not hard, but I would rather have the sealed 12 volts rather than the 6 volts. They do require more attention to keep the water level up.
We switched because of a battery failure brought on by a heart charger failure. In Venezuela the cost would have been prohibative. Make sure the total dimensions that includes the handles will fit in the space. You will have to make a cable to tie the positive and negative together to make to 6's in to one 12 volt. Depending on the battery cable ends that you have now you may have to switch from clamps to bolt on type ends. Over all the project was not hard, but I would rather have the sealed 12 volts rather than the 6 volts. They do require more attention to keep the water level up.
I've used 'golf cart' 6 volts since the '80s.
I have the Trojan 105s now. They work just fine. But consider a taller model. I have the room for taller cells and will use them IF these guys ever die. P.S. Bil!!! Venezuela huh? See the labels on my battery caps? Yep, bought them in Trinidad.
I have the Trojan 105s now. They work just fine. But consider a taller model. I have the room for taller cells and will use them IF these guys ever die. P.S. Bil!!! Venezuela huh? See the labels on my battery caps? Yep, bought them in Trinidad.
My first T-105's lasted 5 years. Buy them.
We have 4 6 volt (T-105) batteries for our house bank on a Hunter 40.5. The first two are wired in series (giving us 12 volts) and the second two are wires in series (also giving us 12 volts). Then the wired pairs are wired in parallel. We finally changed out the batteries because we thought that 5 years was long enough. (The bateries were still going strong.) We purchased 4 new T-105's and figure we probably have another 5 years.
We have 4 6 volt (T-105) batteries for our house bank on a Hunter 40.5. The first two are wired in series (giving us 12 volts) and the second two are wires in series (also giving us 12 volts). Then the wired pairs are wired in parallel. We finally changed out the batteries because we thought that 5 years was long enough. (The bateries were still going strong.) We purchased 4 new T-105's and figure we probably have another 5 years.
Charging them
Bill, a lot has been written in this forum about the switch to 6's and agreed by everyone who made the switch that it was well worth it. The hidden cost came in upgrading the charging system. 100 amp alternator's, solar panels, wind chargers, regulators etc., is the expense. I too am planning on switching to 6's in the future when I figure out how I want to charge them back up. Keep us posted to your progress and good luck...
Bill, a lot has been written in this forum about the switch to 6's and agreed by everyone who made the switch that it was well worth it. The hidden cost came in upgrading the charging system. 100 amp alternator's, solar panels, wind chargers, regulators etc., is the expense. I too am planning on switching to 6's in the future when I figure out how I want to charge them back up. Keep us posted to your progress and good luck...
Hey Bill,
Did you read the comments under the picture on my web site? (photo 54) I mention tie downs. But I'm not going to sea again if I can help it. Flat water for me! P.S. Jim is right on! Think of electrical stuff as a system. It should grow in capacity as a system. Leaving one component too small is sure to cause poor performance and failure.
Did you read the comments under the picture on my web site? (photo 54) I mention tie downs. But I'm not going to sea again if I can help it. Flat water for me! P.S. Jim is right on! Think of electrical stuff as a system. It should grow in capacity as a system. Leaving one component too small is sure to cause poor performance and failure.
Fred - how are those batteries wired?
In looking at the photo it looks as if you have wired each battery pair in parallel. and then connected the resulting 6v. banks in series. What was your reasoning for doing it this way, and not simply wiring each pair in series as a 12 v. bank, and connecting this pair in parallel? I took the liberty of removing a wire from your batteries in the photo below to wire them in the more conventional manner ;D
In looking at the photo it looks as if you have wired each battery pair in parallel. and then connected the resulting 6v. banks in series. What was your reasoning for doing it this way, and not simply wiring each pair in series as a 12 v. bank, and connecting this pair in parallel? I took the liberty of removing a wire from your batteries in the photo below to wire them in the more conventional manner ;D
6V Batteries
6v batteries have the added advantage of being eaiser to handle than the big 12v ones. 65 or so lbs. vs. 130. All batteries of this type are 2v cells wired together, so there isn't much difference between a deep cycle 6v and the same type of 12v, other than one case vs. two. It's my understanding that the Trojan brand is made by Exide, one of the world's largest battery manufacturers. Exide also makes batteries for the NAPA autoparts house brand, and they have the same specs as the ones sold in marine stores. Readily available and a bit cheaper if purchased this way. I like 6v's a lot and don't mind the maintenance.
6v batteries have the added advantage of being eaiser to handle than the big 12v ones. 65 or so lbs. vs. 130. All batteries of this type are 2v cells wired together, so there isn't much difference between a deep cycle 6v and the same type of 12v, other than one case vs. two. It's my understanding that the Trojan brand is made by Exide, one of the world's largest battery manufacturers. Exide also makes batteries for the NAPA autoparts house brand, and they have the same specs as the ones sold in marine stores. Readily available and a bit cheaper if purchased this way. I like 6v's a lot and don't mind the maintenance.
Derek
How would you ever get 12 v out of 6 v batteries if you didn't wire them para and serial? 2 6v in series = 12 v 2 anything v in parallel = anything v Make sure you wire them properly. Stu
How would you ever get 12 v out of 6 v batteries if you didn't wire them para and serial? 2 6v in series = 12 v 2 anything v in parallel = anything v Make sure you wire them properly. Stu
Stu
They are wired in series - then in parallel: Take two six-volt batteries in series -> 12 volts. Take two such 12v banks and connect them in parallel to give a 12 volt 450 Ah house bank. If you look at Fred's original photo you will see that he has an extra wire connecting the banks at the 6 volt mid-point. I removed that wire for Fred! I should point out however that Fred's scheme will work - he has effecively connected two 450 Ah 6 volt batteries in series - I have just never seen it done that way...
They are wired in series - then in parallel: Take two six-volt batteries in series -> 12 volts. Take two such 12v banks and connect them in parallel to give a 12 volt 450 Ah house bank. If you look at Fred's original photo you will see that he has an extra wire connecting the banks at the 6 volt mid-point. I removed that wire for Fred! I should point out however that Fred's scheme will work - he has effecively connected two 450 Ah 6 volt batteries in series - I have just never seen it done that way...
Fred,
Derek is right. You might want to remove the "extra" wire connecting the two midpoints. I do not know of any good reason for having it and it may cause a problem. If one battery goes bad, it may cause problems for all of the others. Mine has three twelve volt batteries - two "house" banks and a separate starter battery. I used a second A/B switch on my "house" system.
Derek is right. You might want to remove the "extra" wire connecting the two midpoints. I do not know of any good reason for having it and it may cause a problem. If one battery goes bad, it may cause problems for all of the others. Mine has three twelve volt batteries - two "house" banks and a separate starter battery. I used a second A/B switch on my "house" system.
Guys, the answer is,,,
in the ProSine 2.0 installation manual. That wire is recommended to insure full amperage availability to the inverter at maximum output. Whew! It's not needed for any other reason. You guys are sharp! Derek, cool the way you rewired my boat!
in the ProSine 2.0 installation manual. That wire is recommended to insure full amperage availability to the inverter at maximum output. Whew! It's not needed for any other reason. You guys are sharp! Derek, cool the way you rewired my boat!
Fred,
Prosine is wrong. The wire is not needed and will only add to future problems. If one cell gets shorted or one battery cell goes open, the effect will be bad for the all of the remaining three batteries.
Prosine is wrong. The wire is not needed and will only add to future problems. If one cell gets shorted or one battery cell goes open, the effect will be bad for the all of the remaining three batteries.
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