No myth, but a lot of 12 volt batteries sold for RV service are not as good as most of the 6 volters. I have had good and bad 12 volters, but only good to excellent six-volters. But golf cart batts seem to offer the most amperage and longest life for the money. Heck, Trojan makes a couple of 12 volters that have exactly the same plates as the golf carg batts, so should be equal in every way. Sadly, the price per amp hour is way higher. 12 volt 8Ds have served me well, but their weight and bulk were drawbacks. They were also more expensive per amp-hour.
My choice of GC batts is primarily economic, reflecting the pricing set by the sellers, not six over twelve, per se
Bill and Susan
84 Barth 30 tag powered by ht502/Thorley, Gear Vendors OD
Siamese Calvin and Airedale Hobbes
4WD Toyota toad
I won't say what is better, but my 4 t105's lasted three years and my 4 interstate 2200's lasted two years. I am now back to t105's and decided to start caring for them better. I may end up buying an all in one re-filler to ease my pain. Pricy but cheaper than four new batteries.
bryanl writes "The "myth" is that there is something special about a 6v battery that makes them more suitable or better for RV service. An expression of the myth (for example) is "For boondocking for several days then a true deep cycle (like a golf cart battery) would be a good choice."
This is a myth because there is no true deep cycle battery normally available for RV use (that is, one that is designed for long life to a nominal 80% discharge state) and your battery choice is always a trade-off between capacity, cost, and life no matter the voltage."
GDE says, so what you are saying is there is no such thing as a deep cycle battery...
I would like to dare you to put a bunch of car or even "marine" batteries into a golf cart or what the heck how about a fork lift. Those batteries are not designed for that use, that is a fact, no myth. Those batteries would never be able to stand up to a 8hr shift day after day after day. I would double dare you to try that with AGMs, you couldn't afford to charge them at a rate high enough to have ready for the next shift.
One of the biggest myths I have seen here is that AGMs are the best for RVs, they really are not. AGMs are a glorified gell cell, they need pampering in the charge side or you box of gold dries up. AGMs are twice as expensive for half the capacity and require careful charging to boot as compared to a Golf cart bat. AGMs are vibration resistant and spill proof, these two applications really don't merit the use in a RV. Its not like a RV is going to be raced on a race track where vibration is a enemy or would create a hazzard when in a wreck. AGMs were designed for the race car/off road use, although the pretty packaging and slick sales tactics doesn't hurt it.
Basically a golf cart battery is rather easy to find (Sams, Costco and many other stores), it costs about the same as a 12V "marine" battery.
Are you up to my challenge? Borrow a fork lift (electric) and place those AGMs in them and see if they last more than a few days of abuse.
bryanl wrote: The "myth" is that there is something special about a 6v battery that makes them more suitable or better for RV service. An expression of the myth (for example) is "For boondocking for several days then a true deep cycle (like a golf cart battery) would be a good choice."
now, to figure out why there is such a religious zeal on this topic ...
So, you are saying that you disagree with the statement that golf cart batteries would be a good choice for boondocking for a couple of days???? Or do you disagree that golf cart batteries are a true deep cycle battery?
Because golf cart batteries would be a very good choice for boondocking. Not necessarily a better choice than any other battery, but a very good choice none the less. And how do you define a true deep cycle battery? Maybe a simple definition would be a battery that is designed to charged and discharged through many cycles without wearing out. Oops, that sounds like the definition of a golf cart bettery...
Religious zeal?!?!?
Jim and Deanna
Tiffin Allegro 35QBA 2007 Carson Trailer 22' Titan TH Trailer Toad
Me, Wife, Boy/10, Boy/7, Girl/5
Faith/Springer
1985 Toyota 4Runner
five quads, three kids, two motorcycles, one wife, one dog, one cat!
Define 'GOOD'. To some 'good' means the cheapest that can be found. To others 'good' is defined by usable lifespan, weight, charge rate & amperage per pound before price.
My 6V golf cart wet cell batterys are coming up on 3 years old & starting to show signs of age. Maintenance is not a chore like most. They have an auto fill push button system but my next set of batterys will be AGMs. Yes they will be more than double the price of big box store 6V wet cells but they will last more than twice as long & be no maintenance, other than a rare connection check.
For me 'good' means long term reliable performance as a first consideration. Price is second.
Boat: 32' 1996 Albin 32+2, single Cummins 315hp
40+ night per year overnighter
"For me 'good' means long term reliable performance as a first consideration. Price is second."
Well stated and exactly my position too!
I love my 200 AH 12V twin balanced-parallel connected AGM coach battery bank. They charge fast and are specified so as to almost perfectly match the voltages versus ambient temperature characteristics that my rig's Ford alternator supplies when driving and what my Parallax 7345 motorhome converter supplies when camped.
I monitored the voltages on them and the currents going into/coming out of them via dash-mounted gauges as we drove on our recent 3700 mile RV trip. The alternator treated them well whether in 60 degree temperatures or 102 degree temperatures.
My batteries are not Lifeline AGM batteries, as they appear to be just about perfectly designed to match the output characteristics of modern automotive engine alternators .... or at least the 130 amp one used by Ford on their late model Econoline V10 engines.
"For me 'good' means long term reliable performance as a first consideration. Price is second."
Well stated and exactly my position too!
I love my 200 AH 12V twin balanced-parallel connected AGM coach battery bank. They charge fast and are specified so as to almost perfectly match the voltages versus ambient temperature characteristics that my rig's Ford alternator supplies when driving and what my Parallax 7345 motorhome converter supplies when camped.
I monitored the voltages on them and the currents going into/coming out of them via dash-mounted gauges as we drove on our recent 3700 mile RV trip. The alternator treated them well whether in 60 degree temperatures or 102 degree temperatures.
My batteries are not Lifeline AGM batteries, as they appear to be just about perfectly designed to match the output characteristics of modern automotive engine alternators .... or at least the 130 amp one used by Ford on their late model Econoline V10 engines.
texasbaskets wrote: BTW, 6 V Interstate golf cart batteries are 67$ ea. at Sams right now.
I'm not sure I'd want the batteries Sams sells, or Wall mart, and sadly that same supplier seems to have won the latest COSTCO contract as well.
That said, some time ago a member here posted a very good explanation of just why Golf Car batteries are superior to most of the 12 volt batteries you find in the stores..
To summarize what he said (Which had to do with the plate construction and chemistry) They are designed to be charged quickly and discharged slowly and can tolerate a deep discharge better than marine or starting batteries.. This is EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED.
He was in error however when he claimed you can't get true deep cycle 12 volt batteries.. I say this because I've seen 'em, I've touched 'em, and I've used 'em I even towed one around once or twice.
I've never picked one up however, at over 1,000 pounds that took a fork lift.. which by the way.. Is what IT was designed to power.
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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