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03-24-2015, 10:51 AM | #1 |
Not Yet Wild
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 33
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Advice needed from battery gurus
I would like to get some advice from the battery experts on the forum on where to spend my $.
I have a 2009 Stealth 4x4 48v cart. I am currently running the fuller River DC250-6 batteries that came with the cart. I have lost considerable runtime but never ran the batteries totally down. I load tested all the batteries yesterday and found two that indicated they needed to be replaced (the two that run the lights, I believe). The 6 other batts tested fine. 8 Fullriver batteries are not an option fro me at this time. I only put a few miles at a time on the cart and am never more than a mile from home. My question for the group is this. Should I purchase 2 new FullRiver batteries and hope the others hold out for a couple more years or should I replace all 8 batts with something more economical 6 volt batteries. I can get Trojans locally. I do have a small cabin that is primarily ran off solar so the remaining 6 FR batteries would not be thrown away and could probably put to use for the remainder of there life. Many Thanks |
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03-24-2015, 12:13 PM | #2 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Rio Verde, Az
Posts: 7,119
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Re: Advice needed from battery gurus
You should replace the whole set of batteries. It is never good to mix new and old batteries in a series pack.
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03-24-2015, 12:41 PM | #3 |
Voltaholic
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Close to Navasota Texas
Posts: 934
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Re: Advice needed from battery gurus
I also won't add new batteries to an old pack. The only exception being a warranty replacement.
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03-24-2015, 01:35 PM | #4 |
Not Yet Wild
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 33
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Re: Advice needed from battery gurus
Any suggestions on batteries? I don't think I could do a full set of sealed, wish I could, the two that have gone out are the most difficult to reach. My charger is an onboard "QuikCharge" that is set for sealed but can be reset for non-sealed. If I get non-sealed, how often will I need to check the water level or gravity, I have to pull two other batts to get to these in back.
Are there any ideas on how to make certain these two are done before purchasing new ones? Many Thanks dave |
03-24-2015, 02:14 PM | #5 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 251
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Re: Advice needed from battery gurus
If original then these are 6 year old batteries ? Were the lights and any accesories run thru a voltage reducer or wired directly to the two batteries ? Are these batteries manufactured in China ? Like it or not, you're probably going to waste your money on 2 new fullriver batteries. There are a number of very good battery manufacturers that you could use for replacements...Trojan, US Battery, Interstate, Dekka, etc.
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03-24-2015, 03:08 PM | #6 |
Not Yet Wild
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 33
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Re: Advice needed from battery gurus
I believe the lights are wired direct to these two batteries. I am not certain where they were manufactured, they are the black ones not the blue ones. I have seen the Trojans recommended and can purchase them locally. I think I can get 105s and 145s local. for $110 to $145 + core charge for the 6 I keep.
My biggest reservation with the non-sealed batteries is the maintenance. I think I will have to remove two of the fwd batteries and slide the rear two forward to reach them to check water and gravity. Any idea on how often I would need to do this? Monthly? Annually? Many Thanks! |
03-24-2015, 03:14 PM | #7 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Chestermere, Alberta - Canada
Posts: 1,146
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Re: Advice needed from battery gurus
I'm no guru - so I can't make a recommendation. But you've identified one big issue that matters - the charge duration/voltage for AGM is different than wet cells. So if you have that solved...then its down to one other thing.
T105 Trojans are only 225AH vs your originals at 250. So with them, right out of the box you will have to accept the fact that you start at 90% of original range/power, and go down from there over time. Water check for those-who-care-for-their-stuff is at least monthly, I would think. I think the 145's have a better AH rating. |
03-24-2015, 06:17 PM | #8 |
Voltaholic
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Close to Navasota Texas
Posts: 934
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Re: Advice needed from battery gurus
My experience so far, I have only had to water once a year or so on healthy batteries. I check them every two weeks and spot check a few every week, just got low enough to add water at a year and a few months.
Now with old batteries I have received it is all over the place, one set is fine one set drinks a gallon every few weeks. On my 72 volt club car I have one battery that looks hard to check and fill, but with a head lamp and a mirror I can check and fill easily. I sounds like a pain in the butt, but I would have to move 4 batteries to reach the one. |
03-25-2015, 09:54 AM | #9 |
Not Yet Wild
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 33
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Re: Advice needed from battery gurus
Anyone using the Hydrolink watering system on their wet batteries? Worthwhile? Any disadvantages other than cost?
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03-25-2015, 10:13 AM | #10 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 441
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Re: Advice needed from battery gurus
Mixed reviews on the hydrolink system. There are other brands that may be worth a look.
Those sealed batteries deliver about half the charge cycles of a well maintained flooded cell pack. Their argument for AGM/GEL is that few packs are well maintained and that they are removing the most common cause of failure. They sure are expensive. Trojan has a new AGM line coming out. |
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