Upgrading batteries

stellix

I'm thinking about going to six 8 volt Trojans. Right now I'm running eight 6 volt US Battery 1800's. How will my run time be affected by changing. Which Trojan is the biggest ? I'm trying to get the batteries out of the Bagwell and keep them under the seat.

BGW

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Great white north

You can put all 8 -6 volt batteries under the seat , Need to move controller back lots of people have done this including me I'm running 8-6 volt Crown 260 amp/hr for the maximum run -time , 6 -8 volt batts will reduce your run -time , use the search button on forum
Oh by the way Crown 260 are the biggest batt available

stellix

I have a 12 volt battery for my winch and lights and a winch solenoid under the seat with the 6 batteries. I was just thinking that if I used the biggest 8 volt batteries I can get it may keep my run time about the same as I have now with the smaller 6 volt US 1800

Great white north

I too have a deep cycle 12 volt in bag well for accessories and winch
Run -time is great , am running a TXT 36 volt changed to 48 Scotty's 808 pkg.
you just need a higher amp /hr battery , why reduce your run -time

stellix

I guess I was trying to be cheap and only buy 6 new batteries. I melted the posts on two batteries today. I guess I had some loose connections. I repaired them and it's running for now but I don't have much faith in it getting me back from a long ride now. Are those Crown batteries that you have better than the big Trojans?

Great white north

I believe they are the best out there for the price , Trojans are a little more money, paying for name only , now they are a good battery , don't get me wrong , but Crowns have proven themselves in the industry and have the thickest lead plates in the industry

JohnnieB

It appears that you want to upgrade to 48V by using six 8V batteries rather than eight 6V batteries.

Basically a 48V pack made up from six 170AH 8V batteries will have the same run-time (range) as the standard 36V pack made up of six 225AH 6V batteries. Your current batteries are economy grade (208AH) and have about 7.6% less run time than the standard 36V pack.

Therefore, if you go with 170AH 8V batteries you will get more run-time than got when your current batteries were new.

The run-time can be further increased by using higher Amp-Hour 8V batteries. The Trojan Ranger-160 is the highest AH 8V battery on the market that I know of, it this point in time.

Here is a list comparing the relative run-time of 48V packs made up of various 6V and 8V batteries, the 8V are in Blue and the 6V are in Black.

Looks like you can get about a 27.6% increase in run-time over using Ranger-160 batteries vs US 1800 batteries.

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Be aware that 8V batteries have both terminals on the same side, so your current interconnecting cables may be too short.

Attached Images

48V kWh Comparisons.JPG (105.4 KB, 0 views)

stellix

Thanks, I thought if I used better batteries I may be able to get about the same run time. Thanks for the info.I can't figure out why I melted the two posts yesterday, I'm pretty sure all connections were tight and clean. I just installed my Plum Quick Bandit a couple weeks ago and checked everything then.

JohnnieB

The problem may be corrosion between the ring terminal and the cable conductors. See attached.

The atmosphere in the battery compartment is corrosive, so you want the ring terminals to be closed on the ring end so the copper strands of the cable are not exposed and the gap between the barrel and cable insulation to be sealed air tight.

If any cable gets more than slightly warm (about 10°F above ambient air temperature), it needs to be fixed or replaced.

Another possibility is overtightened nuts on the battery studs. The studs are simply hex-head bolts with the head embedded in the lead posts. Too much torque will move the bolts in the soft lead, creating an air-gap, which allows corrosion to form between bolt head and lead post.
Max torque on the stud type terminal is about 95 In/Lb, which is only 8 Ft/Lb.

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Any 8V battery with 170AH or more, will give you better run-time.

Attached Images

Bad cable - open end lug.jpg (126.7 KB, 0 views)

kgsc

Just bought some Bulldog batteries a few weeks ago. 190 ah at $104 each with a core. Did have to make some custom cables as the posts are not in the same place as Trojans.