Battery options

[MC1]

what about Deep-Cycle AGM Batteries as an option?

[Yamahaman]

Why not go with T-875's and be happy ?,then get the best charger from Scotty right here.
DPI Charger Click Here

[MC1]

Originally Posted by Yamahaman

Why not go with T-875's and be happy ?,then get the best charger from Scotty right here.
DPI Charger Click Here

My neighbor can hook me up with a co-worker has 6 "like new" AGM that are 6volt that he will let me have for 1/2 of the price of new, and I can grab 2 other AGM's to make it 48v. will have to modify the battery tray a bit if I go that route.

So for similar $$$ trying to get the best option for a cart without just throwing money at it.

This cart is basically going to be a "low speed vehicle" for running around the neighborhood. Not for playing golf. So not sure it makes a difference.

The Lithium stuff seems to be the way of the future, but pricing is always an issue.

My son and I have a budget that we need to stay dedicated to. A big part of this project is to educate him on the value of doing the work himself, learning how to research stuff along with getting some mechanical skills that he can build on (did the same thing with my older son and a Jeep- which he learned so much). Also want to keep out of the wife's dog house for spending money on toys.

[joesam]

Deep-Cycle AGM

Deep cycle just means you can run-'em-down low and they can be recharged...but not demand big amps all at once - which carts do. No matter how often you ask - and no matter what the salesman says - the real answer to cart-capable batteries will be the same - either Lithium (which is hugely expensive, but they can easily dump big amps all-at-once) or Lead/Acid.

If AGM's worked, don't you think the cart mfr's would use the cheaper option?

NO MATTER HOW OFTEN YOU ASK THE SAME QUESTION - The correct answer is not wallet-friendly...but its a simple fact. AGM's (by any name & claim) are simply and absolutely not suited for the demands made by golf carts - period.

EDIT: If you feel a HUGE need to save money - contact a battery shop and ask if they have any good-used Golf Cart batteries. Sometimes they don't get sold before their best-before date and will be sold cheaper. Even a mixed bag of two year old used-but-good lead/acid batteries is better than what you are considering. Honestly I don't know how to make the point any stronger!

[MC1]

all right I think I basically have 3 options. This is not really for a golf cart, but for a Low Speed Vehicle for around town driving and weekend errands. We have several golf courses close, but none of them are going to let us use it on their golf course. Guess we can drive the cart to the course and use their carts.

I assumed my cart was a 6-8volt cart, but appears to be a 4-12 volt layout. Right now I have NOTHING- no battery cores, no battery cables, no tie downs. No Charger. Not even a solenoid or a tow/run switch. So I have to eat the core charges at this point.

It does have the OBC and Controller (Curtis 1510A-5250).

Option A- Just convert to Lithium. Downside COST. Upside Long term resolution.
Option B- Just replace with 4- 12v batteries. Either AGM or Lead.
Option C- Do the 6-8V convert. Either AGM or Lead batteries.


I'm OK with doing a Lithium change seems the price of that stuff has come down a bit- just trying to firm up that total cost to see if it's worth the extra money.


BTW-
the reason AGM are not used by manufactures- COST. Batteries are a wear and tear item. So they just want to get 3 yrs of service before they need replaced and keep production costs down. I have a hard time believing Lead batteries outperform AGM for any application.

[Volt_Ampere]

FLA will outperform AGM in golf cart operation. Conversion to Lithium is about 3X the cost of replacing the FLA batteries.

[joesam]

Guess I'm just not getting thru - do what you want.

[MC1]

Looks like the budget there might be enough money for this set up:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lithium-Li-I...gAAOSwT6pV46sH

This is the 48V 60aH leaf battery set up, would also need a charger and battery management system. Nicki, who builds these advises that he is working on a slightly different layout that is more installation friendly, but the same idea.

Wonder if anyone knows
1- for a cart that has a top speed of 25MPH, how much time between charges on a 60aH?
2- does that mean you can get rid of the OBC on the club car since the Lithium system has its own charger?

[jjance]

Trouble is you will need probably two of those battery packs to equal a set of Trojans.
Something like this. My 2 cents go with the Trojans

http://www.ebay.com/itm/7kWh-53V-120...3D262071054785

[jjance]

1- for a cart that has a top speed of 25MPH, how much time between charges on a 60aH?

About 30 mins