BajaNomad

Sam's Club golf cart batteries

Santiago - 4-15-2011 at 06:54 AM

I have ordered my panels, charge controller and inverter from here. (larryC was the first to mention this site as a great resource for panels). This will be the first step towards a small 400 watt system but upgradable to about 1200 watts. When I asked these guys what battery they recommended that I could buy locally, he was quiet for a moment and then said "all my customers have been going to Sam's Club and getting the 6-volt golf cart batteries, best prices around". No kidding... 220amp hours at 20 hours for $79. In fact, when I got there they had maybe 20 batteries in a stack and when they loaded mine on my cart, they said that only a few hours ago they had maybe 3 times that many. When they get a shipment in, they go within one or two days. They also had 8-volt golf cart batteries which would work if you get them in groups of three for a 24 volt system - anyone ever try this?
I'll keep 'careful' records to see just how these batteries work out in a cabin that is used maybe 4 or 5 times a year for a week at a time. I figured at that price they're practically disposable.
Any thoughts?

bajalou - 4-15-2011 at 07:19 AM

I'm into my 5th year of a set of Sam's batteries. They still are working fine for me.

BajaRob - 4-15-2011 at 07:26 AM

I highly recommend them. I just replaced my bank of 20 from Sam's with 20 fresh ones for about $1600 including tax and core deposit. I sold the 4 year old batteries for $45 each and collected 20 dead ATV batteries in SF and returned to Sam's for the $180 core deposit. Net cost for 20 fresh ones was about $520 or about $26 each. The batts are charged by 22 Kyocera 120s, 130s, and 135s. My 2 Xantrex C-60s go to float about noon most days.

Hook - 4-15-2011 at 07:43 AM

Any idea who makes Sam's batteries? Is it Johnson Controls?

[Edited on 4-15-2011 by Hook]

Bob and Susan - 4-15-2011 at 07:53 AM

you'll change your mind later...
they won't last
been there done that
you will probably be fighting with them or running the generator


Santiago...i'm looking forward to your report

Hook - 4-15-2011 at 07:58 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
you'll change your mind later...
they won't last
been there done that
you will probably be fighting with them or running the generator


Santiago...i'm looking forward to your report


Maybe yours are getting too hot, Bob. If Lou's getting 5 years (at least), that ain't bad.

Bob and Susan - 4-15-2011 at 08:50 AM

no i got rid of the little guys

lous story is amazing...

monoloco - 4-15-2011 at 09:34 AM

Santiago, If you are only using the cabin 4 or 5 times a year there is no need to use expensive batteries, the Sam's batteries should work fine.

BajaRob - 4-15-2011 at 10:29 AM

Sam's batteries have Interstate labels. The last set had Energizer labels.

Pompano - 4-15-2011 at 10:49 AM

I agree with Bob..been there, done that...for almost 40 years now. Buy the best you can afford. The industry is full of good deals. You might try Arizona Sun & Wind. I recently bought 20 new 130w Kyocera solar panels and 2 flats of batteries. Very pleased and run two electric fridges, a window AC, 5 ceiling fans, tv news 24/7, mucho lighting toda noche, etc, etc.

Sam's golf cart batteries are great ...on golf carts...and they should be okay in your system for a few good years. Buene suerte!

smlslikfish - 4-15-2011 at 10:49 AM

I've had good luck with them also in the same type of application. (a few weeks a year of usage)

BajaGringo - 4-15-2011 at 11:05 AM

If you are on a tight budget, the cheaper batteries do offer a good option. The cheaper batteries allow you to put more money into solar panels and a better SMTP charge controller. That gives you time to save and upgrade the cheaper batteries when their performance drops in a couple of years.

If you have the dough, go ahead and buy the better batteries from the get go but do your homework as to proper charging / maintenance to protect the investment.

I hear a lot of folks refer to their first battery bank purchase as their "learning set"...

BajaRob - 4-15-2011 at 11:13 AM

My system brings in about 13 Kw per day and powers 3 electric refers, 2 big flat screens, AC, computers, etc. I don't know how you can beat a 20 year cost of about $2800 for a 20 battery bank. Does anyone know the 20 year cost of the more expensive batts?

bajalou - 4-15-2011 at 12:00 PM

Just checked the manufacture date - 5/06.

Energizer - make by Johnson Controls - in Mexico. (purchased in USA)

monoloco - 4-15-2011 at 05:05 PM

Personally, I wouldn't recommend using any kind of expensive flooded lead acid batteries for a cabin that is left unattended for long periods, it's too easy for them to be ruined if not regularly monitored and watered.

larryC - 4-16-2011 at 07:47 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by monoloco
Personally, I wouldn't recommend using any kind of expensive flooded lead acid batteries for a cabin that is left unattended for long periods, it's too easy for them to be ruined if not regularly monitored and watered.


I agree, flooded batteries require perodic maintainence, and if you are only there 4-5 times a year then there is a pretty good chance they won't get it. I got Maryann Humphrville some good used agm batteries recently, so ask her how they are working out. Only $50 each.
Larry

Santiago - 4-16-2011 at 08:19 AM

Believe me, I thought long and hard about this knowing full well the weakness in my little system is the 2 or 3 months everything just sits. My plan at this point is to simply take them back and forth (I do this now with my 2 or 3 Sears DieHards). I've noticed that as I get older, this gets increasingly tiresome and the batteries are somehow getting heavier?? Eventually I will end up with AGMs.
In the mean time, what is the poop on leaving the batts there: should I bring them to full charge and then disconnect them on leaving or leave them plugged into the system to stay at float?
larryC: if you have anymore of those I'll take a few.

larryC - 4-16-2011 at 08:40 AM

Take batteries back and forth? If it was me I would leave them here and leave them hooked up to float while you are gone. batteries like to be charged and kept at float voltage. Of corse this increases water consumption, but that is what flooded lead acid batteries do, they use water. Maybe someone there at Gecko can water them for you. There are also some caps for the batteries that will reduce water usage, but they get expensive. I would also get a RTS (remote temp sensor) for your controller so that you don't overcharge them in the summer and it will also help with water consumption.
I don't have or sell the agm batteries myself, but I know where you can get them. They come and go.
Larry

I really am curious

BajaRob - 4-16-2011 at 12:09 PM

Can anyone here with 8-10 years experience with high cost batteries project the net cost of a 4400 amp hour bank ( @ 6 volts ) for a 20 year period?

[Edited on 4-16-2011 by BajaRob]

monoloco - 4-16-2011 at 12:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Santiago
Believe me, I thought long and hard about this knowing full well the weakness in my little system is the 2 or 3 months everything just sits. My plan at this point is to simply take them back and forth (I do this now with my 2 or 3 Sears DieHards). I've noticed that as I get older, this gets increasingly tiresome and the batteries are somehow getting heavier?? Eventually I will end up with AGMs.
In the mean time, what is the poop on leaving the batts there: should I bring them to full charge and then disconnect them on leaving or leave them plugged into the system to stay at float?
larryC: if you have anymore of those I'll take a few.
I would leave them charging with just 1 panel hooked up so they are less likely to overcharge or use excessive water. The main problem that I've seen is that one cell will go bad and cause all the other batteries to overcharge ruining the whole bank.

[Edited on 4-16-2011 by monoloco]

monoloco - 4-16-2011 at 04:49 PM

Ran across this on Ebay, probably enough power to run a small cabin or two.http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130509485226#ht_1010wt_1141

larryC - 4-16-2011 at 05:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaRob
Can anyone here with 8-10 years experience with high cost batteries project the net cost of a 4400 amp hour bank ( @ 6 volts ) for a 20 year period?

[Edited on 4-16-2011 by BajaRob]


I can only relate my experience with batteries. I bought my first set of used industrial agm batteries in '2000, they were 3 years old at the time. An 1800 amp hour @12v. bank. I paid $600 for them. I used them for 6 years, then I sold them for $600. They are still working for the people I sold them to. Then I bought a 1600 amp hour bank for $600 and that is what I am using now. When they get a little older I will sell them and get some more.
As far as how long yours will last, who knows? In general they last between 3 and five years, but ymmv. What I like most about the large industrial agms beside their longevity is that they never corrode, so they never need cleaning. And they never need water, so you can leave them unattended for long periods of time.
Just my 2 cents
Larry

BajaRob - 4-16-2011 at 06:48 PM

Thank you Larry. It sounds like we have both found what works for us albeit different and that is the way that it should be IMHO. It is difficult when some people say that "my way is the only way". Every one should do what works for them.

larryC - 4-17-2011 at 07:39 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by monoloco
Ran across this on Ebay, probably enough power to run a small cabin or two.http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130509485226#ht_1010wt_1141


Those are the same batteries I had for my first bank. They are great batteries. I got mine for $200 a pack, and I had 3 packs. Those batteries are way over priced. There are companies around that specialize in swapping out those batteries for telecom companies and most of the time they just take them to be recycled. If someone can find a company that does that near where they live then they can find some good deals on batteries.

BajaRob
You hit the nail on the head, lots of ways to skin a cat.

Doug/Vamonos - 4-19-2011 at 08:42 AM

Santiago-
You have a similar system to me. I have four Trojan T-105s that I will probably replace this year with used AGMs like Larry mentions. I haven't been there since the race in November so this is my longest absence and I'll be curious to see what the batteries look like when I get there, probably next month. So far I haven't had problems with the cells drying. I add water each time I'm there, more in the summer. I think the most I've added to one battery is half a liter. I wouldn't see that being a problem over the two or three month absence.

Martyman - 4-19-2011 at 01:38 PM

Santiago;
We disconnect ours (charged) and put them in a cooler place in the cabin. When we hook them up they still have a decent charge.

Santiago - 4-19-2011 at 07:56 PM

Hey Marty,
EXACTLY where do you put them??