Santiago
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 8-27-2003
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Solar batteries on Craig's List?
Are these worth $65 each? What should I watch for?
thanks
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/ele/1685034804.html
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Bob and Susan
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don't waste your money
remember "sealed" batteries still take water and
there is no way to fill these without taking them apart
they are NOT 6 months old
they are almost 2 years old
with a 5 year life
3 years left and the last years are the "problem years"
only 65 amp hours and 12 volt
get some good 6v trojans with 225 amp hours
save your headaches for something else
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monoloco
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You can get 6v 225ah golf cart batteries new for less than $100. They would be a much better deal.
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Santiago
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Thanks guys - I was thinking the same thing.
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Martyman
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My buddy gets old golf cart batteries from his work. We take new/old ones each time we go down. The locals make new fishing weights with the bad
batteries and I save the sulfuric for my fishing gear.
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BajaBruno
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It is easy to get confused when amps and volts are thrown around, so it is easy to forget that power is measured in watts. When you halve the volts,
like going from 12vDC to 6vDC, the amps represent half as many watts.
As an example, 225 amp/hrs at 6vDC is 1350 watts,
and 112.5 amp/hrs at 12vDC is the same, 1350 watts.
Now, there may be some charging cycle advantages to those big, heavy, 6v golf cart batteries in solar power applications (not to mention the use as
fishing weights), but for general use, the weight and volume is not worth the trouble.
Christopher Bruno, Elk Grove, CA.
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Bob and Susan
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bruno bruno bruno
i USED to believe all that stuff too...
too much BS is written on the internet
mrBill set me straight...
(boy was that hard to say)
batteries are not about POWER
they are about STORAGE of power to
get you thru the night
solar panels are about charging the batteries
the faster the better
the panels need to be able to BOIL the batteries to clean the plates of debris
the inverter is about POWER
the bigger the battery the more space between the lead plates
and the battery lasts longer
small batteries work they just wont last long and need WAY MORE maintence
those small golf cart batteries are for golf carts
the taller deep cell batteries work way better for houses
some of us are ADDICTED to electricty
and coffee
just got a cup from my mister coffee (700w)
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BajaBruno
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Bob and Susan,
Point well taken--big batteries are better for long-term deep cycle operation. No question about that.
Christopher Bruno, Elk Grove, CA.
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monoloco
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If you really want some heavy duty batteries go with the Rolls Surrete. You can get them in 2,4,6,8, or 12 volt cells.
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Bob and Susan
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that's what we have...12v
36 of the beasts
next time i'd go with the trojans
easier to replace if one dies
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monoloco
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Have you had them die? I'm currently trying to decide if the Rolls are worth the extra money. I have also heard that the Dekas are good. 36 is a hell
of a battery bank.
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Bob and Susan
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i let them drain once
it was very hard to get them powered up again
it took a week
i wouldn't spend the money again
they were abour $700 EACH and weigh about 200 pounds
they are good and BIG
but i dont think the normal house needs more than 16 six volt trojans
and 7000 watt inverter
then balance with 16-170 watt solar panels with a MPPT charge controler
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monoloco
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Wow, that's quite a battery investment. I was thinking about maybe 6-8 and spending more on things like LED lighting and low draw appliances.
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Bob and Susan
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well the washer dryer take surge electrical
also the water pump
your lights tend to dim if you dont have the power when appliances start up
electric fridges work way better than propane especially when it's hot
but they NEED power
led's are great but compact flouresant last longer
and LED's flicker ...sometimes
tv's and the "boxes" take power too
you don't watch tv for 30 minutes
it's ALWAYS 5+ hours
invest one time and you'll be HAPPY
save your problems for other things
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