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Santiago
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3512
Registered: 8-27-2003
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Sam's Club golf cart batteries
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?
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bajalou
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I'm into my 5th year of a set of Sam's batteries. They still are working fine for me.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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BajaRob
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Posts: 722
Registered: 9-15-2003
Location: Bahia Santa Maria y Newport Or
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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.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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Mood: Inquisitive
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Any idea who makes Sam's batteries? Is it Johnson Controls?
[Edited on 4-15-2011 by Hook]
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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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
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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| 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.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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no i got rid of the little guys
lous story is amazing...
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
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Location: Pescadero BCS
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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.
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BajaRob
Senior Nomad
Posts: 722
Registered: 9-15-2003
Location: Bahia Santa Maria y Newport Or
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Sam's batteries have Interstate labels. The last set had Energizer labels.
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
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Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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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!
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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smlslikfish
Junior Nomad
Posts: 75
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I've had good luck with them also in the same type of application. (a few weeks a year of usage)
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
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Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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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"...
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BajaRob
Senior Nomad
Posts: 722
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Location: Bahia Santa Maria y Newport Or
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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?
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
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Just checked the manufacture date - 5/06.
Energizer - make by Johnson Controls - in Mexico. (purchased in USA)
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
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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.
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larryC
Super Nomad
Posts: 1495
Registered: 8-11-2008
Location: BoLA
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| 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
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Santiago
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 8-27-2003
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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.
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larryC
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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
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BajaRob
Senior Nomad
Posts: 722
Registered: 9-15-2003
Location: Bahia Santa Maria y Newport Or
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I really am curious
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]
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
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| 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]
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