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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts
Initially Posted - 05/31/2003 :  15:26:48  Show Profile
Does anyone use 6v golf cart batteries (in series)?

Both of my 4+ year old Costco specials (Group 24 and 27) are on their last legs. And I noticed Costco now sells golf cart batteries for around $45. What are the considerations in installing them? My battery compartment is under the starboard cabin seat.

RichardG 81 C25 SR/FK "Sanity"
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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts
Response Posted - 05/31/2003 :  16:41:30  Show Profile  Visit Arlyn Stewart's Homepage
I use two 6v golf cart batteries on my C250. I just replaced the first two after six years of use when they showed their first signs of degraded performance.

The advantages are that they are rugged and have large water capacity. Running them dry would take serious neglect compared to some 12v batteries with quite small fluid reservoirs.

In my opinion they are the most cost effective way to provide greater capacity amounts.


Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/rr.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]
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Dave B
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Mali
863 Posts
Response Posted - 05/31/2003 :  23:09:31  Show Profile
Arlyn: I presume they're wired in series--do you charge them together that way?

Dave Bristle, 1985 C-25 #5032 "Passage" SR/FK/Dinette/Honda in SW CT
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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts
Response Posted - 06/01/2003 :  11:39:58  Show Profile  Visit Arlyn Stewart's Homepage
Yes, they are wired in series and charged with standard 12 volt methods. Actually, the only difference in having 3 cells in two cases compared to six in one... is that the cells can be considerably larger with greater capacity of plate and fluid.

Another advantage besides the water reservoir capacity is that using two six volts requires no isolation as is necessary for two 12 volts.

And, one gets more than twice the amps for about the same price as one conventional 12 volt battery. They are industrial grade and very rugged.

I paid the same at Sams as Costco...$45 each. If I recall...they are 115 amp batteries. That computes to 39 cents an amp... compared to a 12 volt 110 amp for $90 @ .81 cents an amp.

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/rr.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]
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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts
Response Posted - 06/02/2003 :  12:05:22  Show Profile
Arlyn:

Did you have to make any modifications to the battery locker on your C250?

I noticed the footprint of golfcart batteries is no bigger than a group 27, but it's a bit taller. Just eyeballing it, interior dimensions of my C25 may require that I build up the starboard cabin seat top with 3/4" plywood and correspondingly raise the seatback securing buttons.

RichardG 81 C25 SR/FK "Sanity"
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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts
Response Posted - 06/02/2003 :  12:42:17  Show Profile  Visit Arlyn Stewart's Homepage
I placed the two 6v in the v berth locker after constructing a battery box for them with an oversize bottom that conforms to the hull sides so that they can't move.

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/rr.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]
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frank679
1st Mate

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USA
42 Posts
Response Posted - 06/02/2003 :  21:35:18  Show Profile
The "POWA CADDY" a walk behind electric golf cart use a small 12v gel battery. How do you think this would work? It is much smaller than the standard marine battery.

Frank. 1983 TR/FK Hull# 3816
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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts
Response Posted - 06/06/2003 :  02:26:37  Show Profile
Well, I put them in and they just fit (barely), with no modification necessary -- although the lid just touches wing nuts on top of a couple of the battery posts.

Hopefully this takes care of my power woes created by DC hungry children for a while.

RichardG 81 C25 SR/FK "Sanity"
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.