I am looking for new coach batteries for my Regency. My decision has been to go with golf cart batteries since they are the only ones that are made, and rated, for deep discharging and multiple charging. Marine/Deep Cycle batteries have ratings for cold cranking amps which indicates a dual purpose battery. I currently have four Interstate SRM-27 batteries that were in the coach when I bought it.

I desperately need some technical information before I decide. The only data that is consistently on all battery data sheets is for 20AHR, Mins. at 25A and Mins at 75A. I honestly do not know which of these is the one to base my selection on. There is no direct correlation between them.

I have attached a pdf file from an Excel spreadsheet where I have rated them according to cost, 20AHR, Mins. at 25A and Mins. at 75A. Cost is a factor in my decision but not the main driving factor. Based on my spreadsheet I am tending toward the Exide GC145. It is a reasonable compromise of cost and amperage ratings.

I have the following questions:
1. Which amperage data is most important?
2. Are there significant quality differences?
3. Would the Exide GC145 be a good choice?

Any, and all, help will be greatly appreciated.

See Attachment) Battery Comparison

quote:

Originally posted by Lance Walton:
I am looking for new coach batteries for my Regency. My decision has been to go with golf cart batteries since they are the only ones that are made, and rated, for deep discharging and multiple charging.

Have you looked at L16s? They require more vertical clearance than GCs, but offer several advantages.

The best buy for the buck are 6vdc golf cart battery from Sam's club. By those who spend a lot of time off grid the favorite are T105s but the ones at Sams give almost the same amp hours as the T105s at half the cost.

Battery companies seem to have changed the way the rate batteries.

Usta be
T105-220 amp hrs
sames-210 amp hrs
L16 about 330 amp hrs but very expensive.

I currently have 2 sams batteries, but need two more as I have to much solar power for only two batteries.

Two years ago when I needed new coach batteries the consenses was T105's. I had the height clearance to install them and have been satisfied ..................

I agree with Gary. I just bought 6 US Battery EC2 series T105 equivalent to replace my Trojan T105s that I have had for 6 years. I got these for nearly the same price as Costco 6 volt golf cart batteries (Costco is $89.00 vs. $100.00). I had to make a different battery tray to hold all 6 and to relocate the power steering reservoir, but all do fit nicely. I use the coach batteries extensively and have a three stage charger/inverter. I also have the water filling system with hand pump.

IMHO the T105 equivalent is the best bang for the buck. It is important to maintain water levels.

I know Bill's comment about the L16s yes, having fewer cells in series/parallel is a slight advantage but the cost is way out of line with the T105s or equivalent
.

The US Battery EC2 US 2200 series 20 Hr rate is 232 slightly higher than the Trojan spec but who knows specs can be somewhat inaccurate for sure.

US Battery

I will post pictures later

I've not had good service from the Sam's GC2s. The local price of the T105s was $95/ea., compared to GC2s @ $75/ea. IIRC, the T105s have a slightly higher capacity.

quote:

Originally posted by MWrench:
I agree with Gary. I just bought 6 US Battery EC2 series T105 equivalent to replace my Trojan T105s that I have had for 6 years. I got these for nearly the same price as Costco 6 volt golf cart batteries (Costco is $89.00 vs. $100.00). I had to make a different battery tray to hold all 6 and to relocate the power steering reservoir, but all do fit nicely. I use the coach batteries extensively and have a three stage charger/inverter. I also have the water filling system with hand pump.

IMHO the T105 equivalent is the best bang for the buck. It is important to maintain water levels.

I know Bill's comment about the L16s yes, having fewer cells in series/parallel is a slight advantage but the cost is way out of line with the T105s or equivalent
.

The US Battery EC2 US 2200 series 20 Hr rate is 232 slightly higher than the Trojan spec but who knows specs can be somewhat inaccurate for sure.

US Battery

I will post pictures later

Ed
I would like to see pictures. Where did you remount the power steering reservoir? I've been looking at the possibilities of expanding the battery bank.

Right now I have 2 interstate 12 volt batteries. Why because it is what it had. I have 225 watts of solar.

quote:

Originally posted by MWrench:




I know Bill's comment about the L16s yes, having fewer cells in series/parallel is a slight advantage but the cost is way out of line with the T105s or equivalent
.

My last (6/12) L16 purchase was $215 ea. (no trade in) for 370 amp hrs at the 20 hour rate. That works out to $0.58 per amp hr.

A T-105 (which I also use) would have to cost $130.50 at $0.58 per amp hour. That is pretty close to what they are with a trade-in. More without.

So, depending on your shopping luck, it's almost even money per amp hour.

If your shopping comes up with almost equal price per amp hour, then the longer life of the L16 is added to the advantage of avoiding parallel battery strings. And half as many cells to check for SG. And half the interconnects to clean. And half the Water Misers to buy.

The only drawback I can see for L16s is their weight and height.

At the airline we used Golf Cart batteries on flat deck vehicles where the height of L16s would not work. We used L16s everywhere else, and got longer life from them. There were a lot of variables, but overall, the L16s were spec'd by our engineers for everything but low bed carts. Each station had hundreds of batteries, and I have no idea how many the overhaul bases had, but a bunch, and all were used hard and tracked by hydrometers and conductance testers.

Having said all that, I use four T105s in my Barth because of space limitations. I would use 2 L16s in a heartbeat if I could.

When you say the "L16" are you referring to the US Battery listed on their site as the REL16? If so, where did you get them $215? Those batteries end up as number one on my list except for cost. If cost is considered it is at the very bottom costing $328 each.

quote:

Originally posted by Lance Walton:
When you say the "L16" are you referring to the US Battery listed on their site as the REL16?

No.

They were Trojan L16E-AC

The lowest cost I could find locally for the L16 Trojan battery was $325.00 ea. I could have fitted 2 of those in my battery location but, for the same cost I have 696 AH/20hr (6 US2200) vs. 420 AH/20hr (2 L16). Of course I have a weight penalty of about 120 lbs with 6 US 2200 vs 2 L16 also.

My write up is coming soon

quote:

Originally posted by MWrench:
The lowest cost I could find locally for the L16 Trojan battery was $325.00 ea.

Battery shopping is always a waiting game. The price of Trojans is all over the map, depending on how much profit a vendor feels entitled to for a few key strokes.

I had the luxury of time, since the batteries were for my home solar system. I finally found the $215 price from Century Solar in Tucson (on Facebook, of all places). I didn't feel like driving down to Tucson, so I payed by PayPal and he arranged pick up at the Battery Systems nearest me (Phoenix)

The price might have been low because I bought eight at a time. Don't remember for sure.

Finally got around to the write up of the 6 battery installation. This picture is the final installation with all hooked up.




6 US Battery EC2 US 2200 batteries in a 30' Breakaway

Nice job. As everything I have seen you do. I have some rot to deal with and I want battery capacity for later when I need it.

Being 35' Not sure I want more weight that far back. I don't see any other options without losing storage. That is where I was looking to put my power steering.

Dana, when you get that much capacity and if you have a 2000 watt inverter or bigger, it is always wise to be no further than 10 feet from the batteries and use 4/0 wire.

Yours being 35' you have far less tail wagging problem than I have. I could have put mine in the storage bin ahead of the right side wheel but storage is at a premium already and I can not give up any. My inverter/charger is at the foot of the bed and is a bit of fan noise. BUT---

I can still check the power steering fluid level from the side door. I can reach the dip stick just around the corner. I also think it will be less of a mess where it is now.