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18-07-2012, 18:54
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Massachusetts
Boat: 40' Silverton Aftcabin with twin Crusaders
Posts: 1,791
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Golf cart batteries
I spent too much time over the last couple of days looking for 4 each 6vdc wet cell lead acid batteries rated at 225 ampere hour. At first I had high hope to purchase the Trojan T105s. The more I looked the sicker I got!
If one does an online search, they are all over the place along with their prices. Shipping is out of sight as one would expect. So I tried the local distributor in Providence RI which is travel reasonable for me. YUP, THEY HAVE THEM AND I COULD ALSO HAVE THEM FOR $207 EACH!!! I balked! Next I asked for Interstate's equivalent batteries but no, they had nothing to offer BUT THEY DID HAVE THEIR HOUSE BATTERY, A STEAL AT$175 there about!
I checked Wally world stores, ziltch! So I checked Wally on line, thought I would order them and pick the order up at one of their stores. Good luck with that, they do not offer them on line!
I NEEDED BATTERIES.......NOW!!!!!
Well as in all endeavors, perseverance pays off! I did not find Trojans, I did not end up with Interstates but I did find a supplier for East Penn batteries. Yeah, the deep discharge type rated at 230 ampere hours (I believe) and for the reasonable cost of $146 each AND BETTER THAN THAT, BECAUSE I WILL PURCHASE 4, I was told the price will be somewhat lower for my cash purchase.
Now I know nothing about East Penn batteries. I do know that my current batteries that are in need of replacement were new at the start of my 2005 season. They were supplied by a battery house in Portland, ME. Nothing special about them except they are HUGE, I don't care enough to look up what group they fall into but I once checked how much they should weigh based on their size, somewhere around 150# each. I destroyed those things because the boat's battery charger consists of yesteryear's technology that includes a regulator of sorts following a resonant transformer.
I now have a 50 ampere Xantrex 3 stage charger which works well. If I had the Xantrex before the batteries sulfated, I think they would still be functional.
More later--
Foggy
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18-07-2012, 19:04
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: On our yacht Byamee
Boat: Footloose 40 steel cutter
Posts: 316
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Re: Golf cart batteries
Quote:
Originally Posted by foggysail
I spent too much time over the last couple of days looking for 4 each 6vdc wet cell lead acid batteries rated at 225 ampere hour. At first I had high hope to purchase the Trojan T105s. The more I looked the sicker I got!
If one does an online search, they are all over the place along with their prices. Shipping is out of sight as one would expect. So I tried the local distributor in Providence RI which is travel reasonable for me. YUP, THEY HAVE THEM AND I COULD ALSO HAVE THEM FOR $207 EACH!!! I balked! Next I asked for Interstate's equivalent batteries but no, they had nothing to offer BUT THEY DID HAVE THEIR HOUSE BATTERY, A STEAL AT$175 there about!
I checked Wally world stores, ziltch! So I checked Wally on line, thought I would order them and pick the order up at one of their stores. Good luck with that, they do not offer them on line!
if it was me i would have bought the Trojans . We have them on Byamee for the last 3 years and they are as good as the day we bought them ...and we work them hard
www.byamee.com
I NEEDED BATTERIES.......NOW!!!!!
Well as in all endeavors, perseverance pays off! I did not find Trojans, I did not end up with Interstates but I did find a supplier for East Penn batteries. Yeah, the deep discharge type rated at 230 ampere hours (I believe) and for the reasonable cost of $146 each AND BETTER THAN THAT, BECAUSE I WILL PURCHASE 4, I was told the price will be somewhat lower for my cash purchase.
Now I know nothing about East Penn batteries. I do know that my current batteries that are in need of replacement were new at the start of my 2005 season. They were supplied by a battery house in Portland, ME. Nothing special about them except they are HUGE, I don't care enough to look up what group they fall into but I once checked how much they should weigh based on their size, somewhere around 150# each. I destroyed those things because the boat's battery charger consists of yesteryear's technology that includes a regulator of sorts following a resonant transformer.
I now have a 50 ampere Xantrex 3 stage charger which works well. If I had the Xantrex before the batteries sulfated, I think they would still be functional.
More later--
Foggy
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If it was me i would have bought the Trojans .We have had them on Byamee for the last 3 years and they are as good as the day we bought them .
www.byamee.com
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18-07-2012, 19:29
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Massachusetts
Boat: 40' Silverton Aftcabin with twin Crusaders
Posts: 1,791
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Re: Golf cart batteries
Quote:
Originally Posted by TOM
If it was me i would have bought the Trojans .We have had them on Byamee for the last 3 years and they are as good as the day we bought them .
www.byamee.com
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Well--- I didn't. Your batteries are only 3 years old, they should be like new if you take care and prevent those conditions that result in sulfation from happening. I mentioned that the "no name" batteries now in my boat are in their 7th year!
I also found pedigreed batteries such as Atlantic & Surette batteries lasted no longer than less expensive batteries on my old sailboat. The old flooded lead acid battery has been around over 100 years so I doubt the pedigreed batteries available in today's marketplace can offer new chemical achievements. Trojan IS A GOOD BATTERY, I just did not want to pay the higher premium price.
Foggy
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18-07-2012, 19:30
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Lakewood Ranch, FLORIDA
Boat: Alden 50, Sarasota, Florida
Posts: 3,464
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Re: Golf cart batteries
Did you check Northeast Battery in Providence? That's the best place for Trojans inm terms of price
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18-07-2012, 19:46
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: daytona beach florida
Boat: csy 37
Posts: 2,976
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Re: Golf cart batteries
the golf cart batteries sold at sams club are less than $80 each AND are made by east penn (it says so right on the battery). i bought four last year...
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18-07-2012, 20:03
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Pacific Northwest, USA
Boat: FL12 12 ft rowboat, 8 foot sailing dink, 18 foot SeaRay I/O
Posts: 321
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Re: Golf cart batteries
You have fallen into the classic battery trap. Very few batteries on the market in the USA are made by the name on the label, They are almost all made by Johnson Controls or a company in China (whose name I can't recall at the moment) There are a few exceptions. East Penn is one, and Trojan is another. But the honest truth is even such well know brands as Sears Diehard are made by one of these two, and so are the batteries at Wallyworld and K-mart. The only real difference is the brand name and the price.
See Battery FAQ Car and Deep Cycle Battery FAQ, Battery Manufacturers and Brand Names List, and Look for the Battery Manufacturers and Brand Name list.
East Penn is a well respected battery manufacturer and one of the first to make Gel Cell batteries. I met the pres of the company back in the late 90's. Trojan Also makes some good batts.
By the way if you are looking for golf cart batteries RV stores are good sources because many large RVs also use deep cycle batteries. So check out Camping World or a dealer ship for one of the large manufacturers like Winnebago or Holiday Mansion.
__________________
Ike
"Dont tell me I can't, tell me how I can"
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18-07-2012, 20:18
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#7
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Maine
Boat: CS-36T - Cupecoy
Posts: 3,197
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Re: Golf cart batteries
Quote:
Originally Posted by foggysail
Well as in all endeavors, perseverance pays off! I did not find Trojans, I did not end up with Interstates but I did find a supplier for East Penn batteries. Yeah, the deep discharge type rated at 230 ampere hours (I believe) and for the reasonable cost of $146 each AND BETTER THAN THAT, BECAUSE I WILL PURCHASE 4, I was told the price will be somewhat lower for my cash purchase.
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You can buy that same battery at Sam's Club for $88.00 sold under the Duracell label. It is called the EGC2 and is 230 Ah. They also have the GC2 which is 215 Ah's......
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19-07-2012, 04:55
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Massachusetts
Boat: 40' Silverton Aftcabin with twin Crusaders
Posts: 1,791
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Re: Golf cart batteries
Quote:
Originally Posted by S/V Illusion
Did you check Northeast Battery in Providence? That's the best place for Trojans inm terms of price
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That is the company who gave me the quote
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19-07-2012, 05:28
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Massachusetts
Boat: 40' Silverton Aftcabin with twin Crusaders
Posts: 1,791
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Re: Golf cart batteries
Quote:
Originally Posted by Maine Sail
You can buy that same battery at Sam's Club for $88.00 sold under the Duracell label. It is called the EGC2 and is 230 Ah. They also have the GC2 which is 215 Ah's......
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MAINE SAIL
We have few Sam's clubs in this area. This time I lucked out, there is one in Seekonk, MA that is almost on my way to the boat. I called them this morning and they have that battery in stock for $88.
Of course I will need to join, the business membership is $35 so the batteries will cost a little more with the membership fee added. Hey-- that is still less than $145 each.
Thanks.....and I will click your "thanks" button!!!
Foggy
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19-07-2012, 05:38
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Slidell, Louisiana, USA
Boat: William Atkin Cutter, 35'
Posts: 150
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Re: Golf cart batteries
We use all six volt Sams Golf cart batteries. 4 on the house, 2 on the starting side. Great price, and they last. Hard to beat.
__________________
"Love My Country, Fear My Government"
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19-07-2012, 06:25
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#11
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Now on the Dark Side: Stink Potter.
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Palm Coast, Florida
Boat: Sea Hunt 234 Ultra
Posts: 3,962
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Re: Golf cart batteries
I have used East Penn golf cart batteries in the past:
The first set lasted 5 years, the second set 6.5 years.
Just bought another 4 for about $90.00 each.
East Penn also make batteries for West Marine and Costco.
Highly recommended.
__________________
Life is sexually transmitted
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19-07-2012, 06:50
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#12
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cat herder, extreme blacksheep
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: furycame alley , tropics, mexico for now
Boat: 1976 FORMOSA yankee clipper 41
Posts: 18,967
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Re: Golf cart batteries
i got my 6v batteries at costco. the 10 yr warrantee and exchange is good--even in mexico.
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19-07-2012, 07:43
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#13
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֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 15,136
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Re: Golf cart batteries
JCI is probably the #1 (biggest) battery maker in the US. Deka/East Penn is either #2 or #2, depending on who you ask. As long as the new battery is a "traction battery" the odds are it will be comparable to the Trojan, in terms of plate thickness which translates into life cycles.
Now, I know from a local battery wholesaler that they supply batteries to all sorts of places, i.e. slapping a "Honda" label on one when the local dealer needs an OEM battery, and labels can be printed up anywhere. But I find it odd that those batteries in the pictures say "GOLF CAR" instead of "GOLF CART", the way the shelf card under them does. Sounds like something got made in China, not the US. Or am I the only one who never has heard of a "Golf Car" ?
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19-07-2012, 07:54
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Underway in the Med -
Boat: Jeanneau 40 DS SoulMates
Posts: 2,274
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Re: Golf cart batteries
i guess it depends on how you want to use them - being in the usa - my guess is you will sail part of the year and store the boat part of the year - and can recharge at a dock - so east penn would work as would most -
HOWEVER - if you plan extensive out of the usa and out of marinas - i would suggest the best quality you can find period - we had west marine batteries and they lasted about 4 years but the last year was a struggle -
we have been out of the usa about 2 years but rarely went in to marinas even in the usa - we charge with 3 130w solar panels backed by a 150amp engine alternator when we need more "sun" -- once out the usa we headed south to colombia and the batteries just would not hold a good charge after a while and we had the run the engine more and more -
we got 6 new trojan t105 in the dominican republic and while we have had them only a short while - wow what a difference --
what we find out here is quality counts for a lot
just our opinion
chuck patty and svsoulmates
in trinidad for hurricane season
and yes we are in a marina and no we are not hooked to electricity right now - we had to for 1 day when we had no sun for 3 days -
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19-07-2012, 08:18
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: USA
Boat: Cape Dory
Posts: 448
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Re: Golf cart batteries
Quote:
Originally Posted by foggysail
MAINE SAIL
We have few Sam's clubs in this area. This time I lucked out, there is one in Seekonk, MA that is almost on my way to the boat. I called them this morning and they have that battery in stock for $88.
Of course I will need to join, the business membership is $35 so the batteries will cost a little more with the membership fee added. Hey-- that is still less than $145 each.
Thanks.....and I will click your "thanks" button!!!
Foggy
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Request a trial membership. They'll generally give you 6 months free to try the place.
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