Any suggestions on low cost batteries ( manufacture ) brand

[Taos]

Hi im looking for some low cost batteries for a second system at a cabin out east ,im usually only there for one month out of the year ,  so dont want to spend big bucks just in case they walk away before i get back ,never had a problem but! Any sugestions on brand and model  , its a 12 volt inverter and was thinking of around 250 amp hours of storage , i can use either 12 volt or 6 volt to make up a 12 volt 250 amp hour storage capacity or more storage is great , i now have two cheap interstate so called deep cycle (rv)batteries . Junk ! ,i also have a 10 year old deka deep cycle  battery thats at the end of its life , so heres my chance to replace them all with a decent but not too expensive battery bank , im looking for best bang for a the buck .  Thanks
Don

[mike90045]

 a pair of golf cart batteries
6v, 200ah  about 90-100 bucks at any big store.  Wire in series for a 12V 200ah bank

[ClassicCrazy]

Yes - as Mike said 6v golf cart type  batteries  . East Penn Deka make good golf cart type batteries and they are branded under a few different labels. When you buy them look at the date code and make sure you get some manufactured within 6 months so they are fresh.

Which controller are you using ? Make sure the temperature compensation for your battery is set correctly .

Larry

[Taos]

Thanks for all the imput , my second system is using a kid charge controller ,260 -320 watts in solar panels ( depends on if i hook up the cheap panels with additional charge controller ) i do have a wizbang junior and battery temp sensor , i was thinking of golf cart batteries and im really impressed at my deka battery ( brand that i have ) thats 10 years old and is now near the end of its life , and $100 a battery im good with if i bought four . Just didnt want to spend $400-$500 per battery .

Thanks again
Don

[ClassicCrazy]

Lead acid golf cart type batteries last a long time if you never run them down below 70 t 80 percent of their capacity, that you check and keep water  so it doesn't get too low, and if you equalize them once a month or whenever they need it .

East Penn Deka has two golf cart type battery models - one is more capacity than the other and maybe better battery ( more lead in it).

If they are sitting for a long time you may want to just set the automatic equalize at the Absorb voltage every ten days with a longer equalize time ( one or two hours ? ) so it stirs up the electrolyte in them in case it stratifies.

Are you using ending amps or time to stop Absorb ?  With new batteries I would monitor the specific gravity and amps to determine the ending amps point . There are other forum threads in more detail on how to find ending amps point doing this.

Also look up East Penn Deka solar charging parameters - or their other charging parameters guidelines and set your new batteries to the lower of the voltage ranges for Absorb and Float that they recommend.

Also make sure you update your Kid to the newest firmware .

http://www.eastpennmanufacturing.com/wp-content/uploads/Deka-Scrubber_Sweeper-Flyer-0009.pdf

East Penn Deka deep cycle batteries . The solar line they have many of the batteries are the same with different label - check the specs on each and you will see they are the same. An East Penn Deka battery supplier may get you this type for less $ though.  Also I have seen some of these batteries in places like Batteries Plus chain with different labels on them - though Batteries Plus may change brands.  Usually I think the model number would be the same as East Penn Deka though.

http://africanenergy.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Renewable-Energy-Charging-Parameters.pdf

Sam's Club used to sell golf cart batteries for good price but not sure who manufacturer was of those - maybe Exide ?



Larry

[Taos]

Thanks Larry ,for all the info ,at this point im not using ending amps due to the cheap interstate  deep cycle ( lol) rv batteries  ,( no specs from manufacture only cca , )  i have these batteries because they came with a new airstream trailer i bought ,i immediately remouved them from the trailer and replaced them with sunxtender A.g.m. Deep cycle batteries and brought the cheap interstate batteries out east to my cabin were they are showing very poor hydrometer readings ,one cell dead on one and other similar problems  after one year , there no warrantee on these batteries because they go by date code on the battery , not when you buy the trailer ,so if the trailer was on the lot for a year you have no warrantee ! As for the software im using the latest 1860 dont think its out yet on the midnite site , and for equilizing the batteries since im only there for about a month in the summer and 2-3 weeks in the spring i dont like equilizing the batteries if im not there to top up the water in them or for a problem when im not there , thats also one of the reasons to buy cheaper batteries , this is one reason why i like deka batteries as the one i have there is 10 years old and with all the abuse its in better shape then my interstate 1 year old batteries .
Thanks again
Don

[Westbranch]

Ummmm...  the latest FW is version 2126... http://www.midnitesolar.com/firmware.php?firmwareProduct_ID=1

[ClassicCrazy]

Thanks Larry ,for all the info ,at this point im not using ending amps due to the cheap interstate  deep cycle ( lol) rv batteries  ,( no specs from manufacture only cca , )  i have these batteries because they came with a new airstream trailer i bought ,i immediately remouved them from the trailer and replaced them with sunxtender A.g.m. Deep cycle batteries and brought the cheap interstate batteries out east to my cabin were they are showing very poor hydrometer readings ,one cell dead on one and other similar problems  after one year , there no warrantee on these batteries because they go by date code on the battery , not when you buy the trailer ,so if the trailer was on the lot for a year you have no warrantee ! As for the software im using the latest 1860 dont think its out yet on the midnite site , and for equilizing the batteries since im only there for about a month in the summer and 2-3 weeks in the spring i dont like equilizing the batteries if im not there to top up the water in them or for a problem when im not there , thats also one of the reasons to buy cheaper batteries , this is one reason why i like deka batteries as the one i have there is 10 years old and with all the abuse its in better shape then my interstate 1 year old batteries .
Thanks again
Don

My suggestion was when you are not there to set equalizing for the absorb voltage - not the equalizing voltage. Set it to an hour or two  every 10 days .   It just stirs up the electrolyte which can stratify if batteries are not being actively used for a long period and are just in float all the time. That is what I have read .  If they are not being used they just go from bulk to absorb to float quickly and that is not enough time to stir it up. So if you set the equalize to absorb you are not over charging - just bubbling the electrolyte for a longer time than it would do .

Larry

[Taos]

Ummmm...  the latest FW is version 2126... http://www.midnitesolar.com/firmware.php?firmwareProduct_ID=1

The latest software ( not out on the midnite site ) is 1860 ,Westbranch were talking about software for the kid charge controller not the classic .
Don

[Taos]

Thanks Larry ,for all the info ,at this point im not using ending amps due to the cheap interstate  deep cycle ( lol) rv batteries  ,( no specs from manufacture only cca , )  i have these batteries because they came with a new airstream trailer i bought ,i immediately remouved them from the trailer and replaced them with sunxtender A.g.m. Deep cycle batteries and brought the cheap interstate batteries out east to my cabin were they are showing very poor hydrometer readings ,one cell dead on one and other similar problems  after one year , there no warrantee on these batteries because they go by date code on the battery , not when you buy the trailer ,so if the trailer was on the lot for a year you have no warrantee ! As for the software im using the latest 1860 dont think its out yet on the midnite site , and for equilizing the batteries since im only there for about a month in the summer and 2-3 weeks in the spring i dont like equilizing the batteries if im not there to top up the water in them or for a problem when im not there , thats also one of the reasons to buy cheaper batteries , this is one reason why i like deka batteries as the one i have there is 10 years old and with all the abuse its in better shape then my interstate 1 year old batteries .
Thanks again
Don

My suggestion was when you are not there to set equalizing for the absorb voltage - not the equalizing voltage. Set it to an hour or two  every 10 days .   It just stirs up the electrolyte which can stratify if batteries are not being actively used for a long period and are just in float all the time. That is what I have read .  If they are not being used they just go from bulk to absorb to float quickly and that is not enough time to stir it up. So if you set the equalize to absorb you are not over charging - just bubbling the electrolyte for a longer time than it would do .

Larry

Oh that makes sense,i wasnt thinking of that ,im sure this will extend the life of the batteries , i have done this on my primary system at home in the past just forgot .
Thanks again Larry
Don

[ClassicCrazy]

Ummmm...  the latest FW is version 2126... http://www.midnitesolar.com/firmware.php?firmwareProduct_ID=1

The latest software ( not out on the midnite site ) is 1860 ,Westbranch were talking about software for the kid charge controller not the classic .
Don

Guess you are more up to date than I am on the Kid firmware - hadn't heard about that new one but how would I if it isn't posted anywhere !

Larry

[Westbranch]

OOps, sorry Don looked at your sig line and saw the Classic 150 listed. My mistake. 

[Taos]

Ummmm...  the latest FW is version 2126... http://www.midnitesolar.com/firmware.php?firmwareProduct_ID=1

The latest software ( not out on the midnite site ) is 1860 ,Westbranch were talking about software for the kid charge controller not the classic .
Don

Guess you are more up to date than I am on the Kid firmware - hadn't heard about that new one but how would I if it isn't posted anywhere !

Larry

I had a problem with one of my kids charge  controller freezing intermittent and was sent the 1860 firmware to fix the freezing situation , so far so good !  I guess thats why theres not much info out yet as i i think i saw something like around june 12/2017 date code in the firmware ,could be a beta version in final testing stages .

Don

[Taos]

OOps, sorry Don looked at your sig line and saw the Classic 150 listed. My mistake. 

No problem westbranch, in my signature i have more info on system one then my second system and ran out of room to give all the details of second system , plus i didn't mention which  charge controller i was talking about , in each reply.
Don

[ClassicCrazy]

Ummmm...  the latest FW is version 2126... http://www.midnitesolar.com/firmware.php?firmwareProduct_ID=1

The latest software ( not out on the midnite site ) is 1860 ,Westbranch were talking about software for the kid charge controller not the classic .
Don

Guess you are more up to date than I am on the Kid firmware - hadn't heard about that new one but how would I if it isn't posted anywhere !

Larry

I had a problem with one of my kids charge  controller freezing intermittent and was sent the 1860 firmware to fix the freezing situation , so far so good !  I guess thats why theres not much info out yet as i i think i saw something like around june 12/2017 date code in the firmware ,could be a beta version in final testing stages .

Don

Was the freezing problem happening on Kids that were synced together ?

Larry