Use of Car Batteries in Solar Application

[Cariboocoot]

Another question on this same train of thought.

I had a pair of GEL Deka Solar 230 AH batteries but wanted more power so I got six 200AH truck batteries instead. Am I setting myself up for problems? I check them monthly for fluid levels and try to keep them well charged. This is a 24v system that is totally stand-alone (the grid stops 150kms away and it isn't constantly reliable anyways).

The six truck batteries were a little more than the pair of GEL cells were so when you look at the per AH cost the truck batteries are much better.

Proper deep cycle batteries are going to be almost impossible to find here in Sierra Leone.

This is a different case. Economics comes into play here. You could get the deep cycle batteries, but at how much more expense? The main problem with the auto type batteries is that they won't last as long being used this way. But if the others cost twice as much and these last half as long ... you use the truck batteries.

[Photowhit]

Proper deep cycle batteries are going to be almost impossible to find here in Sierra Leone.

If you have a port, likely you'll be able to find proper deep cycle batteries, when I lived in Florida, L16's where often called boat batteries, here in the mid west they are identified as floor scrubber batteries...lol.

[niel]

If you have a port, likely you'll be able to find proper deep cycle batteries, when I lived in Florida, L16's where often called boat batteries, here in the mid west they are identified as floor scrubber batteries...lol.

would that be because you have to drag them across the floor? they also can double as a boat anchor. (please don't take me seriously here.)

[cruiser guy]

If you have a port, likely you'll be able to find proper deep cycle batteries, when I lived in Florida, L16's where often called boat batteries, here in the mid west they are identified as floor scrubber batteries...lol.

That would be true if the port had those modern inventions like forklifts and the like. This one does not! It's cheaper to have an army of guys working for a buck or two a day (it also provides more folks with work, and I AM serious).

[john p]

For people living in countries like USA ,Australia most of Europe its hard to understand whypeople dont do the accepted"normal" thing. Like using deep cycle batteries.
I use "truck" batteries myself.dont care if they dont last as long or need every few days watter topping up. THEY ARE PRACTICAL.
Why? In Philippines like all third world countries some things are almost impossible to do.In the west you just go on net or on phone and order what you need and using credit card pay for it and an effecient transport company will deliver the goods in mabe 2 days.Ok ? Or you can go to a good battery supplier and buy the items you need and take with you. , Great huh?And what the west accepts as normal.
Now for 80% of the world all that is not possible. Usually only major multinational stores accept credit cards and only in person. In all other towns credit cards are not accepted at all.
Battery stores only exist in a small way in major cities and you need to go in person and pay cash, then somehow try to arrange a bus line to take them to your town. then you still have to get them home ..
You see some problems ???
Now truck batteries are available "everywhere" as every truck and bus uses them. In 3rd word countries they are cheap,usually about half the price compared to western countries. {the sales person and the battery facttory worker mabe each earns about $200 a MONTH.
You only have to go to mabe 2 to 4 hardware stores to get enough "identical " batteries.
A local bus will home deliver them.for very low cost. At home you have some worker check them every few days for you if you are not there cost mabe $1 for each weeks topping up.
I find if you only use the first 20% of the charge they last over 2 years and you get about 50% trade in on the next lot.

There is no such thing as one type fits all. I have done some systems using Lithium ion phosphate cells and they need no maintainance and in use over 3 yrs now andcharged using PWM charger. but they cost a lot more than truck batteries and would be very expensive for a big system.

[niel]

john p,
if they can get solar panels, they can get golf cart batteries.

[squarebob]

john p,
if they can get solar panels, they can get golf cart batteries.

Maybe, but at what cost?

[john p]

getting golf cart batteries has exactly the same problems as getting true deep cycle batteries. golf carts are only used in major cities not smaller cities or towns.
Its not easy getting solar panels either or charge controllers. In China you can live within one klm of a solar panel factory and not be able to buy solar panels. I know because I have some friends in China and they cant buy in their province charge controllers or solar panels and there are made there.All for export ONLY.

[niel]

hey, i never said they were cheap, but odds are the pvs were also hiked upward in costs for them just as deep cycle batteries would be. if the access is there for pvs then they can get batteries and it doesn't matter if they are from china or not as access is access. i'm quite sure ups didn't deliver their pvs so i'm confused why pvs are available, but not a deep cycle battery? so what if they don't have golf carts as most of everybody that buy the batteries don't have them either. i can understand some have difficulties getting some things, but getting batteries isn't any more difficult than getting pvs.

no more discussion on this moot point.

[Photowhit]

That would be true if the port had those modern inventions like forklifts and the like. This one does not! It's cheaper to have an army of guys working for a buck or two a day (it also provides more folks with work, and I AM serious).

OK Guys,

What part of 'Boat batteries' don't you understand? Boats don't want to run their generators or motors all the time, hence are pretty much an off grid system using a genny for charging. Please feel free to ignore the information, I do understand that transportation might be a problem, but I have found poorer people and areas tend to figure things out better than wealthy areas, as poorer people are more generous than wealthy when it comes to their time and effort.