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Old 03-28-2019, 03:56 PM   #1
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Advice on Golf Cart Battery Brands

I'm in the process of replacing two 8D flooded lead acid batteries with six GC2 Golf cart batteries. I want to stay with flooded lead acid. The brands I am looking at all have about the same price for 220 amp hour models. In consideration is Crown, Interstate and Duracell.

Does anyone have experience with these brands that might help me make the best choice?

Thanks in advance for any information.

Wayne Prichard
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Old 03-28-2019, 04:36 PM   #2
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Wayne
Take a look at RCs article on deep cycle battys.
https://marinehowto.com/what-is-a-deep-cycle-battery/
I think he includes comments on those brands.
I I remember correctly he points out that they all make a "budget" line and a commercial golf cart quality line. So one point is to make sure you are comparing apples & apples.
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Old 03-28-2019, 04:36 PM   #3
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I've got Crown but they are 235AH. They came with the boat last summer. They are four years old. They weren't used correctly. One set is off 0.15 volts @ about 12.6v at full charge.



I would check each manufacturer weight - heavier = more lead..... Higher AH rate = thinner plates in the same form factor.


I am replacing with Rolls - S6-250
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Old 03-28-2019, 04:49 PM   #4
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I've had my best luck with Trojan. Tried other brands and they didn't measure up.
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Old 03-28-2019, 04:49 PM   #5
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I’m going to need to replace my house bank soon. I’m looking at Trojan T-105 . A golf cart dealer in town is a distributor for them .
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Old 03-28-2019, 04:59 PM   #6
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I doubt that any brand, even the budget line, is all that bad. No one could stay in business for long while providing a bad product. The market is just too big. Crappy products will quickly be flushed out.

Premium brands like Trojan and Lifeline might have somewhat thicker plates and provide a bit longer life. As noted above, check battery weight. 10% more weight might mean 10% more life.

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Old 03-28-2019, 05:18 PM   #7
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I live in a golf cart friendly community and most people use Trojan T-105s, Duracell ar cheaper as are many others and likely for a reason. I used US Battery mfg batteries on my last boat. They had similar specs as the Trojans and after 6 years they were still strong.
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Old 03-28-2019, 05:44 PM   #8
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We had the three Trojan T-105s in our GB for the house bank. I plan to put them in the Ocean Alexander when the house needs replacing.
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Old 03-28-2019, 06:16 PM   #9
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Very happy with my Trojan T-105s

Ted
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Old 03-28-2019, 06:27 PM   #10
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I've always used Interstate GC's, never a problem. I have 8 of them for the house bank. I replace them at 5-6 years but they'd go longer I'm sure.
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Old 03-28-2019, 07:40 PM   #11
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sam's club

re-branded Deka

$80 a pop
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Old 03-28-2019, 08:01 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mystery View Post
sam's club

re-branded Deka

$80 a pop
I've always wondered about "rebranded" products, that is, are they of exactly the same manufacture. I do know that some name brands sold by Home Depot are more cheaply made. For example, what looks like an identical snow blower actually has thinner sheet metal housings. It's the same with some lawn cutting equipment. For that reason, I would never buy that sort of product from Home Depot regardless the name plate. As for the Sam's Club batteries, the "tell" for me would be comparative overall weight any difference likely being attributable to plate weight.

I checked the specs. The Sam's Club battery (Duracell) is rated at 208 amp hours, the Deka is 230 amp hours which suggests to me that the two battery brands are not constructed identically. I am not surprised. Also, today's price at Sam's is $90.
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Old 03-28-2019, 08:15 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by catalinajack View Post
I've always wondered about "rebranded" products, that is, are they of exactly the same manufacture. I do know that some name brands sold by Home Depot are more cheaply made. For example, what looks like an identical snow blower actually has thinner sheet metal housings. It's the same with some lawn cutting equipment. For that reason, I would never buy that sort of product from Home Depot regardless the name plate. As for the Sam's Club batteries, the "tell" for me would be comparative overall weight any difference likely being attributable to plate weight.
For this specific model, its pretty much common knowledge that it is identical.

Yes, you are right, some times products can be inferior but not always.

There are certain items that I buy at west marine sitting next to a name brand product but happens to be branded west marine and its the same exact thing at 50% of the cost (especially with a Pro discount).

Some sellers / manufacturers are happy to confirm whether a product is identical and just re-badged. Some you have to do your own research.
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Old 03-28-2019, 08:36 PM   #14
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Last year I bought 4 gc2 from costco. Looking at the model I found that they are made by a us company (sorry don't remember the name). Considering the discount price at costco, even if they last half the life of a trojan ( what I would doubt, as even if I expect difference I don't expect it to be so much) it would be a good deal. Battery life depends on usage but also on maintenance.
Anyway I will see and experience will tell.

L
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Old 03-28-2019, 08:37 PM   #15
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Take a look at NAPA branded. Without oversimplifying it, the heavier the battery, the better. Look for East Penn manufactured ones... the name on the label doesn’t really matter too much. That said, don’t set one foot out of West Marine with any of their batteries in your hand.
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Old 03-28-2019, 08:42 PM   #16
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Costco for sure, they just don’t always have them when you need them.
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Old 03-28-2019, 09:01 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom.B View Post
Take a look at NAPA branded. Without oversimplifying it, the heavier the battery, the better. Look for East Penn manufactured ones... the name on the label doesn’t really matter too much. That said, don’t set one foot out of West Marine with any of their batteries in your hand.
TomB
I agree re East Penn but do believe wt is an real over simplification...
Ex: Nothing much heavier than 8D but most resources advise they are not a good choice
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Old 03-28-2019, 09:08 PM   #18
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We have 8 Crown 6volt. They are 4+ years old. We anchor frequently and use our boat 12 months a year. I also have a 4D Crown for engine start. Its 5 years old. I take SGs about 4 times a year and have seen no decrease in performance. For some reason the Crown resting voltage is higher than other batts. I will buy them again.
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Old 03-28-2019, 09:15 PM   #19
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Quote:
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TomB
I agree re East Penn but do believe wt is an real over simplification...
Ex: Nothing much heavier than 8D but most resources advise they are not a good choice
Even 8Ds vary in weight.
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Old 03-29-2019, 06:12 AM   #20
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I have Interstate, and they have lasted good so far.
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