What batteries are regarded as the ultimate for solar systems?

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_OS_
_OS_ Solar Expert Posts: 207 ✭✭✭
When I bought my system last year (described in a thread elsewhere on this site) I did a lot of investigation on batteries and ended up with two Concorde SunXtender 305Ah (100 hour rating) batteries. These batteries could cope with the large temperature variations in the Norwegian mountains where my cabin is (-30C/-22F in the winter to +30C/86F in the summer). They also cost about twice as much as "branded" AGM batteries sold by many of the big stores in my country.

My question is: Are the Concorde batteries considered as the "state of the art" in maintenance free batteries?

Thanks!

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  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
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    Re: What batteries are regarded as the ultimate for solar systems?

    i think i would consider them one of the best and there are better ones out there too as is evidenced by cell towers and such. i am prejudiced as i have 1 too, but odds are there won't be a marked difference between say mk/deka and the concordes.
  • crewzer
    crewzer Registered Users, Solar Expert Posts: 1,832 ✭✭✭✭
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    Re: What batteries are regarded as the ultimate for solar systems?

    In no particular order, the following AGM battery brands and manufacturers seem to enjoy very good reputations here in the U.S.:

    Deka and MK (manufactured by East Penn)
    GNB Absolyte (manufactured by Exide)
    YUASA (small batteries)
    Sun Xtender and Lifeline (manufactured by Concorde)
    Trojan

    HTH,
    Jim / crewzer
  • System2
    System2 Posts: 6,290 admin
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    Re: What batteries are regarded as the ultimate for solar systems?

    Is the Deka/MK Battery 8AGC2-DEKA the equivalent to the Concorde

    Pvx-2240 6V, 224Ah (24Hr) Sealed Agm Battery.

    tia

    Bob
  • icarus
    icarus Solar Expert Posts: 5,436 ✭✭✭✭
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    Re: What batteries are regarded as the ultimate for solar systems?

    Pretty open question,

    Do you consider total life cycle cost? in which case cheaper batteries might win.
    Do you chose estimated failure rate? Cost per AH? Or?

    Tony