Battery Replacement Time

verdigo
verdigo Solar Expert Posts: 428 ✭✭
Hello everyone.  It's been a while since I have been on the forum more than occasionally so my knowledge has suffered.  I have been running my 16 GC2 Interstate batteries since 2014. They probably would have made it a couple more years but I should have replaced the cell caps and provided a cooler environment for them. My question is should I just replace them or is there a better cheaper technology available than Lead/Acid golf cart batteries. As for the overheating I plan to move them outside my shed. Gets pretty hot in there even though it's pretty well ventilated.  Thanks

Dennis 

Comments

  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    Really depends on temperature extremes, maximum and minimum, a little elaboration would be helpful.
    1500W, 6× Schutten 250W Poly panels , Schneider MPPT 60 150 CC, Schneider SW 2524 inverter, 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Battery Bodyguard BMS 
    Second system 1890W  3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.  
    5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.
  • verdigo
    verdigo Solar Expert Posts: 428 ✭✭
    I am in Kentucky. I have a boiler type thermometer with a 6" probe that I place between batteries and have seen temperatures in the 130 -140 range. We rarely see ambient temps below zero but it does happen. New batteries will be outside in the shade with more space between them for better ventilation. Thanks.
  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    Operating lead acid at those high temperatures would definitely need temperature compensation,  moving outside may help in the upper ranges but temperature compensation would be beneficial in lower temperatures as well .

    Let us know if temperature compensation is used.


    1500W, 6× Schutten 250W Poly panels , Schneider MPPT 60 150 CC, Schneider SW 2524 inverter, 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Battery Bodyguard BMS 
    Second system 1890W  3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.  
    5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    5 years is a great long life for golf cart batteries.  I'd do nothing different, and just replace them.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    And reduce the battery temperatures (better ventilation, move out of sun/window/cover window in room, etc.).

    More or less, for ever 10C (18F) over 25C (75F), your battery life (storage/float) is cut by ~1/2...

    140F-75F = 65F
    65F/18F = 3.61

    2^3.61 = 12.2

    1/12.2 = 0.08 battery life (1/10th of life stored at 140F vs if stored at 75F)

    Generally, I would assume that your batteries are not always that hot (not summer)... In any case, 5 years is not bad life for "generic" golf cart batteries.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    May or may not be an issue, but worth noting apparent capacity is reduced in cold temps.

    Mine run around 2/3 rated capacity at ~0°F.  Insulating the crawlspace they're in helped alot to moderate extreme temps (ambient outside ~ +100°F down to -45°, now ~ +65 to +5°F with insulation).
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter