On Sat, Feb 13, 2010 at 9:29 AM, <
ShellyDalg@aol.com> wrote:
> I have read
the different specs on batteries and I know the AGM's are
the
> most recommended.
> There are quite a few things
to consider for sure.
> I have a question about charge
cycles.
> In applications such as ours, a golf cart seems the
closest match in usage,
> where the system is charged at night
and then receives a relatively deep
> discharge during the
day.
> From my reading the various battery sites, it seems the
lead plate's
> thickness has an impact on how many
charge/discharge cycles a particular
> battery will withstand
before it goes to hell.
> Most golf carts use 6 volt batteries
in series, and the plates are thicker
> than the ones in 12
volt batteries.
> Now I realize these are all wet cell
batteries.
> The thicker plates in a 6 volt battery are
apparently able to withstand more
> deep discharge cycles than
the thinner 12 volt plates. The overall size of
> the
batteries is close to the same but the 6 volt with only 3 cells
has
> bigger cells, I assume because the plates are
thicker.
> I've seen some battery manufacturers claim up to
700 cycles, while others
> don't have a set number of cycles
published.
> AGM's have advantages as far a spilling, out
gassing, and maybe reduced
> charge times.
> I'm
wondering how many cycles can be reasonably expected, provided
the
> batteries aren't abused by discharging them too low
during any one dive.
> Frank
D.
>