The models above are about 10.5”L X 7”W X 11”H and weigh 58 pounds. These stats are very similar to two of Interstate’s direct offerings: the value-minded PF-GC2-UTL deep cycle battery and their more-premium high-cycle GC2-HCL-UTL, both of which are around $150 – much higher than Costco’s offering.
COSTCO MARINE BATTERY SERIES
This really isn’t an issue, though, and is a common tactic for DIY solar enthusiasts (some batteries even come in 2 volts!).įor more information on voltage and connecting batteries, read over our article Wiring Solar Panels in Series vs Parallel: Which Is Better? Specs of Costco golf cart batteries Golf cart batteries, marine batteries, and batteries specifically designed for renewable energy projects all have this key feature.Ĭostco’s batteries – like all golf cart batteries – are 6 volt, so you’ll need to buy at least a pair to create a 12-volt system. Unlike your car’s battery, which puts out a high amount of electricity for a short period of time (to allow your car to crank), deep cycle batteries are designed to give lower amounts of electricity over a longer time frame – perfect for back-up power! Golf cart batteries are deep cycle batteries designed for heavy, long-term use.
Turns out, they’re actually a pretty good deal! Can you use Costco golf cart batteries for solar? You can find references to this idea in a few different forums, but we decided to take a bigger dive to get the scoop on whether Costco golf cart batteries are worth our time. You might’ve heard that Costco sells decently-priced golf cart batteries that are great for solar applications like small off-grid systems or campers. If Lithium batteries were not significantly or vastly superior to FLA/GEL in all but 2 aspects, much of this forum would not exist.Can You Use Costco Golf Cart Batteries for Solar? Is there an affordable battery backup option for your solar array at your local warehouse store? Then, all at once, in one day, they grow up, get a good job, leave the house and pay back rent. It's like having twin 2 year olds that seem to never grow up. For the younger generations, It is not likely you will have anything remaining in your possession after 25 years that you paid $4500 for today. I'm 57 now with 2500ah of 12v DIY LFE, it is entirely possible they will outlive me. For a DIY If somebody is already off grid or at least supplementing the grid, they most likely have the skills to crimp a few wires.įor those who's time is "too valuable" to waste building a battery, please stop quoting sports statistics.Īfter 15 years of 100% off grid FLA, hell no, I will never go back. There are a few positive reviewed Amazon LFE in a box, no assembly required, of apparent good quality that you would only have to take into account low temps and modifications to charge profile.100ah $500, 200ah $800.Ī DIY build? 250ish amp hours think a $600ish ballpark. That outfit would still cost way more than a few off the shelf LFE.Įven the high grade gel batteries are fragile in comparison to LFE.
COSTCO MARINE BATTERY FULL
If you have an enormous FLA battery bank and manage to use 20%, recharging to full with absorb and float every single day, like a starter battery in a car, they will last quite a while like most car batteries. Let any FLA sit for a week at 30% and you can get a $10 Autozone store card for it. Store your LFE at 30% for a few months and comfortably get 10 to 20% more out of it. Now compare 8 to 15 year expected life span for LFE, and that is to 80% functional capacity.īy the time you add an auto water and high frequency de-sulphate on each battery, you may as well buy LFE even at a 2 to 1 price difference. You would be lucky if you still have 75% FLA capacity after 18 months 50% after 24. If you manage to forget the water for a week or 2, now it's less than a year. Because after that first year there WILL be significant capacity lost. It would take, an absolute minimum, 2 Costco 100ah batteries ($300) to match 1 low to mid range LFE 100ah ($375-$500) over 1 year usage with a 75ah per day drain. The warranty is for shorts, not capacity loss. Their idea of "Deep Cycle" and an actual Deep Cycle battery will not stand up to close comparison.Ĭostco only expects 5% of the people to return their $150 battery. Because gel will beat the crap out of FLA Costco on every metric, unless you only need it to work for 6 months.
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