replacing battery bank which way to go.

[wildwood]

we are needing to replace our bank of 10 trojan L16 batteries. need some feedback. should we stick with these or try something else. we have been happy with the performance as we got about 7 years from them! Also where can we find the best price for these. i was depressed to see they had doubled in price! yikes! thanks ahead of time!

[12vman]

You might consider golf cart batteries. They're a little smaller in aHr. rating but somewhat less expensive.

I bought my last set at Sam's Club. At the time, they had the best price.

[WRTN]

I've had good experiences dealing with these folks in the past. See anything here that might work?

http://www.batterystuff.com/batteries/pv-solar/

[nattylite]

http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm (http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm)

http://www.otherpower.com/otherpower_battery_compare.html

[Michael32170]

http://www.homepower.com/home/

[PaulNKS]

I just had to replace mine last week. I bought Interstate U2200 golf cart batteries. They are 225 amp-hour deep cycle. I paid $94.95 each. I am replacing a set of Interstate U2200's that I bought in October 2002.... So, I am sold on them. The solar distributor that I use said to go with them because for the amp-hours, price and lifetime... I can't do any better.
PaulNKS

[12vman]

I will be replacing mine this summer. I installed them in Sept. of '04. I only use 4 so I notice the decrease in capacity much faster than in a bigger set up.

Mine are Exide. I purchased them at Sam's Club with no core charge. I believe that I paid $67 at that time but I'll expect to pay more this time. :P

I can get Interstate batteries through my job for $83 but they didn't last as long as the Exide brand. I had to replace them in 3 years. Just my experience..

[PaulNKS]

12VMan,

Only 3 years with the Interstate? Was it the same model U2200 that I have used? I use 8 batteries and one 75 watt panel and an 80 watt panel. My batteries lasted 6 1/2 years. When I bought them in Oct 2002, I paid $57 each. When I bought the new ones last week they had gone to $94.95. Quite an increase....

You have quite a few more watts in panels than I do, if I remember correctly.

The reason I didn't go with Exide is that I have used Exide batteries in the tractors and wasn't too pleased with them. I had bought them at Walmart.... So, I sort of shyed away from them. But like anything, some things work great for one person and not the other.... odd how that works.

PaulNKS

[12vman]

Yea.. I had 4-Interstates installed and I struggled through 1 winter. The ones that I have now are going but i got 2 years more from them..

I took good care of the Interstates but.. Idunno.. The load test tells all..