Trojan batteries

[Cloudinspector]

I'm replacing our battery bank (4x110ah cheapies)

and thinking of splashing out on 4x 12v 105ah Trojan ultra deep cycle batteries. They have an impressive 1000 recharge cycles compared to 300 on the cheap ones.

Would like some feedback from folks who have used Trojans please.

[Robbo]

I'm replacing our battery bank (4x110ah cheapies)

and thinking of splashing out on 4x 12v 105ah Trojan ultra deep cycle batteries. They have an impressive 1000 recharge cycles compared to 300 on the cheap ones.

Would like some feedback from folks who have used Trojans please.

 

I would go for 6 volt batteries instead of 12 volt batteries, other than that Trojans have a good name.

Edited October 11, 2013 by Robbo

[by'eck]

 

I would go for 6 volt batteries instead of 12 volt batteries, other than that Trojans have a good name.

 

Agreed - another recent thread here

[Cloudinspector]

 

I would go for 6 volt batteries instead of 12 volt batteries, other than that Trojans have a good name.

So as someone who doesn't really do electrics, other than basic stuff, how would I replace 4x110 amp 12v batteries with 6v ones and what are the benefits?

[by'eck]

So as someone who doesn't really do electrics, other than basic stuff, how would I replace 4x110 amp 12v batteries with 6v ones and what are the benefits?

 

I think we crossed posts so read this

[Robbo]

So as someone who doesn't really do electrics, other than basic stuff, how would I replace 4x110 amp 12v batteries with 6v ones and what are the benefits?

 

 

Edited October 11, 2013 by Robbo

[ralphclaydon]

Hi

Can i ask a question?

If the original battery bank is 4 x 110 AH Batteries (12 volts)

Then the bank total is 440 AH,

On the Trojan T-105 it states that the Capacity is 225AH.

What then is the size of the battery bank with 4 x T-105?

[Robbo]

Hi

Can i ask a question?

If the original battery bank is 4 x 110 AH Batteries (12 volts)

Then the bank total is 440 AH,

On the Trojan T-105 it states that the Capacity is 225AH.

What then is the size of the battery bank with 4 x T-105?

 

450Ah at 12volt, when connecting batteries in Series it increases the voltage but not the capacity. If you connect batteries in Parallel it increases the capacity but keeps the same voltage, your connecting two 6v batteries in series to make 12 volt but then connecting another two 6v batteries (that are connected in series) in parallel to increase the capacity.

 

This page explains better; http://www.trojanbattery.com/BatteryMaintenance/gettingstarted.html

Also has better wire diagram than the one I posted as it's best to take the negative and positive to the loads from the opposite batteries and not the same one.

Edited October 11, 2013 by Robbo

[Cloudinspector]

If I've understood this correctly 4 x 6v T105 225ah Trojans wired in as above would give me 450ah?

And the benefits are their robustness due to thicker plates.

As a full time off grid liveaboard I need robust batteries :-))

[Proper Job]

Ocelot's T 105's

 

4 x 225 Ahr 6v batteries - makes a nice uncomlicated, simple installation

 

[Robbo]

If I've understood this correctly 4 x 6v T105 225ah Trojans wired in as above would give me 450ah?

And the benefits are their robustness due to thicker plates.

As a full time off grid liveaboard I need robust batteries :-))

 

 

In addition too..

 

 

less cells to maintain.

easy to wire to balance the batteries than 4 x 12v bats

Less wiring.

[ditchcrawler]

I'm replacing our battery bank (4x110ah cheapies)

and thinking of splashing out on 4x 12v 105ah Trojan ultra deep cycle batteries. They have an impressive 1000 recharge cycles compared to 300 on the cheap ones.

Would like some feedback from folks who have used Trojans please.

Check the physical size of them and your battery box, I had to modify mine

[Proper Job]

 

 

In addition too..

 

 

less cells to maintain.

easy to wire to balance the batteries than 4 x 12v bats

Less wiring.

Absolutely agree with this.

 

The 4 105's I now have replaced 4 x 110Ah 12v batteries.

 

The Trojans have virtually the same footprint, similar storage capacity, but the checking/maintenance is very much quicker and the wiring (balanced) went from spagetti to a very simple and clean installation

[PaulG]

I have no experience of the Trojan battery. However, I'm a bit suspicious of the spec.

The main difference between a deep cycle battery and an ordinary car starter battery is the thickness and surface area of the plates.

Starter batteries are designed to deliver high currents for relatively short periods of time. The plates therefore have a large surface area, and need to be thin in order to fit in the case. As the plates are thin, they are easily damaged by sulphation, which is made worse by deep discharge.

Deep cycle (aka traction) batteries have thicker, more robust plates with a smaller surface area. As the name suggests, they are more tolerant of sulphation and are better for use in electric vehicles, etc.However, they are not capable of delivering high currents due to the smaller surface area of the plates.

To me, the CCA (cold cranking amps) rating of these batteries looks suspiciously high to be true Deep Cycle or Traction batteries, and the price looks suspiciously low. All that extra lead costs money!

Also "1000 recharge cycles" is meaningless without stating how much of the original performance remains at the end of the 1000 cycles.

I'm not necessarily dissing the product as, as I have said, I have no experience of it.

It would be interesting to know if anyone has made a successful claim against their "massive 5 year warranty" as other manufacturers offering similar inducements have been reluctant to honour their obligations, to say the least.

[David Schweizer]

The quivalent US batteries are even easirer to maintain, all three cells are exposed by removing the lever operated triple plug.

 

 

Available from Tanya batteries :- http://www.tayna.co.uk/US-125-Deep-Cycle-Monobloc-Battery-P4121.html

Edited October 11, 2013 by David Schweizer

[by'eck]

Absolutely agree with this.

 

The 4 105's I now have replaced 4 x 110Ah 12v batteries.

 

The Trojans have virtually the same footprint, similar storage capacity, but the checking/maintenance is very much quicker and the wiring (balanced) went from spagetti to a very simple and clean installation

 

Sorry agree with your other points but not the similar footprint unless you mean area taken.

 

Typical 110 A/h leisure battery: L 330mm W 172mm H 242mm

Trojan T-105: L 264mm W 181mm H 276mm

 

This means in an average battery box designed for several leisure batteries you can't quite squeeze in two T-105's across the width. As they are wider a set of them would take up more length as well.

 

I know I've been there

[ditchcrawler]

 

Sorry agree with your other points but not the similar footprint unless you mean area taken.

 

Typical 110 A/h leisure battery: L 330mm W 172mm H 242mm

Trojan T-105: L 264mm W 181mm H 276mm

 

This means in an average battery box designed for several leisure batteries you can't quite squeeze in two T-105's across the width. As they are wider a set of them would take up more length as well.

 

I know I've been there

Me to

[Cloudinspector]

Check the physical size of them and your battery box, I had to modify mine

Good point.

[Proper Job]

 

Sorry agree with your other points but not the similar footprint unless you mean area taken.

 

Typical 110 A/h leisure battery: L 330mm W 172mm H 242mm

Trojan T-105: L 264mm W 181mm H 276mm

 

This means in an average battery box designed for several leisure batteries you can't quite squeeze in two T-105's across the width. As they are wider a set of them would take up more length as well.

 

I know I've been there

Fair point - if you're using a bought in battery box

 

I made a new battery box for the 4 as shown in the photo above. The foot print was a couple of inches wider, but 3 - 4 inches shorter. Space wasn't an issue as they sit on the base plate under the engine room floor.

[smileypete]

Trojan/US Battery are goood but to get the best out of them, especially when hammered daily, may need equalisation charging at higher than normal voltages, some chargers and alt setups may not go high enough. More info on equalisation charging should be found on the respective manufacturer websites.

 

cheers, Pete.

~smpt~