[C320-list] Are 6V Batteries Superior To 12V Batteries For DeepCycle Applications?

[David Gleason]

In years past, around 1956 or so, the auto industry started switching
from 6 volt to 12 volt systems.  One of the reasons I was told was that
according to Ohms law, by increasing the voltage to 12 they were able to
reduce the size of the wiring needed to carry the same amperage.  The
battery cables on 6 volt auto were twice the size of what you see on 12
volt autos.  

Dave Gleason
Proud Mary, #150


On Fri, 16 Jun 2006 19:28:22 -0500 "Robert E. Sloat"
<resloat at comcast.net> writes:
> A comment-If 6 volt batteries are better, why does every sailboat
> manufacturer equip their product with 12 volts batteries.  And they 
> don't
> even offer a 6 volt option.  Their options often are upgrading so 
> they must
> have made the decision that the 6 volt thing is not an improvement.
>  ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <BAdams3491 at aol.com>
> To: <C320-List at catalina320.com>
> Sent: Friday, June 16, 2006 3:54 PM
> Subject: [C320-list] Are 6V Batteries Superior To 12V Batteries For
> DeepCycle Applications?
> 
> 
> > Seems to me we have always thought the answer was yes.   This is 
> from the
> > Optima Battery web site:  
> (_http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/faq17.asp_
> > (http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/faq17.asp) )
> >
> > It's popularly believed that 6 volt batteries are better for deep  
> cycle
> > power applications than 12 volt batteries, but it isn't true. This 
> myth
> likely
> > developed from the fact that golf carts use 6 volt systems. 
> Because golf
> cart
> > batteries were the only deep cycle batteries widely available for 
> many
> years,
> > the best way to obtain good 12 volt deep cycle power was to 
> connect two 6
> > volt golf cart batteries in series (or more batteries could be 
> connected
> in a
> > combination series and parallel configuration for higher voltages 
> like 24
> volts
> > or 36 volts.) The effectiveness of that approach owed entirely to 
> the
> design
> > characteristics and quality of the batteries used, not to the fact 
> that
> the
> > batteries used produced 6 volts.
> >
> > In reality both 6 volt batteries and 12  volt batteries are simply 
> built
> from
> > 2 volt cells; if a battery is built with  three such cells, it's a 
> 6 volt
> > battery. If a battery is built with six such  cells, then it's a 
> 12 volt
> battery.
> > To make a 12 volt system by connecting two 6  volt batteries in 
> series is
> to
> > do nothing more than to build a 12 volt battery  with two cases 
> and
> external
> > interconnection. In fact, every cable end connection  results in 
> some
> > efficiency loss, so the two 6 volt batteries, because they must  
> be
> connected by a
> > cable, will be slightly less efficient than the 12 volt unit.
> > Comments?
> > Bert
> > At Ease
> > #442
> >
> >
> 
> 
> 
>