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

[Robert Seastream]

What group batteries are in the 320?  I've got a 2002 model year and 
would like to know.  I think they're 8D but have heard 4D somewhere.

Bob

On Jun 16, 2006, at 9:42 PM, David Gleason wrote:

> 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
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>