![]() If one dies on the road, simply pull into a Costco and switch it out. If you need just a couple batteries for your camper, the convenience of a Costco purchase might make sense. While they’re cost-effective compared to the other batteries above, they also don’t carry the warranty that a more premium battery does. Warranty, durability, and reputation play a large role in determining whether a product is better for you or not, so weigh these components carefully as well! Do Costco golf cart batteries match your needs?īeyond cost, warranty, and the other considerations we mentioned above, you also need to decide whether Costco’s lower-cost batteries fit your needs. On top of that, you’re also getting a whopping 7 year warranty – much longer than the other companies!Īnd this brings up an important point: cost isn’t everything. Of course, with this higher cost, you’re getting a product from a well-respected company that’s been around for over 50 years. The Surrette Rolls battery is about $0.04 per kWh more than the Costco battery and a penny more per kWh than the Trojan battery. In other words, you should be able to use your battery 1,220 times in its lifetime, as long as you don’t discharge it too much.Īt this rate, you’re looking at about $0.11 for each kilowatt-hour of electricity you can pull from the battery over its entire lifetime: Interstate batteries come with a full replacement warranty for 6 to 12 months, depending on the model.Īccording to an Interstate rep, their Costco battery is able to cycle 1,220 times to 50% depth of discharge (50% discharge is the typically the recommended amount of discharge before you should charge the battery back-up). ![]() 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. Capacity: 210 amp-hours at 20 hour discharge rate (the standard rate for deep cycle batteries). ![]() So right off the bat, that’s great news.ĭetails for the batteries aren’t available on Costco’s website, so I actually called up our local store today (Arvada, CO on October 13, 2017) to get details on the battery. While Costco might put their private label on the golf cart batteries they sell, the batteries are actually made by Interstate, a well-known and respected battery manufacturer. 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. 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?
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