6 Volt Batteries

Lead-acid flooded batteries deliver 200-300 cycles at 80% depth of discharge, requiring periodic maintenance—topping off distilled water every 2-3 months. Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) variants eliminate maintenance by immobilizing electrolyte in fiberglass separators, extending cycle life to 400-600 cycles while tolerating deeper discharge events. Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) 6V cells represent the performance apex, delivering 2,000-5,000 cycles with 90% usable capacity at one-sixth the weight of lead-acid equivalents.

Amp-hour capacity represents theoretical energy storage, but practical runtime depends on discharge rate and chemistry efficiency. A 200Ah flooded battery delivering 10 amps provides approximately 16 hours of runtime (200Ah ÷ 10A × 0.8 efficiency), not the mathematical 20 hours. This Peukert effect intensifies at higher discharge rates.

AGM batteries exhibit lower Peukert coefficients (1.05-1.15 versus 1.2-1.3 for flooded), delivering 15-20% more effective runtime than equivalent flooded batteries despite identical Ah ratings.

Equalization charging—controlled overcharging to 7.8-8.2V—reverses sulfation in flooded batteries every 30-60 days, breaking up lead sulfate crystals that accumulate on plates. Skipping equalization reduces capacity by 5-8% annually.

AGM batteries never require equalization but demand precise voltage regulation. Charging above 7.35V accelerates grid corrosion. Quality chargers employ three-stage algorithms: bulk charge at 14.4-14.7V (for 12V systems, proportional for 6V), absorption at 14.2V until current drops below 2% of capacity, then float maintenance at 13.2-13.5V.

Temperature represents the dominant variable affecting battery chemistry. For every 18°F above 77°F, lead-acid battery lifespan halves—a battery rated for 5 years at room temperature survives only 2.5 years when operated at 95°F.

Lithium chemistry demonstrates superior thermal stability but requires low-temperature charge protection. Charging lithium below 32°F causes metallic lithium plating on anodes, creating internal short circuits. Quality lithium 6V batteries incorporate heating elements that activate automatically when charging is attempted below 35°F.

Open-circuit voltage testing provides limited diagnostic value. Load testing—applying 50% of the cold cranking amp rating for 15 seconds while monitoring voltage—exposes weak cells that voltage alone conceals. Terminal voltage should remain above 5.4V during this test.

Purchase price represents only 20-40% of total battery ownership cost. A $95 flooded battery requiring replacement every 3 years costs $31.67 annually, while a $380 lithium battery lasting 10 years costs $38 per year—nearly identical despite the 4x price differential.

Charging efficiency varies dramatically by chemistry. Flooded batteries accept only 70-75% of input energy as stored capacity, while lithium approaches 95% efficiency. For a golf cart consuming 15 kWh per charge cycle at $0.12/kWh, the energy loss costs an extra $0.54 per charge (flooded) versus $0.09 (lithium). Over 200 annual charge cycles, this efficiency gap totals $90 per year.