Re: Cheaping out on batteries
If deep cycle batteries last 5 years (60 months) and cost $250 each ($1000 for four) while the marine batteries only last 1.5 years (18 months), you would have to buy them at $83.34 ($333.34 for four) to break even.
Even if you can find 12V marine batteries for $83.34 or less, you still have to take the cost of 3 battery changes in 5 year vs 1 battery change, into consideration and your time is worth something. Plus the cost of transporting the batteries from the vendor and transporting the cores back to the vendor.
Also there will be three periods of reduced performance as the batteries approach end of useful life instead of just one.
Other than those things, marine batteries would probably be adequate for a limited range application.
Personally, I'd go for the lowest priced 12V deep cycle batteries with the highest AH rating I could find locally. (I got my Exide batteries through a farm supply)
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