battery charge question??

Post by **Jale** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 6:02 pm

I have two deep-cycle batteries in the boat at my disposal. If I hook them up together, I believe that it will double the length of my power. Series or parallel..not sure which

If I hook the on-board charger up, do I still need to connect it to both batteries or will it charge as one connected that way?

Does this make sense?

My two deep cycles are both in excellent working order and equal in size although one is a year older that the other. Will hooking them up together have any negative effect on them or the trolling motor?

thanks

Joe

Post by **allan.c** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 6:37 pm

hi jale666,connect the batteries in paralell positive to positive,negative to negative.if you connect them in series you will double the voltage instead of doubling the amperage.when you connect your loads to the batteries connect the positive to one battery and the negative to the other battery causing the current to be drawn from both batteries at the same time recharging them in the same manner will charge both at the same time allan.c see you at quinte

Post by **Jale** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 6:52 pm

thanks Allan,

My on board charger has 2 banks...do I still need to hook each bank to each battery or will it charge properly if I just connect one bank, possibly leaving a free bank to connect to my cranking battery if needed

Joe

Post by **Rideaufish** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 7:04 pm

Only hook 1 bank to the two batts in paralel just remember it will likely take longer to charge two batts tied together than one.
then hook the other to the cranking batt. OR disconnect the ground on one of the deep cycles and hook the two bank charger to each deep cycle. DO NOT hook both banks to the deep cycles unless the grounds are disconnected.

Post by **Jale** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 7:26 pm

Thanks rideau fish..

That's exactly what I was looking for..I think I will hook it up to both deep cycles and put in a disconnect switch on the neg. to neg. cable.

Joe

Post by **GreenBastard** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 8:35 pm

if by chance you have one cell low in one of the batteries this will affect how the other cells charge. If it was my choice I would have them seperately charging. If you don't the one battery will be making up for the other battery, and they will share the weakest characteristics, like a bad link in a chain...

If you do plan to charge them together, atleast check them seperately to see what voltage differences there are, the highest voltage will be slaving at all times to charge the lowest