I have a small charger (Guest 6 amp 3 stage charger/maintainer) for maintaining my 2 group 27 batteries. The problem is that the charger has leads for only one battery and I have to switch them around every once in a while which is sometimes inconvenient. If I parallel the batteries by putting a jumper wire between the positive posts and another between the negative posts and then hook the charger up to one of the batteries will that work and not harm anything? I know the obvious answer is to get a charger with two leads but I thought the above method might get me by. Thanks for you input!
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Greg
I used to put my battery switch to "BOTH"
I have a 2-bank battery charger now but before I did I used an automotive charger with alligator clips on one battery and put the batt switch in the "Both" position. It worked for me.
I have a 2-bank battery charger now but before I did I used an automotive charger with alligator clips on one battery and put the batt switch in the "Both" position. It worked for me.
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richard
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Tom S
Huh !? "didn't want to leave the switch on "
But you want to go to all the hassle of "parallel the batteries by putting a jumper wire between the positive posts and another between the negative posts ...." Sorry to explain this to you, but you are achieving the EXACT SAME results when you use the switch on both as what you described above. But its much cleaner and you don't need to jumper the wires (and the chance that the wires might come off and short!) I have a solution for you (VERY CLEAN SOLUTION and the proper one)-- get an echo charger or a battery combiner. Only problem is the costs of these are almost as much as a new battery charger, (You might be able to get one a bit cheaper though -- take a look at the one from "Yadina" site below) But the beauty of these devices are that it not only charges the second battery from the AC source but also from the alternator (or whatever). Not to mention that it automatically disconnects the batteries from each other in case the charging source goes away, which is a very good thing. This will protect you if you get one battery that goes bad, it won't bring the other down with it. Hardwiring the batteries (Via BOTH switch or wires) has the possibilty of bringing all your batteries down if one cell goes down. here is everything you wanted to know. http://www.yandina.com/combInfo.htm BTW the 50 Amp combiner from them is only $75 and a lifetime warrantee, if I were you thats the one I'd get.
But you want to go to all the hassle of "parallel the batteries by putting a jumper wire between the positive posts and another between the negative posts ...." Sorry to explain this to you, but you are achieving the EXACT SAME results when you use the switch on both as what you described above. But its much cleaner and you don't need to jumper the wires (and the chance that the wires might come off and short!) I have a solution for you (VERY CLEAN SOLUTION and the proper one)-- get an echo charger or a battery combiner. Only problem is the costs of these are almost as much as a new battery charger, (You might be able to get one a bit cheaper though -- take a look at the one from "Yadina" site below) But the beauty of these devices are that it not only charges the second battery from the AC source but also from the alternator (or whatever). Not to mention that it automatically disconnects the batteries from each other in case the charging source goes away, which is a very good thing. This will protect you if you get one battery that goes bad, it won't bring the other down with it. Hardwiring the batteries (Via BOTH switch or wires) has the possibilty of bringing all your batteries down if one cell goes down. here is everything you wanted to know. http://www.yandina.com/combInfo.htm BTW the 50 Amp combiner from them is only $75 and a lifetime warrantee, if I were you thats the one I'd get.
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richard
leaving the switch on energizes
all the circuts in the boat. Thats why I didn't want to do it so I don't think it is the EXACT SAME thing. And paralleling the batteries would not be a hassle. By the way, I don't know why you are "sorry to explain this" Thanks for the reply!
all the circuts in the boat. Thats why I didn't want to do it so I don't think it is the EXACT SAME thing. And paralleling the batteries would not be a hassle. By the way, I don't know why you are "sorry to explain this" Thanks for the reply!
One more possibility...
Richard, a couple of questions for you. Are the two batteries used with one serving as a 'house' battery and the other as an 'engine' battery? Next, from your postings, it sounds like you have a '1-2-both-off' switch, is this correct? Finally, is your charger permanently installed or do you attatch to the batteries with alligator clips and then stow away the charger when it is not in use? I can describe for you a couple of simple methods to safely and effectively do what you're talking about, but I need a little more info first. Jeff
Richard, a couple of questions for you. Are the two batteries used with one serving as a 'house' battery and the other as an 'engine' battery? Next, from your postings, it sounds like you have a '1-2-both-off' switch, is this correct? Finally, is your charger permanently installed or do you attatch to the batteries with alligator clips and then stow away the charger when it is not in use? I can describe for you a couple of simple methods to safely and effectively do what you're talking about, but I need a little more info first. Jeff
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richard
Jeff M.
I use the two batteries interchangeably as house or starting, selecting either one of them for a particular trip, using that one as starting and house, and keeping the other in reserve. They are both the same brand and size. Yes, I have the ubiquitous off-1-both-2 switch. The charger is just hooked up with alligator clips when in use and stowed away when not. Thanks for your time and help!
I use the two batteries interchangeably as house or starting, selecting either one of them for a particular trip, using that one as starting and house, and keeping the other in reserve. They are both the same brand and size. Yes, I have the ubiquitous off-1-both-2 switch. The charger is just hooked up with alligator clips when in use and stowed away when not. Thanks for your time and help!
Probably the simplest thing to do...
would be to make yourself a short little 'jumper cable' out of #10 wire with an alligator clip at each end and simply clip it between the two battery 'hot' posts, then hook the charger up to one or the other 'hot' posts, thus 'paralleling' the batteries temporarly. But, from your post, you've already thought of that. (BTW, you shouldn't need to jumper between the 'ground' posts on the batteries, they should already be tied together) Don't know what kind of boat or motor you have, but if you have an outboard with a pull rope, you may want to consider changing your system around so that both batteries are always in parallel and use the switch just for 'on-off' function. Generally speaking, this will increase the useful life of the batteries, as they will see a lower overall percentage of use and not be as likely to be subjected to deep discharging, which is the second fastest way to kill a battery. Anyhow, your first idea was fine, just jump the two batteries together when you're charging, it won't hurt anything.
would be to make yourself a short little 'jumper cable' out of #10 wire with an alligator clip at each end and simply clip it between the two battery 'hot' posts, then hook the charger up to one or the other 'hot' posts, thus 'paralleling' the batteries temporarly. But, from your post, you've already thought of that. (BTW, you shouldn't need to jumper between the 'ground' posts on the batteries, they should already be tied together) Don't know what kind of boat or motor you have, but if you have an outboard with a pull rope, you may want to consider changing your system around so that both batteries are always in parallel and use the switch just for 'on-off' function. Generally speaking, this will increase the useful life of the batteries, as they will see a lower overall percentage of use and not be as likely to be subjected to deep discharging, which is the second fastest way to kill a battery. Anyhow, your first idea was fine, just jump the two batteries together when you're charging, it won't hurt anything.
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richard
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Steven Green
Battery combiner is your best bet!
I would suggest using the battery combiner. Any method of connecting a jumper across the positive terminals will risk the possibility of both batteries failing should the charger or one of the batteries go bad. The Combiner is designed specifically to link both batteries if a voltage of greater than 14.1 vdc is present in either battery (this is the typical voltage of a charger or alternator) Should one of the batteries or the charger go bad, the Combiner will not allow the other to be drawn down with it. The only thing that you must be sure of when trying to charge multiple banks simultaneously is that they are all the same type (lead acid, gel, AGM) otherwise you can ruin them very quickly by using one charger. I assume that your 1-both-2-off switch utilizes a common fedd to the panel or alternator. If not, and your wiring is connected directly to the battery posts for your house systems and charging source, then your switch does not serve any purpose. Good luck with your project, hope this helps!
I would suggest using the battery combiner. Any method of connecting a jumper across the positive terminals will risk the possibility of both batteries failing should the charger or one of the batteries go bad. The Combiner is designed specifically to link both batteries if a voltage of greater than 14.1 vdc is present in either battery (this is the typical voltage of a charger or alternator) Should one of the batteries or the charger go bad, the Combiner will not allow the other to be drawn down with it. The only thing that you must be sure of when trying to charge multiple banks simultaneously is that they are all the same type (lead acid, gel, AGM) otherwise you can ruin them very quickly by using one charger. I assume that your 1-both-2-off switch utilizes a common fedd to the panel or alternator. If not, and your wiring is connected directly to the battery posts for your house systems and charging source, then your switch does not serve any purpose. Good luck with your project, hope this helps!
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richard
Thanks Steven
Clearly some additional equipment is the best bet and eventually I will get some. The combiner sounds like the way to go. Thanks for the reply.
Clearly some additional equipment is the best bet and eventually I will get some. The combiner sounds like the way to go. Thanks for the reply.
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