6 volt batteries in series

CA Traveler wrote:
Matt,

How about explosion/issues with 4x 6V for 12V?

One thing to think about.. When you take two 6 volt batteries and put 'em in series like this:

-{6v}+-{6v}+==== 12 volt

What you have is a SINGLE 12 volt battery.

You put two pair in a series/parallel

-{6v}+-{6v}+==== 12 volt
-{6v}+-{6v}+==== 12 volt

You still have one 12 volt battery (around 450 amp hours).

I run a six volt pair in parallel with 3 different size 12 volts.
I've never had a battery explosion (I'd like to run all one size on the 12 volts but. alas.. store was sold out)

But.. IF one, espically the smallest, shorts, an explosion is possible.. Now least you worry.. the "Exploison" is about as powerful as a bubble gum popping. but it scatters all the acid in the battery which is why you need to do a soda wash.

ArchHoagland wrote:
Interesting... I never heard batteries called jars. .

Yeah, there's a few on here who do that. I guess that originated from the first batteries.. Leyden jars. Also, shorter word than batteries.

Interesting... I never heard batteries called jars.

I learn something new on here everyday.

dalefuji wrote:
Can I switch to 2@ 12 volt batteries without problems with the power inverter or do I have to change or upgrade power inverter.

You do really mean inverter, or converter? No changes to your CONverter, which charges your batteries.

dalefuji wrote:
I have two 6-volt batteries wired in series. If I understand this right, this gives me 12 volts and 100 amp. If I had two 12-volt batteries wired in parallel I would have 200 amps.
Can I switch to 2@ 12 volt batteries without problems with the power inverter or do I have to change or upgrade power inverter.

This is all a numbers game and your basic premise is faulty.

Not all batteries are alike.

12 volt batteries. most of these are MARINE/deep cycle or MARINE/rv Now Trolling batteries are True DEEP CYCLE.

group 24 about 75 amp horus
Groups 27 and 27 a bit under/over 100
Group 31. 130

The Marine Deep cycle means you can only use 20-25 percent of the power they hold before fast aging sets in.

GC2, is the most common Six volt, this is a "Golf Car" battery and is a TRUE deep cycle which means you can use half the power it contains.

And it holds 220 giver or take a bit amp hours.

So two Group 31's in parallel hold more power (slightly) than two GC-2's in series but you can't use as much of it.

Also there is a price advantage. This is why I recommend GC-2

In series voltages are combined, amperage remains constant, with parallel wiring voltage is constant and amperage is combined. Never seen 6 volt batteries with only 100 amps, our pair of golfcart batteries provide over 230 amps which for most accounts gives us plenty of 12 volt reserves, being that solar and occasional genny use keeps them replenished. Started with a pair of 12 volt batteries, observed better throughput and lifespan after switching to 6 volt GC2 batteries. It is a moot point if you don't do much RVing off the power grid.

There are boats and then there are boats. My trawler had 3x 8D batteries, large heavy puppies. Never had a problem but batteries do explode but not to often IFAIK.

for the last 60 years fisherpersons have used two 12 volt batteries in parallel to run their trolling motors. I have Never heard of this explosion. I certainly would not take this "fact?" into consideration on my setup.
bumpy

Matt,

How about explosion/issues with 4x 6V for 12V?

I used to do a lot of work for pleasure boat owners. I learned some things.

Should you decide to parallel 12V jars, please carry at least one full box of baking soda. You may need this when there is a battery explosion. This is unlikely in three years, still not bad by five years, but after that, the chance becomes much better.

This is only for two batteries that are IDENTICAL and have always been together and are strapped to distribute the load equally.

I have never seen an explosion of any 6V jars in series.

Matt