12v and 6v hookup
Hi all, My trailer is equipped to install 4 batteries. I did intend to put in four 6v Trojans. But now after examining my two 12 v deep cycles, I think they may have a couple more years in them. Ke...
Forum Discussion
Matt_Colie wrote:
I have to agree (almost) with XYM's last paragraph.
Explosions of single batteries are very rare.
Explosions of identical batteries in parallel are pretty common.
Explosions of batteries in parallel that are in any way different are no surprise.
Explosions of batteries in parallel that are vastly different can be expected.
Simply, Lead Acid batteries do not play well in parallel.
Paralleled batteries of any sort will be very difficult to charge to full density. - Just the way that they are.
Matt
By "not that bad" I meant it is not likely to blow a hole in your motor home, But it WILL spray acid all over the place (I said that) and that is a ... witch of a job,, to fix (Fill a 1.5 Gallon garden sprayer with water and baking soda,, Spray everything, Do it again, Keep doing it till you get no more fizz,, Then hose it down with a garden hose and sprayer,, Hose well).
I often hear that line about parallel batteries being hard to charge to full density.. Since State of Charge depends on voltage or rather determines voltage.. I would think if one of the batteries is a tad hungery, it would continue to eat till full.. and once that happened they will forever be voltage locked till one battery fails. When it fails one of two conditions will happen:
High resistance and/or open cell, Battery basically dissappears from the bank.
Shorted cell: See above
Note: Though rare,, one possible failure mode with parallel batteries involves a fire.
