charging a pair of batteries in parallel
I have 2 12 v deep cycle batteries that I want to give a charge occasionally while dry camping with my portable charger. The batteries were installed in separate compartments by dealer. Can I just h...
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Here's my procedure. You can use it or reject it.
While at home, I disconnect the batteries, and clean them thoroughly, and the battery locker, top, sides, and bottom.
Then I clean the terminals and cable clamps. Add distilled water as required. Note if any cell seems to be using consistantly more water than others. This could be a clue to impending failure.
I always have the felt discs around the battery terminals. Its not mandatory, but they are cheap at the store. I take out the screw in the cable clamp and clean it and then grease it. Then I grease the whole terminal, top and bottom, and the screw threads, but of course not the electrical contact surface.
After charging each battery overnight, I then re-install them, puting a spot of grease on the top of the battery terminal. Don't forget the exposed surfaces of the screw and nut. It is now fairly well protected from corrosion.
We bought our rig used, and twice we had a battery fail. (One house, one chassis). More than just inconvenient, but now no failures in several years.
Good luck, and happy trails.
While at home, I disconnect the batteries, and clean them thoroughly, and the battery locker, top, sides, and bottom.
Then I clean the terminals and cable clamps. Add distilled water as required. Note if any cell seems to be using consistantly more water than others. This could be a clue to impending failure.
I always have the felt discs around the battery terminals. Its not mandatory, but they are cheap at the store. I take out the screw in the cable clamp and clean it and then grease it. Then I grease the whole terminal, top and bottom, and the screw threads, but of course not the electrical contact surface.
After charging each battery overnight, I then re-install them, puting a spot of grease on the top of the battery terminal. Don't forget the exposed surfaces of the screw and nut. It is now fairly well protected from corrosion.
We bought our rig used, and twice we had a battery fail. (One house, one chassis). More than just inconvenient, but now no failures in several years.
Good luck, and happy trails.
