12v Battery Bank in Parallel with 6v Bank
Short version I need a quick fix to get thru this summer boondocking. I know what I am considering doing is bad but I don’t know how bad & need input on what will be happening to batteries when...
Forum Discussion
Wow… thanks for all the input. Good stuff. But after reading it all I realized my first sentence was very miss leading. It should have been “I need a quick fix to get thru this summer boondocking” PART OF THE TIME. I estimate we will only be boondocking 50% or less of the time and that 4 days in row will probably be the longest stretch without shore power. My converter is a Iota DSL 55 Amp with IQ4 controller (didn’t have the controller till late this fall after finding this forum). So hopefully it will keep me from killing them quite so fast this time.
I’m one of those guys MEXICOWANDERER talks about. I killed the original batteries out of ignorance, battery company replaced them without question & everybody’s batteries got higher priced. Yes you can thank me for your high priced batteries & yes you are welcome. And no, neither the battery co. rep nor my local dealer helped me figure it out.
So the 2 Interstate SRM-24 Marine/RV Deep Cycle are what I have been running on & they will be 2 years old in May. I can’t guarantee their condition because I have not tested them with hydrometer or HF Carbon Pile load tester yet but after being on a battery maintainer in 50 F garage Battery #1 measured 13.31v at disconnect & 12.74v 14 days later & Battery #2 13.32v at disconnect & 12.85v 14 days later so I suspect they are in reasonably good shape. The 1 Exide 31 MDC Nautilus Deep Cycle/Marine battery will be 1 year old in July. It was bought to run trolling motor but had very little use last summer & was kept on a 2 amp automatic trickle charger when not in use. It is in the RV with the Iota turned on right now. Was originally going to go with 4 Golf Cart Batteries so I would have 2 new matched 12 volt batteries but then I would have 3 fairly young batteries just setting around.
Don’t you guys think the Iota with IQ4 controller would keep my conglomeration of batteries in fairly good shape & maybe keep them from eating each other too bad since I’m going to be on shore power at least 50% of the time? Especially if I could figure out a good top charging protocol?? Pianotuna’s switch suggestion would probably really help here.
I'd add a switch:
A. six volt pair
B. twelve volt
C. both
D. off
I have a Variac but no manual charger. I bought a Neiko charger thinking it was a manual charger but only the 6 volt side is manual. Both the 2 amp & 10 amp setting on the 12 volt side is automatic.
Out of time. I will have to address the battery charging while off grid & solar issue latter. I really appreciate everyone’s help, advice & suggestions. Keep them coming. Don’t give up on me yet.
Alan
I’m one of those guys MEXICOWANDERER talks about. I killed the original batteries out of ignorance, battery company replaced them without question & everybody’s batteries got higher priced. Yes you can thank me for your high priced batteries & yes you are welcome. And no, neither the battery co. rep nor my local dealer helped me figure it out.
So the 2 Interstate SRM-24 Marine/RV Deep Cycle are what I have been running on & they will be 2 years old in May. I can’t guarantee their condition because I have not tested them with hydrometer or HF Carbon Pile load tester yet but after being on a battery maintainer in 50 F garage Battery #1 measured 13.31v at disconnect & 12.74v 14 days later & Battery #2 13.32v at disconnect & 12.85v 14 days later so I suspect they are in reasonably good shape. The 1 Exide 31 MDC Nautilus Deep Cycle/Marine battery will be 1 year old in July. It was bought to run trolling motor but had very little use last summer & was kept on a 2 amp automatic trickle charger when not in use. It is in the RV with the Iota turned on right now. Was originally going to go with 4 Golf Cart Batteries so I would have 2 new matched 12 volt batteries but then I would have 3 fairly young batteries just setting around.
Don’t you guys think the Iota with IQ4 controller would keep my conglomeration of batteries in fairly good shape & maybe keep them from eating each other too bad since I’m going to be on shore power at least 50% of the time? Especially if I could figure out a good top charging protocol?? Pianotuna’s switch suggestion would probably really help here.
I'd add a switch:
A. six volt pair
B. twelve volt
C. both
D. off
I have a Variac but no manual charger. I bought a Neiko charger thinking it was a manual charger but only the 6 volt side is manual. Both the 2 amp & 10 amp setting on the 12 volt side is automatic.
Out of time. I will have to address the battery charging while off grid & solar issue latter. I really appreciate everyone’s help, advice & suggestions. Keep them coming. Don’t give up on me yet.
Alan
