Different Brand Batteries in Parallel
I have two M27MF Delco 12v no-maintenance deep cycle batteries in parallel. I have used them this way for many years in our 16’ fishing boat mainly to crank the motor and run the trolling motor. The...
Forum Discussion
Batteries in SERIES need to be identical twins (Same make, model, size, shape, age, and so on)
Batteries in PARALLEL need only be the same type,, IE: Flooded wet cell, Maintenance Free, AGM.
HOWEVER it does not hurt if they are identical in other ways as well.
I run a mix of make, size, and type here.. (Type is not recommended) (maintenance free and Flooded, Used to include AGM in the mix too but they died young, very young, (And were isolated from the rest at the time).
I would not worry about mixing in parallel.
One "Danger"
If you have a smaller and a larger battery and one of them develops a shorted cell (Which by the way happened to me) in theory it can draw enough power to overheat and "Explode" or even catch fire.
Here is what I have
Three Group 27, one of which had a shorted cell, and a pair of U-2200 Golf Car batteries.
IT did not over heat, It did not explode,, It just drew power less than what the converter put out so if I lost 120 volt the inverter cut out in like 10 seconds or so.
I replaced it about 1-2 weeks ago
Yesterday I tripped the 30 amp park breaker.. Did not know it for some time (I have an indicator light that was dark) THe inverter held no problem.
So even though I preach that danger..... I did not get "Bit" by it.
Batteries in PARALLEL need only be the same type,, IE: Flooded wet cell, Maintenance Free, AGM.
HOWEVER it does not hurt if they are identical in other ways as well.
I run a mix of make, size, and type here.. (Type is not recommended) (maintenance free and Flooded, Used to include AGM in the mix too but they died young, very young, (And were isolated from the rest at the time).
I would not worry about mixing in parallel.
One "Danger"
If you have a smaller and a larger battery and one of them develops a shorted cell (Which by the way happened to me) in theory it can draw enough power to overheat and "Explode" or even catch fire.
Here is what I have
Three Group 27, one of which had a shorted cell, and a pair of U-2200 Golf Car batteries.
IT did not over heat, It did not explode,, It just drew power less than what the converter put out so if I lost 120 volt the inverter cut out in like 10 seconds or so.
I replaced it about 1-2 weeks ago
Yesterday I tripped the 30 amp park breaker.. Did not know it for some time (I have an indicator light that was dark) THe inverter held no problem.
So even though I preach that danger..... I did not get "Bit" by it.
