Mixing Batteries on Float-- Mex Test Update 2
UPDATE 1 on 23 Dec post UPDATE 2 on 25 Dec post ---------- Mex is driving me crazy! He said do not mix my used 12s (Scrubber batteries, he calls them--humph! They are respectable golf car batte...
Forum Discussion
A few observations about parallel batteries on float charge or just left connected in parallel. First assume that both batteries are in good shape and full charged. Mex said less than .1V after four or five days no problem.
Seems like you could measure how one battery charges or discharges the other. Measure the current in the parallel connection between the two batteries. If they are at the same voltage there will be no current flowing from one to the other and the two batteries will not know they are connected together. If one is lower than the other you could measure the current and from that calculate the Amp hour discharge of the better battery.
While in float charge if one battery has an open cell it will not draw any current from the charger and only the good battery will charge. If one battery has a shorted cell it will draw all or most of the current from the charger and may draw current from the good battery discharging it. I can’t think of any other interaction off the top of my head.
Do you float charge or leave connected two six-volt batteries in series? If you do it seems that there is all most the same problem as two twelve-volt batteries in parallel. If left connected but not on a charger there is no problem.
If one cell is open when float charging there will be no current and neither battery will charge. If one battery has a shorted cell all the good cells will over charge.
Should you worry about either case? How often will a good battery go bad when it is left on a float charge or just left alone?
Seems like you could measure how one battery charges or discharges the other. Measure the current in the parallel connection between the two batteries. If they are at the same voltage there will be no current flowing from one to the other and the two batteries will not know they are connected together. If one is lower than the other you could measure the current and from that calculate the Amp hour discharge of the better battery.
While in float charge if one battery has an open cell it will not draw any current from the charger and only the good battery will charge. If one battery has a shorted cell it will draw all or most of the current from the charger and may draw current from the good battery discharging it. I can’t think of any other interaction off the top of my head.
Do you float charge or leave connected two six-volt batteries in series? If you do it seems that there is all most the same problem as two twelve-volt batteries in parallel. If left connected but not on a charger there is no problem.
If one cell is open when float charging there will be no current and neither battery will charge. If one battery has a shorted cell all the good cells will over charge.
Should you worry about either case? How often will a good battery go bad when it is left on a float charge or just left alone?
