Question for the Battery Experts
I have a pair of 6v CG batteries that I use to power the rolling home. Sam's Club, Ever-Ready's (220Ah). They will reach 3 full seasons about mid-season this year. They work flawlessly, and seem ag...
Forum Discussion
A lot of folks seem to feel that all batteries in a bank must be IDENTICAL.. I am not convinced..
You need to divide your thinking a bit, First, as I just posted to someone else think of each pair of six volt batteries as one 12 volt,, We will call the two pair old and new.. Pair only the two old ones together
{old}-{old}
and the new ones likewise {new}-{New}
You can not put 'em in parallel.
{old}-{old}
{new}-{new}
now problem
now due to differences in age it is a fact that one pair will tend to supply a bit more current, and likewise accept (under charge) a bit more, but the state of charge on both pairs will be identical for all time after the first discharge/charge cycle.
As for the gel cell.. (Are you sure it's a gel and not an AGM)
Gel's do not play nice with other types.. I'd avoid them completly
AGM's (Which are often mistekan for GEL) do play nice with other types, but .... I'd still keep it around as an emergency battry. Charge it with a battery tender or battery minder, put it in a wooden box with handle and a pair of jumper cables and use it for those OH "Black Tank Contents"! situations.
You need to divide your thinking a bit, First, as I just posted to someone else think of each pair of six volt batteries as one 12 volt,, We will call the two pair old and new.. Pair only the two old ones together
{old}-{old}
and the new ones likewise {new}-{New}
You can not put 'em in parallel.
{old}-{old}
{new}-{new}
now problem
now due to differences in age it is a fact that one pair will tend to supply a bit more current, and likewise accept (under charge) a bit more, but the state of charge on both pairs will be identical for all time after the first discharge/charge cycle.
As for the gel cell.. (Are you sure it's a gel and not an AGM)
Gel's do not play nice with other types.. I'd avoid them completly
AGM's (Which are often mistekan for GEL) do play nice with other types, but .... I'd still keep it around as an emergency battry. Charge it with a battery tender or battery minder, put it in a wooden box with handle and a pair of jumper cables and use it for those OH "Black Tank Contents"! situations.
