running two chargers

2oldman wrote:

theoldwizard1 wrote:
If they are both smart chargers, separate the batteries and charge them independently.

You don't really have to separate them.. do you?

Read this DC-DC battery charging

ScottG wrote:

2oldman wrote:
OK, yes, parallel batteries might do better separated. Series, no.

Remember, the discussion is about using two chargers. Trying to use two smart chargers for either parallel or series batteries never works well if the two chargers are in parallel.

Uh,..... need to tell that to my two PD chargers. I have a 55A and a 65A PD, one replaced the WFCO and the other is in the pass through.

For 8 years now I have often used them both in parallel to charge the 4 GC batteries wired in series/parallel when I have enough generator or shore power to do it. I get 110A for an hour or more into the bank, and then it tapers. quickly charges the battery bank.

And I don't seperate the batteries, just stuff the current to them. And the batteries are now 8 years old, probably 200+ discharges down to 30% SOC or more and doing fine.

Now if the chargers are different mfg, may be an issue. And I'm not the only one who has done this. IIRC there are several folks that have 2 or more of the great BD 40A chargers they use in parallel on batteries.

Here comes the Horsee...

• Some pairings of chargers work, others no
• Look for a clearly worded confirmation from a trusted source
• I coined a term "Saturated Voltage Charging" to describe a charging intensity that instantly or close-to-thereof reaches the charger voltage limit setpoint
• AGM battery charge time benefits most from saturated charging
• Not all batteries, even those of a dedicated purpose have similar charging acceptance
• This is a valid way to tell the difference between a bargain basement flooded golf car battery and a quality battery like a Trojan
• Heads up testing between group 31 AGM batteries, the first a new Lifeline, the second being a new Odyssey, revealed the Lifeline accepted 13+ amps more initially the remained above the curve all the way to the end of the charge cycle
• Total time difference to full charge @ 44-minutes
• Returning to charging
• A valid comparison is the number of minutes it takes a charger to start the reduction of amperage due to Voltage Absorbsion limit
• If it takes 60 minutes to reach this milepost, then total charge time versus initial saturated voltage acceptance will be excessive
• i.e. sixty minutes of extra generator run time
• Meanwell RSP power supplies in excess of 1000 watts have a paralleling Hirose connector port. Load sharing
• Megawatts cannot be paralleled unless an isolation rectifier pair is used. Bad news. The Beta unit shuts off completely.