Adding 2nd Battery bank

Hi,

I'd skip the Iota and use an amp-l-start and conjoin the battery banks with a single very thick wire, with a manual switch. When you want battery power the most is while running an inverter--so #10 wire is not terribly useful.

Peukert can not be ignored. Joining all the banks together is almost always best when drawing power.

CT_WANDERER wrote:
smkettner I am using the IOTA 55amp converter on my main battery group, which am very happy with. I was thinking of adding the IOTA 30 amp converter for the second battery bank. If I go through with the 2nd battery bank addition. I was more interested in finding out if I would gain anything by linking the two banks together with a #10 wire during normal times. Then disconnecting the bank at night when watching the TV Or would I be better off keeping the two banks linked together? My plans it to charge each bank alone with it's own charger.

I would try to go without the link if there is no solar.
Otherwise pull some #6 for the inverter and skip the additional batteries.

smkettner wrote:
I would get something like IOTA 30 amp converter as a second charger. If you have solar to charge the main bank I would add amp-l-start combiner in addition to the second converter.

smkettner I am using the IOTA 55amp converter on my main battery group, which am very happy with. I was thinking of adding the IOTA 30 amp converter for the second battery bank. If I go through with the 2nd battery bank addition. I was more interested in finding out if I would gain anything by linking the two banks together with a #10 wire during normal times. Then disconnecting the bank at night when watching the TV Or would I be better off keeping the two banks linked together? My plans it to charge each bank alone with it's own charger.

I would get something like IOTA 30 amp converter as a second charger. If you have solar to charge the main bank I would add amp-l-start combiner in addition to the second converter.

Hi,

I'd use a 100 amp switch from Napa before I'd bother with a relay. I'd use wire that would support that 100 amps, or else have an auto reset circuit breaker @ 30 amps (which is what #10 can safely carry).

If you use the frame for the ground you only have to run one wire #4 would probably be adequate. Again use an automatic circuit breaker.

CT_WANDERER wrote:
Than, I thought if I installed a relay to connect the 2nd bank to the first it would help it out a little with the Peukert effect?

OK Thanks Guys, Guess I will have to think this one over before I make a move on this idea. Might be a winter project after we get back from our fall trip. Gary

X2 BFL

There are so many ways to do it and I am unclear just what your wiring diagram would be. They all work. Peukert is good for discharging the whole batch of batteries at once. You get more than twice the AH from doubling! :)

But it doesn't matter how you recharge them except at home when going to 100%. Then separate them by type and age and do their 90-100s and Equalizes separately

My thought process was to have two separate banks, and charge them each with there own charger. Than, I thought if I installed a relay to connect the 2nd bank to the first it would help it out a little with the Peukert effect? When I go to watch TV I would separate the two system and charge them before linking them together again. Am I wasting my time with this? Will I gain anything or just keep it with two totally separate systems. I am not looking for the perfect system or I would be using a lot heavier wires

I know that puzzle! :)

The separate pair of 6s will be fine except for charging them at the same time as the main bank. "Depends" on your set-up.

You can have longer links between one pair of batts than the other pair has between them. But now how do you attach the loads with three 12s? There is a proper way but not very convenient.

Bottom line is, wire them up however works best in your own set-up. "Perfect is the enemy of Good Enough"

BTW when linking a low set of batts (12.1v) to a fully charged set 12.7V) the "spread" is 0.6v, so you don't get many amps! Takes hours and days to equalize their voltages. Forget all that.

You can jumper the two batts onto the four batts whenever you happen to be charging the four. That will get something done. "Depends" if that is enough.

Story is you can do anything you like --it all works. Just takes time and a bit of effort.