battery hookups

[sign_man]

can two 6 volt batteries be connected to two 12 volt batteries in order to increase the battery bank? the reason i ask is because i already have two 12 volt batteries but am thinking of getting two six volt also

[Shadow_Catcher]

They will default to the weakest battery of the bank. Why not set up two separate banks. Bluesea makes a two bank switch.

[time2roll]

Yup. I suggest separating only during storage with no float charge.

[horton333]

yes, it is not optimal but if the 12 volts are also flooded cell and not horrible old or something then it will be ok. If they are AGM or something then it will still work, but less than'ok', say ok-.

[Sandia_Man]

Absolutely

[2oldman]

yes

[DrewE]

Yes, they can. It may not be the most desirable arrangement (compared with identical batteries), but it will work. Two six volt batteries in series are nothing more or less than a single twelve volt battery.

Connecting dissimilar batteries in parallel is less of a problem than connecting them in series, which should pretty much never be done. Different battery chemistries or significantly different technologies can be more problematic (e.g. having both AGM and flooded batteries with different charge requirements).

[Joel_T]

Some people will break the golden rule of don't mix brands, sizes or ages of batteries.