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drumming102's avatar
drumming102
Explorer
Mar 01, 2016

Battery Question

I have 2 diffrent batteries on my trailer (Pictures of each in below link) 1 came from the dealer (the interstate) the other I believe is an older Cell Site backup deep cycle. It's sealed but I know nothing more about it than that. I serviced the Interstate today and topped off the cells but is there an issue running these 2 in parallel on the trailer?

How many AH is the Interstate and how many AH is the other (Looks like 90AH to me)?

My plan is to try to hold off on buying 2 GC2 batteries till next year if I can but the 1 interstate wasn't cutting the mustard by it's self. They do ok together but thought it best to double check with you guys to make sure it was ok.

http://imgur.com/a/fz8lg
  • harley4275's avatar
    harley4275
    Explorer
    Mar 02, 2016
    Just buy a marine battery switch that has '1,2,both or off'. hook that up a and use the first battery till the propane sniffer starts to beep ,then switch to other battery and take first battery to maybe a washroom area that has a plug outside or an electrical site and ask the guy politly,and put your charger on it . no one will steel it. Replace charged battery and it is ready ....easy.
  • tshirtman's avatar
    tshirtman
    Explorer
    Mar 01, 2016
    Hit Costco. Group 24 $72.99ea and they will take your old ones as cores.
  • hohenwald48's avatar
    hohenwald48
    Explorer
    Mar 01, 2016
    Run them in parallel until they croak. No reason to treat it as a problem until it becomes one. Given a choice don't mix types or old and new. But since you already have them don't worry until they stop performing. The cost to replace will be the same then as now.

    Not the best situation but the world won't come to an end either.
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    Mar 01, 2016
    You're not going to hurt anything by using the two. You may lose some capacity in a battery because of the unbalanced nature of the two types but it should last for at least a year.

    FWIW, I have two banks of batteries, one FLA and the other, AGM's. When in storage, the solar panel keeps them both charged at a setting that works for both.
  • Bumpyroad's avatar
    Bumpyroad
    Explorer
    Mar 01, 2016
    if the one interstate isn't adequate by itself and when you add the other one it works, what is the big issue with using both? will the one cell site handle it by itself?
    bumpy
  • RBPerry's avatar
    RBPerry
    Explorer
    Mar 01, 2016
    As stated above, it isn't a good idea to mix batteries, and especially a wet cell with an AGM. If I remember right they will both charge at different rates and that alone could create you some problems. I would spring for new batteries, but that is just me.
  • scrubjaysnest's avatar
    scrubjaysnest
    Explorer
    Mar 01, 2016
    14.4 volts good for AGM's as a general rule; bad for interstates. Run what you got till they croak like others said.
  • azrving's avatar
    azrving
    Explorer
    Mar 01, 2016
    I've seen wet and agm run together. The owner didn't know anything other than run the genny to charge them and that's it. You dont have much choice. Buy new now or run wha cha got. If they croak, buy the 6's. Probably best to stay under 14.4 charging volts.
  • Dennis_Smith's avatar
    Dennis_Smith
    Explorer
    Mar 01, 2016
    You want hurt anything, but want get the full power out of them. If it works for you go for it
  • babun's avatar
    babun
    Explorer
    Mar 01, 2016
    Bad Ju-Ju to mix different batteries into one parallel bank.
    One will become a slave and one a master, and neither will perform up to their optimum.
    Go here to check on your interstate specs......
    https://www.interstatebatteries.com/content/product_info/marine_f.asp

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