Re: batteries, series vs. parallel
The charging imbalance problem may be why industrial batteries come in
small volts, like 1-2 volt cells, with huge amp hours.
So, you could make your whole 12 volt bank out of six of them, and
lose the least life.
Mind you, that's a bit of overkill. But I always like overengineering. ;)
--T
small volts, like 1-2 volt cells, with huge amp hours.
So, you could make your whole 12 volt bank out of six of them, and
lose the least life.
Mind you, that's a bit of overkill. But I always like overengineering. ;)
--T
I've re-read your message. Yes you should use a battery switch to keep
your batteries separate. Correct circuitry allows both batteries to be
kept charged and isolation keeps one battery from draining the other.
You MUST read the articles in the West catalog. The description of
"how to" is too complicated for a short reply and the West catalog
does a great job of explaining the whole thing. My electric start
Honda does not have a pull cord unless you take the top off and use
the emergency cord which is with the tool kit. That would be a real pain.
Bob Chamberland
your batteries separate. Correct circuitry allows both batteries to be
kept charged and isolation keeps one battery from draining the other.
You MUST read the articles in the West catalog. The description of
"how to" is too complicated for a short reply and the West catalog
does a great job of explaining the whole thing. My electric start
Honda does not have a pull cord unless you take the top off and use
the emergency cord which is with the tool kit. That would be a real pain.
Bob Chamberland
--- In bolger@y..., "rlspell2000" <richard@s...> wrote:
> Plans for CLC call for two 6v batteries in series.
>
> I have two 12v batteries already. Any issue with hooking them up in
> parallel instead?
>
> Do I need a switch? I was thinking I needed a battery isolatory ala
> RV, but that would allow one batt to drain all the way, and keep the
> other up... I'm thinking, even if I have an electric start outboard,
> I'll still have a pull cord...
>
> Should I just connect them in parallel, with no fancy switching or
> electrics, and go?
>
> Anybody have any experiance with this? Do I need to go out and buy 6v
> batts, or can I use the 12v batts?
In your example below the two batteries are most likely separate
circuits. One or both batteries may be deep cycle batteries or one may
be an ordinary heavy duty automotive type battery used for starting.
One battery is the starter battery and the other is the "house" (deep
cycle) battery used for everything else. They can be switched to
parallel for emergency starting with two weak batteries but are
normally separated. By all means read the "how toos" in the West
catalog about hooking up batteries. You don't say what you are using
your batteries for but if you already have them hook them in parallel
and use them as long as you can.
Bob Chamberland
circuits. One or both batteries may be deep cycle batteries or one may
be an ordinary heavy duty automotive type battery used for starting.
One battery is the starter battery and the other is the "house" (deep
cycle) battery used for everything else. They can be switched to
parallel for emergency starting with two weak batteries but are
normally separated. By all means read the "how toos" in the West
catalog about hooking up batteries. You don't say what you are using
your batteries for but if you already have them hook them in parallel
and use them as long as you can.
Bob Chamberland
--- In bolger@y..., "rlspell2000" <richard@s...> wrote:
> That would make sense. Judging from the preponderance of battery
> switches, I'm assuming most smudge pot boats use two 12v in
parallel.
>
> For redundancy, I'm sure.
>
> I think I'll look into getting a couple of 6v, as on the plans. If
> the batts are completely dead, I can still pull start the outboard.
>
> Thanks, everybody.
>
>
>
That would make sense. Judging from the preponderance of battery
switches, I'm assuming most smudge pot boats use two 12v in parallel.
For redundancy, I'm sure.
I think I'll look into getting a couple of 6v, as on the plans. If
the batts are completely dead, I can still pull start the outboard.
Thanks, everybody.
switches, I'm assuming most smudge pot boats use two 12v in parallel.
For redundancy, I'm sure.
I think I'll look into getting a couple of 6v, as on the plans. If
the batts are completely dead, I can still pull start the outboard.
Thanks, everybody.
--- In bolger@y..., "petehodges" <petehodges@y...> wrote:
> In general, batteries do better when hooked up in series. When
they
> are in parallel, one battery ends up working harder; It gets
charged
> and then charges the other.
>
> There is an electric boats group on yahoo at
>http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/electricboatsthat can give you more
> advice than you probably want. It is a very interesting group.
>
> --- In bolger@y..., "rlspell2000" <richard@s...> wrote:
> > Plans for CLC call for two 6v batteries in series.
> >
> > I have two 12v batteries already. Any issue with hooking them up
in
> > parallel instead?
> >
> > Do I need a switch? I was thinking I needed a battery isolatory
ala
> > RV, but that would allow one batt to drain all the way, and keep
> the
> > other up... I'm thinking, even if I have an electric start
> outboard,
> > I'll still have a pull cord...
> >
> > Should I just connect them in parallel, with no fancy switching
or
> > electrics, and go?
> >
> > Anybody have any experiance with this? Do I need to go out and
buy
> 6v
> > batts, or can I use the 12v batts?
If we're talking about using 6 volt batteries in a 12 volt system, then
you MUST connect pairs of them in series. You can then connect two or
more OF these pairs together in parallel. Each pair of series 6 volts
acts as one 12 volt battery. If you connect individual 6 volt
batteries in parallel, you just have a bigger 6 volt battery. If you
connect two 12 volt batteries in series, you step the voltage to 24
volts.Some boats use 24 volt equipment. But if you are not set up for
it, then your 12 volt batteries MUST be in parallel.
Vince Chew
you MUST connect pairs of them in series. You can then connect two or
more OF these pairs together in parallel. Each pair of series 6 volts
acts as one 12 volt battery. If you connect individual 6 volt
batteries in parallel, you just have a bigger 6 volt battery. If you
connect two 12 volt batteries in series, you step the voltage to 24
volts.Some boats use 24 volt equipment. But if you are not set up for
it, then your 12 volt batteries MUST be in parallel.
Vince Chew
In general, batteries do better when hooked up in series. When they
are in parallel, one battery ends up working harder; It gets charged
and then charges the other.
There is an electric boats group on yahoo at
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/electricboatsthat can give you more
advice than you probably want. It is a very interesting group.
are in parallel, one battery ends up working harder; It gets charged
and then charges the other.
There is an electric boats group on yahoo at
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/electricboatsthat can give you more
advice than you probably want. It is a very interesting group.
--- In bolger@y..., "rlspell2000" <richard@s...> wrote:
> Plans for CLC call for two 6v batteries in series.
>
> I have two 12v batteries already. Any issue with hooking them up in
> parallel instead?
>
> Do I need a switch? I was thinking I needed a battery isolatory ala
> RV, but that would allow one batt to drain all the way, and keep
the
> other up... I'm thinking, even if I have an electric start
outboard,
> I'll still have a pull cord...
>
> Should I just connect them in parallel, with no fancy switching or
> electrics, and go?
>
> Anybody have any experiance with this? Do I need to go out and buy
6v
> batts, or can I use the 12v batts?
I've been doing a lot of investigating about batteries for my Dakota. I
seems that 6 volt golf cart batteries are a cost effective way to get
high amp hours and deep discharge capacity. For a 12 volt system you
pair them in series. If you already own 12 volt batteries, then
obvoiusly that becomes the more cost effective route to take. For 12
volts you would, of course, connect them in parallel.
Go to WWW.westmarine.com on the lower left corner of the page is "West
Advisor". Follow the links. they have several excellent articles on
batteries, chargers, regulators, inverters, solar systems, etc.
Vince Chew
seems that 6 volt golf cart batteries are a cost effective way to get
high amp hours and deep discharge capacity. For a 12 volt system you
pair them in series. If you already own 12 volt batteries, then
obvoiusly that becomes the more cost effective route to take. For 12
volts you would, of course, connect them in parallel.
Go to WWW.westmarine.com on the lower left corner of the page is "West
Advisor". Follow the links. they have several excellent articles on
batteries, chargers, regulators, inverters, solar systems, etc.
Vince Chew
Plans for CLC call for two 6v batteries in series.
I have two 12v batteries already. Any issue with hooking them up in
parallel instead?
Do I need a switch? I was thinking I needed a battery isolatory ala
RV, but that would allow one batt to drain all the way, and keep the
other up... I'm thinking, even if I have an electric start outboard,
I'll still have a pull cord...
Should I just connect them in parallel, with no fancy switching or
electrics, and go?
Anybody have any experiance with this? Do I need to go out and buy 6v
batts, or can I use the 12v batts?
I have two 12v batteries already. Any issue with hooking them up in
parallel instead?
Do I need a switch? I was thinking I needed a battery isolatory ala
RV, but that would allow one batt to drain all the way, and keep the
other up... I'm thinking, even if I have an electric start outboard,
I'll still have a pull cord...
Should I just connect them in parallel, with no fancy switching or
electrics, and go?
Anybody have any experiance with this? Do I need to go out and buy 6v
batts, or can I use the 12v batts?