| Batteries in Parallel for charging [message #271600] |
Tue, 10 February 2015 09:08  |
Chris Tyler
Messages: 458
Registered: September 2013
Location: Odessa FL
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Assuming I have Disconnects that will be off when not charging or on shore power, will it cause any problems to have the house [front] and Onan start batteries in parallel for charging?
Thinking that since the charging voltage is higher than the batteries and no load on them they will not draw from each other. They are two different types and capacity though.
Recently had a short in the heavy gauge cable to the rear battery. I had thought that it was hot only on the boost switch. Turns out it was paralleled to the front and there was a curcuit breaker. That heavy cable is also the only line to the house battery.
The short melted the neg terminal to the front battery. Lucky It didnt cause more problems...happened at 2AM while camping. Replaced the battery, fixed and insuated the cable, and had to replace the buzz box with an Intelecharger as it was only outputin 8.52 volts after the short. I also placed a disconect switch as a safety device. I will also be placing a cuircuit breaker to the house battery
Got Allen Hendersons 17" wiring diagrams [highy recomended BTW] and see the original configuration was with the house battery in the rear. I may return to this with 2 6V GC batteries in the future. THe coach had been used by the PO for ~10 years in the configuration I bought it in, and I ran it this way for over a year without a problem.
For now though, the rear battery is only connected to the boost solenoid. Problem is, the rear battery is not charging as the Onan alternator is either not working or has been disconnected so no tag line back to charge it while running. [Onan runs /works great otherwise]The large cable is hot when on shore power, but that is also not charging since the line from the circuit breaker is disconected.The battery would hold a charge for quite some time only being used for onan starting but will run down at some pont.
So, my question is, if I use the disconnects to sparate the batteries when not on shore power or being charged, is there any potential problem in paralleling them to charge the rear battery when it is? I would place another disconect switch in line with the circuit breaker in the rear.
76 Glenbrook
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