- Thread starter coshoo
- Start date
Mike(NEOhio)
Well-known Member
- Location
- Newbury, Ohio
I've done it both ways and did see any difference. But that was before I got a hydrometer.
gene bender
Well-known Member
get a hydrometer and read all the cells then add distilled water as needed then charge each one as needed do them each one at a time.
Sure charging both at once connected in series can work, Ive done it many times, HOWEVER they both receive the same number of charging amps that way DUH. If alls well and equal and both can be adequately charged at that rate its fine. If not, its best to charge them individually so each can receive what it requires should it be different from the other battery. I bet you already know this, but any time multiple batteries are used its best if they are equal in type and design and brand and even age lest one draws the other down. Of course monitoring each individual cells with a hydrometer yields more accurate information. The world prob wont end if you charge them in series or individually and if they are anywhere near equal it probably wont make all that much difference, its just that strictly speaking engineering wise, separate is more "politically correct " lol
John T Ive done it for yearsssssssssss both ways
John T Ive done it for yearsssssssssss both ways
Thanks for the replies. I think they're both OK- but were way low on water. Just bought some distilled water to fill them up. Believe I will charge them both together, then load test them. If either comes up short, will replace them both- they're 11 years old, but in an RV that is not used very often.
Yo Counsellor, I've used all sorts of deep cycle 6 volt golf cart batteries in RV's for yearsssssssssss (ALWAYS charged at 12 volts in series) and had good luck, but always kept them topped off charged with water above the plates. I used Sams Club or Costco cheaper ones as well as Interstate and the classic Trojan T-105's. Last time however I upgraded to 12 Volt Deep Cycle AGM's so I didn't have the extra series connection and didn't have to check and add water yayyyyyyyyyyyyyy. With all the dry camping I do if I were younger and knew I would be RVing and own the same RV for maybe 7 to 10 years I would have bit the bullet and paid nearly $1,000 a piece for 12 Volt 100 Amp Hour LeFePo4 Lithiums.
PS at 11 years old and if they sat in a discharged state and/or were low on water for an extended period you may be in the market for a new set.
John T
PS at 11 years old and if they sat in a discharged state and/or were low on water for an extended period you may be in the market for a new set.
John T
Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
I think you would be better to replace them with 12v batteries.
You're limited selection on 6v, they are such dinosaurs the market is limited, which makes the price go higher, possible you will get something that's been on the shelf for any number of years.
You're limited selection on 6v, they are such dinosaurs the market is limited, which makes the price go higher, possible you will get something that's been on the shelf for any number of years.
Yo Steve, regarding "You're limited selection on 6v, they are such dinosaurs the market is limited," FYI unless I'm mistaken ???? I think he is talking about 6 VOLT DEEP CYCLE GOLF CART STYLE BATTERIES FOR USE IN AN RV... In the world of true Deep Cycle batteries 6 volt golf cart units are very common and typical (NOT dinosaurs) myself (49 year RV owner) and many RVers have used them for years. Although 12 volt deep cycle are now becoming more readily available, both in flooded lead acid as well as AGM (now Lithium), for many years they just weren't as common, therefore two six volts in series was typical. FWIW I do agree with you regarding conventional "Starting" batteries.
Take care always a pleasure sparky chatting with you
John T
Take care always a pleasure sparky chatting with you
John T
MarkB_MI
Well-known Member
- Location
- Motown USA
If you initially charge them in series, one battery will be overcharged and the other will be undercharged. That condition will continue when they're in use. Ideally, charge them together IN PARALLEL. That will ensure that they're charged to identical voltages and presumably to the same charge state. They should stay in balance when they're in use and connected in series.
Blackhole49
Well-known Member
- Location
- White Lake MI
Add a couple of ounces of hydrogen peroxide to each cell prior to filling with water.
Blackhole49
Well-known Member
- Location
- White Lake MI
Add a couple of ounces of hydrogen peroxide to each cell prior to adding water. My electric truck is 8 6 volt batteries in series and uses a 48 volt charger (as do all electric golf carts). I add peroxide to all my batteries annually and it has increased my battery life. That said, 11 year old batteries ar on borrowed time.
Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
John, is there any price difference going with 6 volt or 12?
What gets you the most amphour per dollar? Just curious, never gotten real deep into RV's, mostly servicing them for others.
What gets you the most amphour per dollar? Just curious, never gotten real deep into RV's, mostly servicing them for others.
Russ from MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Bemidji MN
So, your telling us that when you charge a 12 volt battery that the cells on one end get charged more? If that's the case then we should separate the cells and charge each 2 volt cell individually! Never heard that one before! I'm pretty sure most battery banks for electric vehicles get charged together in series!
Janicholson
Well-known Member
Voltages in a series circuit are measured as being the same across each resistance that is the same. I have never encountered a battery that had tapering charge from one end to the other. A bad cell, yes. A bad end cell yes (from exposure to more heat) but not with a good battery. Not a flame, just have far different experiences. Jim
Steve, I haven't price checked the differences (two sixes versus single twelve) in a while but best I recall with Trojans it was a tad cheaper to buy a single 12 True Deep Cycle then two sixes. The rub is the total Amp Hours you are buying at 12 Volts as energy storage capacity is what you need in an RV application. Brands like Trojan and Crown and Rolls Surette were the old standards, and I'm pretty sure all of those now have (Unlike years past) both 6 and 12 volt true deep cycle units. If one upgrades to AGM 12 volt deep cycle several companies sell them including Trojan and FullRiver and Lifeline and Renogy and Optima. I bought three of the Renogy 12 volt AGM 208 Amp Hour units for my RV, with those and 1080 watts of solar I can pretty much run all but AC and not run out of energy.
Hey Im with you 100% as far as tractor or truck starting batteries are concerned. Those 6 volt are getting rare with less choices out there indeed. For example in the two cylinder Deeres that originaly used two sixes I say go with a single 12
Fun chat
John T
Hey Im with you 100% as far as tractor or truck starting batteries are concerned. Those 6 volt are getting rare with less choices out there indeed. For example in the two cylinder Deeres that originaly used two sixes I say go with a single 12
Fun chat
John T
Yo Professor, Ive owned and in RV 12 volt applications for 40 to 50 years Ive always used (well of course) and charged them in series with a 12 Volt charger. OBVIOUSLY the charging current that passes through both batteries is the same amount of amps WELL DUH LOL we all know that. As I noted anytime multiple batteries are used regardless if in series or parallel they should be the same type and brand and even age for best charging and use balance and to avoid a weaker one sucking down a stronger one.
I can see possible advantages or disadvantages of series versus parallel charging and monitoring cells with a hydrometer etc., but for Rv use when I install BOTH new batteries at the same time and monitor their INDIVIDUAL condition now n then (Voltage and Load testing as well as Hydrometer) Im sticking with series charging using a quality Smart 3/4 Stage charge and NOT configure and charge each 6 volt individually HOWEVER now that I upgraded to single 12 Volt AGM batteries I no longer have that concern yayyyyyyyyyyyyy
Thats my story, my opinion and experience of 40 to 50 years of RV use AND IM STICKIN TO IT LOL
Take care Professor Jim
John T
I can see possible advantages or disadvantages of series versus parallel charging and monitoring cells with a hydrometer etc., but for Rv use when I install BOTH new batteries at the same time and monitor their INDIVIDUAL condition now n then (Voltage and Load testing as well as Hydrometer) Im sticking with series charging using a quality Smart 3/4 Stage charge and NOT configure and charge each 6 volt individually HOWEVER now that I upgraded to single 12 Volt AGM batteries I no longer have that concern yayyyyyyyyyyyyy
Thats my story, my opinion and experience of 40 to 50 years of RV use AND IM STICKIN TO IT LOL
Take care Professor Jim
John T
I always figured its the CURRENT passing through the cells NOT the VOLTAGE DROP drop across them that causes them to become charged and in series all receive the same current. I have charged two 6 volt batteries in series (12 volt charger) and I have charged them alone or in parallel (6 volt charger) and didn't notice any difference, but I cant say each and every time I used a hydrometer on each cell. In 50 years of RV use with two sixes in series (matched batteries of course) for BOTH use and Charging Ive never had any problems.
Fun chat
John T
Fun chat
John T
MarkB_MI
Well-known Member
- Location
- Motown USA
> So, your [sic] telling us that when you charge a 12 volt battery that the cells on one end get charged more?
No, of course not. The same current passes through all the cells of the battery, charging each cell equally. But the assumption you're making is that the INITIAL charge of each cell is identical, and that's not a given. Particularly after water or electrolyte has been added to the battery.
> If that's the case then we should separate the cells and charge each 2 volt cell individually!
In an ideal world we WOULD, but that's not possible with most batteries. But it IS POSSIBLE with many lithium batteries, which is why chargers designed specifically for lithium batteries charge each cell individually. <a href="https://shoraipower.com/chargers-c43">This battery charger made by Shorai</a> for their lithium batteries is such a charger; it plugs into a connector into the side of the battery which enables it to balance the charge between all the cells in the battery.
Although we can't balance the individual cells in a typical lead-acid battery, we CAN BALANCE two six-volt batteries by charging them in parallel. That will minimize the amount the individual cells are out of balance.
No, of course not. The same current passes through all the cells of the battery, charging each cell equally. But the assumption you're making is that the INITIAL charge of each cell is identical, and that's not a given. Particularly after water or electrolyte has been added to the battery.
> If that's the case then we should separate the cells and charge each 2 volt cell individually!
In an ideal world we WOULD, but that's not possible with most batteries. But it IS POSSIBLE with many lithium batteries, which is why chargers designed specifically for lithium batteries charge each cell individually. <a href="https://shoraipower.com/chargers-c43">This battery charger made by Shorai</a> for their lithium batteries is such a charger; it plugs into a connector into the side of the battery which enables it to balance the charge between all the cells in the battery.
Although we can't balance the individual cells in a typical lead-acid battery, we CAN BALANCE two six-volt batteries by charging them in parallel. That will minimize the amount the individual cells are out of balance.
MarkB_MI
Well-known Member
- Location
- Motown USA
> I have never encountered a battery that had tapering charge from one end to the other.
Nor have I. The tapering charge theory is Russ's invention, not mine.
Nor have I. The tapering charge theory is Russ's invention, not mine.
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