2 - 12v Battery Charging.

[luckyinkentucky]

I have 2 - 12V deep cycle batteries hooked up to my trolling motor, and wired in succession to allow power to it. Can I hook up my trickle charger to each, one at a time, until each one is fully charged without any of the current crossing over to the non-charging battery?

 

[thrasher]

Re: 2 - 12v Battery Charging.

I assume by succession, you mean in series? Do you have 12 volts or 24 volts at your trolling motor?
If they are in series to give you 24 volts you can definately connect a charger to each battery and charge them one at a time. Do NOT use 2 chargers at the same time to charge both batteries together, usually the negative terminal of the battery charger is connected to earth, so when you use 2 chargers connected to both batteries you will short circuit the first battery through the earth line, so ONLY charge one battery at a time.

Gary

 

[getinmerry]

Re: 2 - 12v Battery Charging.

There are 2 ways to hook up 2 batteries (series or parallel). I'd suggest that you snap a photo and post it here to avoid getting the wrong advice and to make sure you're not causing a potentially dangerous or costly problem.

Chuck

 

[thrasher]

Re: 2 - 12v Battery Charging.

If he has connected them in parallel, then he can just use one charger to charge both at the same time!! If they are in series then he can charge one at a time, but it would be good to check his wiring and be sure nothing nasty will happen.

Gary

 

[gonefishie]

Re: 2 - 12v Battery Charging.

If they're in series then a 24v charger can charge both of them at the same time.

 

[wire2]

Re: 2 - 12v Battery Charging.

Do NOT use 2 chargers at the same time to charge both batteries together, usually the negative terminal of the battery charger is connected to earth, so when you use 2 chargers connected to both batteries you will short circuit the first battery through the earth line, so ONLY charge one battery at a time.

Gary

?
I don't think so. I've had many battery chargers apart and none of them had the negative wire grounded to the metal case. There's no reason to. Only the green wire of the 115v ac line cord is grounded to the case for safety.

The 12 v dc output is totally isolated so go ahead and connect 2 chargers to 2 batteries.

Having a jumper from + to - between the 2 batteries has no effect, nor does one of them being grounded to an engine or boat.

 

[luckyinkentucky]

Re: 2 - 12v Battery Charging.

Just to clarify ....

I have 2 - 12 v batteries wired in series for my 24v Powerdrive V2.

 

[wire2]

Re: 2 - 12v Battery Charging.

Just to clarify ....

I have 2 - 12 v batteries wired in series for my 24v Powerdrive V2.

Right. You can connect 1 charger to either battery, or,
2 chargers to 2 batteries, as long as you match charger + to batt + and charger - to batt -.

If I knew how to post a schematic, I would.

Answer to your original question; Yes.

 

[thrasher]

Re: 2 - 12v Battery Charging.

Thanks Hank,

I am use to battery chargers sold in Europe and I believe they all have to have the negative lead connected to ground to meet EEC safety rules, if that is not the case in the USA then you are 100% correct that two chargers can be connected across the 2 batteries. Thanks for pointing out the error of my ways.

Gary

 

[luckyinkentucky]

Re: 2 - 12v Battery Charging.

I think I will stick to the 1 battery at a time since my charger has a 'Deep Cycle' setting on it. Thanks for the replies.

 

[wire2]

Re: 2 - 12v Battery Charging.

Thanks Hank,

I am use to battery chargers sold in Europe and I believe they all have to have the negative lead connected to ground to meet EEC safety rules, if that is not the case in the USA then you are 100% correct that two chargers can be connected across the 2 batteries. Thanks for pointing out the error of my ways.

Gary

Thank YOU, Gary. I learned something today, (so it's a good day).
EEC may do that b/c supply is 220v.
CSA in Canada requires only that metal case be grounded, output is isolated.
And the Canadian Electrical Code doesn't care about voltages less than 48.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 2 - 12v Battery Charging.

Two and three bank on-board chargers have fully isolated outputs so even with the batteries wired in series, each output can be connected to each battery. You might be interested to know that many of these chargers also do load sharing which means when one battery is charged, the output feeding that battery can be diverted to another output to help it out.

 

[wire2]

Re: 2 - 12v Battery Charging.

Two and three bank on-board chargers have fully isolated outputs so even with the batteries wired in series, each output can be connected to each battery. You might be interested to know that many of these chargers also do load sharing which means when one battery is charged, the output feeding that battery can be diverted to another output to help it out.

I don't have a use for one myself but I am interested in the technology, do you have a brand name or site, Silver?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 2 - 12v Battery Charging.

Cabelas Pro-Sport is just one of the load sharing types.