New onboard charger

[itsmeewhooelse]

I just bought a minn kota MK 220 2 bank (10 amp)charger and my batteries are in parallel. Now here is the question, do I need to put the red on the positive side of both batteries and blacks on the nevatives or should a red be put on battery(a) and negative be on battery(b).????

 

[bgbass.1]

Re: New onboard charger

keep the wires going to the same battery

 

[Boatist]

Re: New onboard charger

Welcome to the board.
If you only have two batteries and they are wired in Paralell then you did not need a two bank charger. A single bank charger would work just fine.

If you have a Starting battery and two trolling motor batteries wired in Paralell then conect one bank to the starting battery and the other bank to the trolling motor batteries.

If you only have the two batteries and hook one charger bank to each battery I think this would work ok when the batteries are discharged.
As they reach full charge I think the two chargers could interfeer with other the voltage from one charger may cause the other charger to shut down thinking the battery is fully charged. It may be better to break the link between positive post while charging.

 

[John_S]

Re: New onboard charger

Check your charger manual, but even my lower end Guest charger was able to parallel the outputs. ie make a 5/5 amp charger a 10 amp. In your case, if that is doable, put the terminals on one battery, assuming there is no isolation between them. The charger will see the batteries as one load. Wiring to each might cause a slight variation with resistance in wires, which may cause problems. Wouldn't hurt to give MK tech support a call for the final blessing.

 

[itsmeewhooelse]

Re: New onboard charger

HEY THANKS GUYS. The manual didn't cover the parallel part and since its the weekend Tech support is closed. I'm going on your advise with the 1 bank to battery (a), and I'll run the other bank back to my main battery.
THANKS AGAIN FROM WASHINGTON

 

[Silvertip]

Re: New onboard charger

Most dual, triple and quad output chargers made today can be "bridged" (parallel operation) so connect both outputs to the same battery. Those outputs are isolated within the charger and will monitor "system voltage" not individual battery voltage. Since both are measuring the same thing, they will turn on and off at the same time.