Two Chargers To One Battery Bank?

[PotatoAddict]

Can two different battery chargers supply charge to one battery bank at the same time? Or will there be problems? Thanks.

Additional details: 250 amp house battery bank. 60 amp charger present. Thinking about connecting an inverter which happens to have a 70 amp charger built in. Now my house bank will have two chargers with 130 amps of total charging output. Can I keep it that way or do I have to disconnect the 60 amp charger?

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Two Chargers To One Battery Bank?

If the chargers have just the basics of a voltage sensing circuitry one will see the other and shut down or they'll both just sit there and cycle through their charging sequence. If they're both old (20 years or more) they'll probably work fine together but be careful to watch the charge level so you don't over charge and trash your batteries.

It probably wouldn't be something I would do. You can buy an onboard charger that will independently charge each battery. A 40amp onboard will charge two batteries simultaneously at 20 amps.

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: Two Chargers To One Battery Bank?

Strongly recommend only one charger at a time being connected.

TerryMSU

 

[dwparker99]

Re: Two Chargers To One Battery Bank?

Most of what I read recommends a max charge current of .2C. In your case that would be 50 amps. Charging with too high a current will take the charger out of the bulk charge mode prematurely and could actually extend charge time.

 

[Auger01]

Re: Two Chargers To One Battery Bank?

There will be problems with two chargers. Some inverter-chargers have the option to disable the charging function via dip switches. BTW, charging at the C/10 rate (which is the maximum reccomended usually), you would need only a 25 amp charger.