In a 12 volt deep cycle battery system with multiple batteries?

Question

I have 8 120 amp deep cycle batteries in parallel.Do I put my charging source with both leads at 1 end or do I put a positive on one end and the negative on the other so the charging flow is spread out?..I know it sounds confusing but now I have both leads at one end and it seems to work fine but wouldnt it work better if the leads were attached at either end?

Answer 1

The best way to charge more than 1 batteries simultaneously is to connect them in parallel but if you do have a charger of higher rating, you have to connect the batteris in series.

     It is beyond understanding that you have connected both terminals of charger at one side only and it is working. There is some problem, sure. Either the charger is not working or one of the lead is down. connecting both leads will certainly ensure short circuit.

Answer 2

The only difference made would be in voltage drop across the paths. If that is truly of concern to you ... why not connect equal length/equal gauge parallel charging leads to each cell? Or at least two (one to each end)?

Another approach would be to orient the batteries such that the use of two bus bars would be possible. In that situation ... who really knows what "end" of an array you're connected to? I would have two solid bars of copper with locations tapped to allow securing ring terminals with connections made to each battery by terminal post => 0 gauge => ring terminal.

I would think your largest concern would be the connection of the load. Do you actually have a higher charge rate than discharge rate?

Answer 3

Id stick with both leads at the same end...as long as the system is connected tightly it should keep all batteries balanced at the same level....960 amps?...thats a lot of reserve...good luck..whats your charge source?...Solar..wind or a charger?

Answer 4

Id say with both at the same end...I had a smaller system one time hooked up the other way,with my charger leads at both ends and one battery burned out...i don't know why,if it was the way I had it hooked up or if there was something wrong with the charge controller....Ive never heard of anyone burning one out with both at the same end...JMO

Answer 5

It wouldn't make any difference either way.

(Technically, the circuit closest to the leads would be shorter than the circuits further away in your design, so there would be greater current density, but the difference is so small that in most circuits it wouldn't matter.  As long as the load resistance is reasonably high, and the wire resistance is low, you'll be fine either way.)