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Old 10-17-2017, 04:20 PM   #1
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Connecting (2) #24 batteries to (2)#6 batteries

After reading 7/24/17 post from Jimmoore13 which was excellent, I wondered if it would be possible to achieve more amp hrs. by attaching my(2) 24batteries in series to my recently installed 6v batteries?The 24's are only 1yr. old off my 2015 flagstaff shamrock 23ss. Thanks for any thoughts.Also,what are concerns in running my Honda 2000i to recharge all (4) as hooked up?
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Old 10-17-2017, 05:06 PM   #2
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Yes, absolutely.
You should make sure they are all of the same type, best is to have them all identical incl. age. Connect positive to positive and negative to negative. This way you keep the voltage and double the Amp/h capacity.
Charging the battery bank with a generator is common practice but not very efficient. Depending on the converter/charger in your trailer it might be better to use a good stand alone battery charger to put more amps more quickly back into the batteries.
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Old 10-18-2017, 09:49 AM   #3
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I assume you mean group 24, 12 volt batteries.

You don't want to hook them in series to the 6 volt batteries. They'll be parallel, so you'll wind up with a series-parallel circuit. Which will wind up with about output of 12 volts. While not ideal, it can be done.
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Old 10-18-2017, 10:01 AM   #4
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Be darn sure you have 12 volt output, not 24, before connecting to the trailer!
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Old 10-18-2017, 10:06 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by Bama Rambler View Post
I assume you mean group 24, 12 volt batteries.

You don't want to hook them in series to the 6 volt batteries. They'll be parallel, so you'll wind up with a series-parallel circuit. Which will wind up with about output of 12 volts. While not ideal, it can be done.
Pay close attention to what Bama has said in this post.
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Old 10-18-2017, 01:40 PM   #6
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It looks like you are attempting to wire two 6 volts in series to get 12 volts. Then you want to parallel those across the two group 24's (12volts each?) that already been paralleled? I would not do that. Instead, I would suggest an isolation switch and flip between the two banks of batteries as needed. This is due to the different types of batteries, while each bank is 12 volts, they will not be balanced because of internal resistances. One set will always charge/discharge at different rates. Also, you may even experience one set trying to top off the charge of the other set, depleting the host set.
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Old 10-18-2017, 01:49 PM   #7
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It looks like you are attempting to wire two 6 volts in series to get 12 volts. Then you want to parallel those across the two group 24's (12volts each?) that already been paralleled? I would not do that. Instead, I would suggest an isolation switch and flip between the two banks of batteries as needed. This is due to the different types of batteries, while each bank is 12 volts, they will not be balanced because of internal resistances. One set will always charge/discharge at different rates. Also, you may even experience one set trying to top off the charge of the other set, depleting the host set.
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Old 10-18-2017, 05:01 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by Paulie1138 View Post
It looks like you are attempting to wire two 6 volts in series to get 12 volts. Then you want to parallel those across the two group 24's (12volts each?) that already been paralleled? I would not do that. Instead, I would suggest an isolation switch and flip between the two banks of batteries as needed. This is due to the different types of batteries, while each bank is 12 volts, they will not be balanced because of internal resistances. One set will always charge/discharge at different rates. Also, you may even experience one set trying to top off the charge of the other set, depleting the host set.
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Old 10-18-2017, 05:59 PM   #9
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Battery diagram

Here is a diagram of how to make the connections with a marine switch.
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Old 10-19-2017, 08:42 AM   #10
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Smile Connecting (2) #24 batteries to (2) 6v batteries

Thanks for all ideas on this subject.;so many other opinions from RVdealers. I REALLY APPRECIATE the diagram from Jonol as it "says it all".
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Old 10-19-2017, 08:16 PM   #11
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I would suggest if you are buying batteries to connect via the marine type switch, but get the same Ah of the batteries you already have.
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Old 10-19-2017, 08:41 PM   #12
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6 volt batteries will never reach the volt readings you would normally require for proper converter operation. no matter how many you have. This is because a fully charged 12 volt battery will be around 12.7 volts. Your converter will charge at a volt level of 13.2-13.7v
If your voltage drops to 11.5-12.0 volts, your converter will shift into "bulk" mode at 14.4 volts for a four hour period.

A fully charged 6 volt battery will have 5.5-6.0 volts, two of them in series will produce 11.0-12.0 volts, which will most likely keep your converter triggered in "bulk" mode to attempt to bring them up to a minimum of 12.7 volts, which they won't stay at.
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Old 10-19-2017, 08:42 PM   #13
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No not in series in parallel with a switch as mentioned. The issue trying to charge batteries of different age or type/capacity is that one will charge faster than the other this will result in one battery being slightly overcharged and one slightly undercharged. Each time you charge, the difference increases until the weaker battery is bad and will then damage the good battery. This is a simplified explanation, but essentially what happens.
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Old 10-19-2017, 08:52 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by SlowrideHD View Post
6 volt batteries will never reach the volt readings you would normally require for proper converter operation. no matter how many you have. This is because a fully charged 12 volt battery will be around 12.7 volts. Your converter will charge at a volt level of 13.2-13.7v
If your voltage drops to 11.5-12.0 volts, your converter will shift into "bulk" mode at 14.4 volts for a four hour period.

A fully charged 6 volt battery will have 5.5-6.0 volts, two of them in series will produce 11.0-12.0 volts, which will most likely keep your converter triggered in "bulk" mode to attempt to bring them up to a minimum of 12.7 volts, which they won't stay at.
Not sure where you got that information for 6 volts batteries, but my 6 volt FLA in series are the same as a 12 volt battery. Because each cell is the same and the quantity of cells are the same. Fully charged series pair is 12.73 volts, the same as a single FLA 12 volt battery. There is a tiny voltage drop in the strap or jumper. Voltages are based on resting for a period of time. SG is the sure way to measure state of charge.
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Old 10-19-2017, 09:32 PM   #15
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Not sure where you got that information for 6 volts batteries, but my 6 volt FLA in series are the same as a 12 volt battery. Because each cell is the same and the quantity of cells are the same. Fully charged series pair is 12.73 volts, the same as a single FLA 12 volt battery. There is a tiny voltage drop in the strap or jumper. Voltages are based on resting for a period of time. SG is the sure way to measure state of charge.
WW
I was told that by Brian Moran (who gives the electrical seminars for Forest River)
He said it at Goshen rally and again at the BamaGanza rally a couple weeks ago. I specifically asked him to clarify the comment that he had made at the Goshen rally because it didn't make sense to me. He said it was due to the construction of the battery itself???
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Old 10-19-2017, 11:30 PM   #16
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Connecting (2) #24 batteries to (2)#6 batteries

I run one 12 and 2 6volts with a marine switch and just change between the two banks as I need.
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Old 10-20-2017, 12:55 AM   #17
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I was told that by Brian Moran (who gives the electrical seminars for Forest River)
He said it at Goshen rally and again at the BamaGanza rally a couple weeks ago. I specifically asked him to clarify the comment that he had made at the Goshen rally because it didn't make sense to me. He said it was due to the construction of the battery itself???
Wow, Brian should not be giving seminars as he does not have a clue what he is talking about. Two 6 volt jars connected in series is the exact same voltage as a 12 volt jar. Both are 12.7 volts at 100% SOC.
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