lead acid batts in a bank

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tim_ber

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A long long time ago I read in PBO that if wiring say 6 batts in parralel then instead of red to next red and black to next black etc, that the first red of bat 1, went all the way to red of bat 6 or something instead of red of bat 2 and the blacks did the usual wire up 1 to 2 to 3 etc.
This was to keep all batts in tip top condition or something.
Anyone know what I mean and can explain how I should be doing it properly, please?
Cheers
 
tim_ber said:
Anyone know what I mean and can explain how I should be doing it properly, please?
Click to expand...

If you have a number of batteries connected together in parallel, it's best to connect the main positive cable to one end of the bank, and the main negative cable to the other end of the bank. In this way, any tiny voltage differences between the batteries are evened out.

The more complex methods suggested in the link above may give a tiny theoretical advantage, but in real life it's probably outweighed by the added complication, additional joints, etc.
 
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AT last soemone has thought of a good use for a bank - put your batteries in there
My bank has only ever managed to turn a quid into 80p so I expect you will not get 'em all back
 
pvb said:
If you have a number of batteries connected together in parallel, it's best to connect the main positive cable to one end of the bank, and the main negative cable to the other end of the bank. In this way, any tiny voltage differences between the batteries are evened out.

The more complex methods suggested in the link above may give a tiny theoretical advantage, but in real life it's probably outweighed by the added complication, additional joints, etc.
Click to expand...

Please don't do this

I mean giving clear and correct advice.

Now we won't get a 25 page thread of confusion, corrections, disagreements etc.

Life will get boring
 
davidej said:
Please don't do this

I mean giving clear and correct advice.

Now we won't get a 25 page thread of confusion, corrections, disagreements etc.

Life will get boring
Click to expand...

No, someone will remember some half-baked electrical theory and try and contradict the excellent advice given by someone who knows their subject!

Now, let me see if I can remember Kirchoff's Laws......
 
The concern about how you wire up batteries in parallel relates to the high current demanded when starting an engine or similar.
It refers to inevitable resistance of the wire even though this is very small. If the lead away to load wires are connected to one battery then the others are paralleled off that battery then more current will be taken from the battery closest to the take off end because the wires to the other parallel batteries will present a small resistance so reducing the current taken from the other batteries. The result will be some what more abuse of the closest battery to the take off. It is conceivable that a similar effect occurs with charging. Obviously the smaller the current in or out the less significant the effect.
The simple answer as said is take a + wire from one end of the bunch and the negative from the other so that all batteries have a similar lead resistance between the battery terminals and the load. good luck olewill
 
William_H said:
The concern about how you wire up batteries in parallel relates to the high current demanded when starting an engine or similar.
It refers to inevitable resistance of the wire even though this is very small. If the lead away to load wires are connected to one battery then the others are paralleled off that battery then more current will be taken from the battery closest to the take off end because the wires to the other parallel batteries will present a small resistance so reducing the current taken from the other batteries. The result will be some what more abuse of the closest battery to the take off. It is conceivable that a similar effect occurs with charging. Obviously the smaller the current in or out the less significant the effect.
The simple answer as said is take a + wire from one end of the bunch and the negative from the other so that all batteries have a similar lead resistance between the battery terminals and the load. good luck olewill
Click to expand...

All makes good sense except that most owners of battery banks have in addition a dedicated starter battery so the battery bank never "sees" the big starter current. Personally I have two leisure batteries which I use in "both" mode for starting and when motoring and in "1" or "2" mode at other times .. keeps things simple.
 
Leading both wires from the same battery will create a voltage difference in other situations such as charging via an alternator or battery charger.
Wiring the battery using the + and - leads from different ends of the battery bank is generally no more difficult or complex.
 
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