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Date Posted: - Sunday - 04/22/07 - 1:36pm
Author: Capt'n Mike - Gypsy Mariner TM36K
Author Host/IP: NoHost / 72.24.202.31
Subject: How were your voltage readings taken?
In reply to: Randall, Murre, M31 's message, "Solar charger hook up when batts in parallel" on - Monday - 04/16/07 - 4:46pm

Randall,
I may have misunderstood what you wrote - but with both 12v wet cell batteries wired in parallel into one battery bank (I think this is what you have described), I would begin trouble shooting by checking the specific gravity of each cell of the battery showing 12.6 volts with a hydrometer. You may have a bad cell on that battery. You have quite a bit of voltage difference between two batteries that are normally part of one battery bank, and until you figure where the difference is coming from I wouldn't keep the two batteries wired in parallel.

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[> [> The solution, for now -- Randall, - Monday - 04/23/07 - 1:08pm (204-16-158-68-static.ipnetworksinc.net/204.16.158.68)

Thanks for all the input, gents.

It is with some embarrassment that I admit my first question turned out to be a red herring. With the switch in the OFF position (which it was in my example) there is no way the single solar panel could have charged both batteries given the way I’d installed it. With the red lead to battery #1 and its ground to battery #2, I didn’t make a connection … in the physical sense (or, in this case, metaphorical either).

In the short term, at least, I’ve rigged a small regulator to the panel and connected the panel to battery #2, the house battery (kind of following Bill’s advice, but without using the BOTH strategy for the moment).

Why? The starter battery is 4 years old and seems as fresh now as when I bought it even with a charging regime that ONLY includes running the engine. Its twin, the house battery, which I just replaced, was dead as a door knob after 4 years of the same. So it seems the house battery needs the more care.

Thanks again.

RR

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