12 volts systems

4 Posts
Mar 29, 2008 09:41 pm
12 volts systems

 Can I have 5 12 volt batterys & connect 10 6 volt batterys to the 12 volt batterys? Also would you show me how to connect them? Or do you think I would be better off just with the 6 volt batterys? & how would I wire them? Thank you Ron.
« Last Edit: Mar 30, 2008 11:26 am by Roberta McElwain »
 
578 Posts
Mar 30, 2008 09:40 am
Re: 12 volts systems

i would not suggest doing that.  only like batteries should be connected.  the charging and discharging of unlike batteries will probably wreck the whole group because of differences in their construction and resistances.

generally we avoid connecting more than three series strings of batteries in parallel.

check out home power magazine issue 114 for an article about batteries. www.homepower.com

james,
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4 Posts
Mar 30, 2008 10:50 am
Re: 12 volts systems

Thank you for your quick response!!!! I will check out the article and heed your advice. Thanks again.
 
184 Posts
Mar 30, 2008 12:22 pm
Re: 12 volts systems

Roberta,

Since it's not a good idea to parallel two battery banks made up of different types of batteries, here are a couple of ideas:

Morningstar makes a charge controller that can charge two separate battery banks.  You might also consider using a battery switch, perhaps to connect one battery bank or the other to your inverter. 

You could also come up with some sort of automatic switching scheme, possibly using a voltage-controlled switch. I'm probably going to use my Morningstar Relay Driver to do something like that, as I plan to replace my still-good battery bank in the near future.

I hope you'll let us know what you've decided.

John
 
4 Posts
Mar 30, 2008 01:40 pm
Re: 12 volts systems

John, Do you think I should just use my 6 volt batterys? I have 10 of them. Could send me a sketch on how to wire them so I make up a 12 system? Thank you for your reply. Ron & Roberta.
 
184 Posts
Mar 30, 2008 08:39 pm
Re: 12 volts systems

If you already have the 6-volt batteries, and their in good shape, why not use them? 

I'm not sure how to include a sketch, so I'll explain this way:

Think of your ten 6-volt batteries as five pairs of two batteries. For each pair, add a wire from the positive terminal of one to the negative terminal of the other.  Now you have five positive terminals and five negative terminals that have no wires on them.  Connect wires to join all five positive terminals together.  Connect wires to join all five negative terminals together.  You now have a series-parallel wired, 12-volt battery bank. (It will be easier to understand if you draw this as I've described).

By the way, if each of your six volt batteries is rated at 100ah, you now have a 500ah battery bank (not a 1000ah battery bank as you might expect).  This is due to the series-parallel wiring.

John   
 
4 Posts
Mar 30, 2008 09:07 pm
Re: 12 volts systems

 John, The light bulb finally came on. Thank you very much for your help. We live 9 miles off the grid up in the mountains of Northern Az. I've asked alot of people but really couldn't get it work. When I drew it, it made more sense Thank you again & take care Ron.
 

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