multiple battery charging station, ideas needed.

[flathead31coupe]

i have 6 12v batteries that i have to charge in the winter, and would like to find the best way to charge them in a maintenance kind of way all at once without baby sitting them...i know that used tire shops that sell used batteries have a way to do it....

 

[Craig Burriss]

I would think if you connected them all in parallel, you could put them on a single trickle charger

 

[flathead31coupe]

I would think if you connected them all in parallel, you could put them on a single trickle charger

thanks for the reply....so it would just charge the ones that need charging?

 

[Craig Burriss]

thanks for the reply....so it would just charge the ones that need charging?

If they were all connected in parallel, and assuming they’re all good batteries, the voltages would equalize. And depending on the charger you have, it will start charging when they reach a minimum voltage, and turn off at a maximum voltage.

 

[Dana67Dart]

IMHO

Just buy 6 battery maintainers,

Fully charge each then put on the trickle chargers.

6 batteries in parallel might draw too much current to charge.

 

[flathead31coupe]

thanks for all the replys..this is the info iam looking for

 

[69FBCuda]

For those with deep pockets

Battery Tender® 10-Bank 6V/12V, 4 AMP Selectable Battery Charger

Battery Tender® 10-Bank 6V/12V, 4 AMP Selectable Battery Charger

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$999.95

 

[Dana67Dart]

$999.95

Ouch!

 

[Darter6]

6 batteries in parallel might draw too much current to charge.

I agree. I hooked 3 to a 1.5 amp tender charger and it had a hard time and never got to full charge even after 2 days. Shumacher makes a nice charger that is 2 amp/15amp/Start that is a float charge in the 2 amp setting BUT will pull more amps if the battery needs it. Some float chargers will not bring a very low battery back to full charge such as ones that are "Maintainer" chargers.

 

[Dana67Dart]

BU-403: Charging Lead Acid

 

[diymirage]

I would think if you connected them all in parallel, you could put them on a single trickle charger

thats the way big diesels charge 2 batteries
and im pretty sure thats the way coaches charge multiple batteries too

 

[67Dart273]

Parallel works sorta for a couple of batteries. But even then you "should" try to use somewhat matched batteries. An old old battery or in unknown, possibly damaged (sulfated etc) condition won't "come up" like a healthy newer battery

This would be compounded the more batteries you try to charge

I would buy separate low current maintainers, and a larger substantial charger and charge maybe a couple at a time, then transfer them to maintainers

 

[Daves69]

If you already have a charger that will charge them full maybe all you need is maintainers......

FWIW, For recharging and maintaining my boat batteries and over winter I've been very happy with my Dual Pro two bank charger. I flip a switch and let them run a full day once or twice a week in winter in a 45° garage. I do use it for lead acids as well.
They are not cheap. A pair of three banks can run 1200 or so these days...