2 batteries

[ikeslayer]

So i have 2 batteries that are the same size and same make and production date. i would like to hook them both up to go to my trolling motor. I have a 12 volt and i know how to hook them up so they don't make 24 volts and to make 12. Only problem is i don't know the best way to hook them to the trolling motor and the on board charger so that they both draw and charge evenly. i am sure that some man out there has conquered this problem beautifully. So how do i do it. Thanks for your expertise.

ike

[waskawood]

I would just hook the two positive posts together and the two negative posts together using a wire size big enough to carry the amperage that will be needed to power your trollong motor. Hook the trolling motor and charger as you would a single battery. I don't see where the resistance of the wire used to parallel the two batteries would draw one down more than the other. As always, when working with electricity follow safe working procedures.

[ikeslayer]

i have just wondered if anyone has brought all their wires to a docking station or something like that and if so how to do it or what is best. ike

[BobT]

The fewer termination points in the wire the better. Connect them as already pointed out. They distance between the batteries will make the wire resistance negligible at best.

Bob

[Whoaru99]

And to expound, a multi-bank charger on two batteries in parallel will act as a single bank charger having the sum of the amps (assuming two banks) charging the batteries. The power will distribute itself accordingly.

The other option, but not necessarily a recommendation, would be to place a switch in one wire of the parallel battery connection. That would allow for easily un-parallel of the batteries to allow a dual-bank charger to address the needs of each battery independently. The benefit of which certainly is real, but how significant is another story.