Batteries - Keeping LOTS of batteries charged
 

So, I have several toys. Most require a battery. The attached photo represents all batteries except my riding lawnmower and gas CC golf cart (still using both).

In the past I’ve been bad about keeping them in good shape through the Michigan winters. Usually, that means I buy a couple of batteries each Spring.

THIS year, I’d like to be nicer to my wallet. My question:

Can I use “jumpers” from battery-to-battery, across all batteries, with one 2 amp (or trickle ) charger to keep everything charged while only having ONE charger plugged in?

I know absolutely zero about electrics and electronics. All advice is appreciated.

Re: Batteries - Keeping LOTS of batteries charged
 

Hi Rep!
I am a former Michigander myself! Now a happy FLA resident. :thumbup:
So are all of your batteries 12 volt? If the answer is yes, then the simple answer to your question is yes, you can charge them all at once with one charger. Simply wire them together in parallel- i.e. hook all the positives together, and do the same for the negatives. Think of it as now having one huge 12 volt battery... connect charger and away you go!
Like I said, that's the simple answer.
If I were doing it this way I would connect the positive (alligator clip?) of the charger to one end of your battery bank, and the negative (alligator clip?) to the opposite side of the battery bank. This should help to distribute those electrons a little more evenly across the batteries. Here's a (crude and badly drawn!) pic of what it should look like:
http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/022...el_pic.jpg?365
I noticed in your pic that some of the batteries are quite a bit smaller (less amp hours or "capacity") Keep in mind that electricity takes the path of least resistance and one "bad" battery in the mix will sabotage your efforts and could cause the others to be overcharged... Now we could get even further into properly doing this with diodes etc. and then take into consideration the sulfation of each battery, and which ones will be the "electricity hoggers", etc. etc. but in the effort of keeping it "real world" I would suggest that you separate the batteries into "banks" where their capacities are at least similar, if not matching.
Would I connect them in series regardless of capacities and use a small "trickle/float charger" for the winter with the batteries you have pictured? Yes, but I also feel it pertinent to explain that there are many, many variables to consider, and that it's not the optimal solution. I'd hate to see you get into a situation where one battery is badly damaged- therefore keeping the charger engaged- and possibly causing the dangerous gassing of another battery in the circuit.. The low amperage of a trickle charger make this somewhat unlikely, but still possible. Charge and test them all first, and monitor them often.
Hope I didn't make this too confusing!

Re: Batteries - Keeping LOTS of batteries charged
 

You may also want to consider this 12v battery Solver Package! :thumbup:
http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/022...er.jpg?366</a>[/URL]

Re: Batteries - Keeping LOTS of batteries charged
 

Thank you, Zombie!

And BTW, Florida is my favorite place. Wishing to one day retire somewhere between Punta Gorda and Fort Meyers.

I appreciate the advice, too. Some of those batteries are old, three are less than one year old.

What if connected all of them, set the one charger at 2 amps, AND used a timer so that they only charged for a few hours per day durinmg my absence (that could be as much as a few weeks at a time)? Would I still run the risk of damage?

Again, thank you.

Re: Batteries - Keeping LOTS of batteries charged
 

My pleasure Rep!
If it's a "smart" charger that you're using (meaning it turns itself on and off when batteries reach full charge) the timer would basically be insurance. Again, it's not foolproof- something could go wrong, but then again we could all get hit by busses crossing the street! lol. You will have happier, healthier batteries at the end of winter vs. the just letting them be neglected all winter.
Happy Buggying!

Re: Batteries - Keeping LOTS of batteries charged
 

This is actually a parallel configuration described above. One lower capacity battery has minimal effect on charging the rest, because the others will stabilize the max voltage and prevent the weak one from skyrocketing voltage. They will settle to an identical voltage shortly after the cables are hooked up. Although, a weak,or sulphated battery would reveal itself in a day or two after disconecting all the cables (voltages of weak batts will begin to drop). A series configuration goes (+,-,+,-,+,-), the voltage adds up. In a Series configuration, a weaker or mismatched capacity battery is a much bigger deal. A weaker mismatch battery voltage will skyrocket while charging in Series configuration, further damaging the weaker battery, AND the good ones because they will be undercharged.

For example:
Series = (3x 12v,300cca = 36v, 300cca)

Parallel = (3x 12v,300cca = 12v, 900cca)

Re: Batteries - Keeping LOTS of batteries charged
 

Oops,.double post..

Re: Batteries - Keeping LOTS of batteries charged
 

Hmmm. Now I'm really confused.

Re: Batteries - Keeping LOTS of batteries charged
 

Basicly, just follow his drawing/ skech. Dont worry too much about it as long as all your batteries are currently "healthy, doing their jobs", and dont use too large a charger.

Re: Batteries - Keeping LOTS of batteries charged
 

I have 4 lawn mower type batteries which I wire up as per the diagram above (positive to positive and negative to negative) and then I connected one of these and walked away
http://www.harborfreight.com/automat...ger-42292.html
It worked last winter and I am confident that they we be ready to go in spring 2014.
The only point I would make is that these are not chargers as such so I use a car charger on each battery first to ensure that they are at 100% at the start.

Dave