Over time, Battery 1 will most likely fail first. Battery 1 has the path of least resistance, so it will charge and discharge more quickly than Battery 2. And Tank 1 will also empty slightly quicker than Tank 2 and so on down the line. Tank 1 will fill slightly quicker than Tank 2 and so on down the line. Imagine the batteries are water tanks, the cable is water piping, and the charging device is a water supply. Water always takes the path of least resistance… as does electrical current. Think of current flow as being like water flow. Why? Because it gets charged and discharged more quickly, because the cable run is shorter. There’s a problem with this setup.īattery 1 works harder than Battery 2 and so on down the string. The charging device may be at one end of the battery bank, so it makes sense to start at that end, right?Īh, no. ![]() This is often done because it’s easier (or cheaper) to start at one end. This configuration causes problems in the long term. A common way to connect batteries in parallel. You start at one end and join the batteries together in a string. One of the most common ways to connect batteries in parallel is to string them together. All the batteries are identical specifications (same age, same capacity, same brand and either AGM or Lithium).All terminal connectors are the same type.All the cabling in each example is the same size and type, and is correctly sized.In the examples we’re about to show you, assume: Related Resources: Download Excel versions of our Cable Calculators from our Free Resources pageīefore we go on, let’s be clear on a couple of things. If you’re not sure about cable sizing, we’ve put together a detailed article on How To Size Automotive Wiring with bonus auto cable size calculators and a cable size chart here. Undersized cables cause voltage drops and in the worst case can start fires. Rule #4 is to make sure you size the cables correctly. They’ll most likely say you can’t connect them in parallel… or you can, but they’ll fail quickly. If you have two older batteries and want to connect them in parallel, contact the manufacturer. ![]() If you have lithium batteries, you’ll normally be able to replace only the failed battery. If you don’t, it’s highly likely you’ll continue having premature battery failures. ![]() And if one battery fails, replace them all. Rule #3 is to only install new batteries. Rule #2 is to only ever connect batteries with the same chemistry – AGM to AGM or Lithium to Lithium. For example REDARC Electronics specify a maximum of: Some manufacturers specify limits on how many batteries you can connect in parallel. But not always… check with the manufacturer first. Generally speaking, cheap lithium batteries are less likely to be suitable for parallel connection than more expensive ones. Do your homework, check with the manufacturer before you buy.Ĭan you safely connect lithium batteries in parallel? It depends on the internal construction of the battery. Rule #1 is to never assume you can connect all battery brands in parallel. Guidelines For Connecting Batteries in Parallel
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