Senior Ninja wrote:Madjack,
I'm planning to add another deepcycle battery to the one I already have to provide power for Field Day in June where I will be using the batteries to power my Ham radios. Can I still charge them from the battery terminals in the car.
Thanks,
Steve
Senior
Is this going to be a permanent thing? Or just a one time deal?
Its not good to add another battery to an existing Permanent system unless they are both the same batteries and the same age.
The age is the hardest thing to match.
With charging there really isn't a problem( alternator size concerns), Even discharging/using them connected isn't that much of a problem...Its when there hooked together and dormant that the equalizing/damage takes place. Using 2 different batteries in the same system you will do damage to the better battery.
A day or two won't hurt but don't leave them connected/dormant to long.
There's an old saying in the RV industry;
If you hook a good battery in with a bad battery, pretty soon you'll have 2 bad batteries.
I would, if its feasible, charge and use each battery independently.
Happy Trails
Len
Happy Trails
Len