Shared Charging Amperage ??

[dumbass]

I currently have 2 bike with twin 24v/18ah battery packs. When both bike hit the road at the same time I need to recharge 8 – 12v/18ah batteries. I have setup the wiring with quick disconnect plugs so when plugged into the bikes they are automatically setup for series connection (24v)and when plugged into the charger they are automatically setup as parallel connection (12v).

I have read a lot about people parallel charge multiply batteries. But does anyone know what the actual amperage is while charging multiply batteries? Example; if I am charging 2 – 12v batteries and the charger is set at 2a and the read out is showing 2a is each battery actually getting 2a? Or is it being shared (split) between the 2 batteries (1 amp each)? If it is getting shared then I could crank up the charging rate. I think the max recommended charge rate for 18ah batteries is 4.5a. My chargers have a 2/6/10a setting. So I could crank up the current to at least 6 amps provided the amperage was being shared. For the most part I don't need to reduce the charge time. But I was wondering if it would improve the cycle life of the batteries.

 

[EMF]

I have read a lot about people parallel charge multiply batteries. But does anyone know what the actual amperage is while charging multiply batteries? Example; if I am charging 2 – 12v batteries and the charger is set at 2a and the read out is showing 2a is each battery actually getting 2a? Or is it being shared (split) between the 2 batteries (1 amp each)? If it is getting shared then I could crank up the charging rate. I think the max recommended charge rate for 18ah batteries is 4.5a. My chargers have a 2/6/10a setting. So I could crank up the current to at least 6 amps provided the amperage was being shared. For the most part I don't need to reduce the charge time. But I was wondering if it would improve the cycle life of the batteries.

It's getting "shared". For instance I have 2 - 36 volt - 1 amp chargers. 1 each for 2 - 36 volt packs. If I burn 4 amp hours on each 4 p packs, it takes 4 hours to charge them. The charger will only "flow" it's rated curent, so, no matter the amount of batteries, this is all they get to share. Are these SLA?

The best way to increase cylces is of course, not to do a deep discharge. I guess this would hold true for about any chemistry. Someone correct me if i am wrong. For this reason, with my A123 packs, I opportunity charge any time I get a chance!!

 

[efreak]

I don't know a whole lot or at least retain as much i like to but i remember a123 being different and some other chemisteries that are prone to memory effect for example might benefit from a deep cycle . as well sla's like to be connected as soon as possible and stay connected but as far as bumping the amps depending on the chemistery again(been helpfull to know) should be ok at least x 2 of the original my 2 cents


efreak

 

[dumbass]

OK, thanks and yeah the packs are all SLA packs and sorry I thought I mentioned that but I guess I didn't (hence my name). I was thinking that the charger was only going to give out what it was indicating and it would be up to the batteries to take what they needed. The battery with the lowest resistance has the lowest charge and therefore, will get most of the current until it catches up the the others. For this reason I guess you have to be careful that you charge batteries that have a like discharge or your charging rate does not exceed the max. recommended charging rate for one battery. After all if one battery is really low on charge it will suck up most of the juice until it catches up. In a way this is a good and cheap way to keep SLA batteries in balance. But on the other hand you could actually do some damage to that battery without knowing it if you crank up the charging amps above it's max.