Thread: Connect 12v batteries inline how?

The easiest way is to think how a torch takes batteries to increase voltage.

+ to + and - to - keeps same voltage and doubles "life span."

Shouldn't make any difference where you plug the light leads.

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

+ to + and - to - keeps same voltage and doubles "life span."

Shouldn't make any difference where you plug the light leads.

As Skew says to keep the same voltage put in parallels i.e. + + / -- and to increase the voltage put in series +-+- The more in series the more the voltage

Thanks Guys.

Sorry to say but if the batteries are different capacities or ages then one will drain the other, or take all the charge, leaving one flat.

In parallel battery situations it is better to split the charger regulator circuits and discharge separately.

Originally Posted by DavidG

Sorry to say but if the batteries are different capacities or ages then one will drain the other, or take all the charge, leaving one flat.

In parallel battery situations it is better to split the charger regulator circuits and discharge separately.

Agree with David totally. Even 6 months difference between purchases can have detrimental effects on the life of batteries.

Originally Posted by David L

Can someone please tell me how to connect two 12V batteries in line to still give 12V.
I power the lights in my camp-trailer with 12v and can't remember weather it should be + to + or +to -

Also is it better to connect the light lead to + on one and - on the other or just connect it to the one battery?

Thanks in advance for your help.

David

Hi David, for what you want to do, simply connect “+” to “+” and “-” to “-” and with this set up you can then connect your light’s “+” to either battery’s “+” and your light’s “-” to either battery’s “-”.

Also, if you have both batteries in the camper trailer connected in parallel all the time, you won’t have any real dramas, even if the batteries are different sizes, ages or even different types.

Just make sure you keep them fully charged when not in use and they should last you many years.

Cheers.