Correct way to parallel batteries

Volvo Farmer

Is there a difference between battery bank A and battery bank B in the following diagram? My installer told me it was bad to take power off the end of parallel strings (?). My batteries are installed like diagram A. I fail to see an electrical difference between A and B though. Am I missing something here?

westbranch

Re: Correct way to parallel batteries

VF, I use B but where I tap into the + & - at the midpoint of the connector (between the batt terminals of each of the 2 strings )

LandKurt

Re: Correct way to parallel batteries

You are trying to avoid one string being to the side of the main flow of power; distanced through extra wiring. It's usually advised to wire "diagonally" by connecting directly to the positive of one string and the negative of the other.

You seem to be doing that correctly in diagram A. There are two strings, left and right. you connect to the negative of the left string and the positive of the right string. It's drawn oddly, but diagram A seems to be a proper diagonal two string hookup.

Diagram B illustrates the common wrong way of connecting two strings. The main connection is to the terminals of the upper string. The lower string is distanced from the main flow of power by the two jumpers at the ends.

t00ls

Re: Correct way to parallel batteries

really isnt a difference in the two...still drawing at the end of each

Cariboocoot

Re: Correct way to parallel batteries

The standard reference we use around here from Smart Gauge: http://www.smartgauge.co.uk/batt_con.html

Although the diagrams show individual batteries in parallel, you can think of series strings of batteries (connected positive to negative) as the single batteries shown in the diagram.

In the OP's diagrams, the best choice is to use 'B' but move either the negative or the positive system connect to the other row of batteries (like Smart Gauge diagram method 2)