To my query and I will apologies if it has been covered before but I think I may have a problem.
I recently purchased a 200w solar panel so I got the better half to pick up a second battery in town.
Not knowing I installed the battery in series with our original battery all good, only just now on setting up the panels and and setting the controller I discovered we have one Lead acid deep cycle and one gel deep cycle.
It seems obvious we should get a second new battery(Gel type) but my perceived problem concerns the question, can any damage/problems occur in the next few weeks and regarding the controller it has three settings 1/ sealed 2/ Gel 3/ Flooded if no major problem what setting should I use',
The new battery will probably have to be ordered in.
Gel battery Max Volt setting 14.4
Lead acid Max Volt setting 14.6
Float volage 13.6 for both battery types . Set Max @ 14.4 & Float @ 13.6 and all good no damage will be done.
Cheers
Jeff
Ok so they are connected in parallel, just don't try to charge them in parallel with a battery charger, I have just burnt one out because I didn't know the batteries were different in my new (secondhand) van, I should have twigged when I saw the huge battery isolator under the seat, I just left it as it was on the "both" setting, which was fine when I was drawing power, but when I connected the battery charger, (which defaults to lead acid) when I got home, it cooked the battery charger and has made the van stink of burnt electrics.
Ok so they are connected in parallel, just don't try to charge them in parallel with a battery charger, I have just burnt one out because I didn't know the batteries were different in my new (secondhand) van, I should have twigged when I saw the huge battery isolator under the seat, I just left it as it was on the "both" setting, which was fine when I was drawing power, but when I connected the battery charger, (which defaults to lead acid) when I got home, it cooked the battery charger and has made the van stink of burnt electrics.
Hi
I doubt it was due to different battery chemistry
More likely, just the two batterries drew more chargng current than the Charger could cope with,,although most do have an overload trip.
OR current limiting
PeterQ
-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Monday 8th of December 2014 12:29:28 AM
