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Post by skeetshooter on May 25, 2019 22:26:57 GMT
We are currently using a 100W panel with a 30 Amp controller (Wanderer) to charge a 12V deep cycle flooded battery. The battery is used to run the trap machine at our skeet club. We would like to connect an identical 12V battery in parallel separated by 160 feet of wire. The daily load on each battery is small with a maximum discharge of 15 amp-hours. What gauge wire would you recommend to connect the batteries?
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Post by jsb2000 on May 25, 2019 23:41:09 GMT
At 160 feet, I doubt things are going to work very well. That's a huge distance for two parallel batteries at 12VDC. Voltage losses will be significant. You may want to run some scenarios here: www.calculator.net/voltage-drop-calculator.html |
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Post by tattoo on May 26, 2019 2:07:21 GMT
It ain't going to work..... Spend some more money to make it work closer...
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Post by Admin on Jun 4, 2019 15:30:10 GMT
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Post by mediadogg on Aug 5, 2019 19:21:54 GMT
In another thread. tattoo correctly pointed out that in my configuration, on good days, I did not have enough battery storage for the amount of power my panels were producing. So, I want to add more storage, but because my setup was built so piecemeal, it is hard for me to just "add another battery."
The easiest thing for me to to is double up on the mini-system that has the most panels and the best sun. It has a 125AH VMAXTANKS SLA battery that is about 2 years old. I wonder what are your opinions about adding a NEW battery, exact same brand and specifications, to make effectively a 250AH 12V battery? This is controversial due to the age difference in the batteries.
I have read both Pro and Con opinions on this, and I know the arguments that people make. But I wonder if anybody here has some experiences or perspective that might help me make a decision.
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Post by mediadogg on Aug 6, 2019 19:00:48 GMT
Nobody willing to help me out?
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Post by tattoo on Aug 6, 2019 20:31:07 GMT
Nobody willing to help me out? Help you out? ? ? About using old batteries and new together? ? ? |
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Post by mediadogg on Aug 6, 2019 20:52:54 GMT
Nobody willing to help me out? Help you out? ? ? About using old batteries and new together? ? ? In another thread. tattoo correctly pointed out that in my configuration, on good days, I did not have enough battery storage for the amount of power my panels were producing. So, I want to add more storage, but because my setup was built so piecemeal, it is hard for me to just "add another battery." The easiest thing for me to to is double up on the mini-system that has the most panels and the best sun. It has a 125AH VMAXTANKS SLA battery that is about 2 years old. I wonder what are your opinions about adding a NEW battery, exact same brand and specifications, to make effectively a 250AH 12V battery? This is controversial due to the age difference in the batteries. I have read both Pro and Con opinions on this, and I know the arguments that people make. But I wonder if anybody here has some experiences or perspective that might help me make a decision. |
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Post by tattoo on Aug 6, 2019 23:37:40 GMT
LOL Sure you can match old and new batteries....... I did that two years ago when I added two new batteries to the four I already had...... It's still running just great today........
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Post by tattoo on Aug 7, 2019 12:04:06 GMT
Hey Dog, I was thinking since you have several systems.... Why not take a battery from one system add it to another one that has an old battery and then buy new batteries for that system..... What ya think? ? ?
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Post by mediadogg on Aug 7, 2019 12:32:11 GMT
Wow, just the info and advice I needed!!! Thanks. Unfortunately, I don't have a match, but your experience doing exactly what I want to do - is just what I was looking for! Theory is one thing, but you can't beat experience. So I will buy the exact match (125AH VMAXTANKS) and put it in parallel.
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Post by tattoo on Aug 7, 2019 13:08:54 GMT
Wow, just the info and advice I needed!!! Thanks. Unfortunately, I don't have a match, but your experience doing exactly what I want to do - is just what I was looking for! Theory is one thing, but you can't beat experience. So I will buy the exact match (125AH VMAXTANKS) and put it in parallel. How close to AH can you get if you put two older batteries together?? By the way how old are your old batteries? I don't remember if you said or not?? |
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Post by mediadogg on Aug 7, 2019 13:30:41 GMT
Wow, just the info and advice I needed!!! Thanks. Unfortunately, I don't have a match, but your experience doing exactly what I want to do - is just what I was looking for! Theory is one thing, but you can't beat experience. So I will buy the exact match (125AH VMAXTANKS) and put it in parallel. How close to AH can you get if you put two older batteries together?? By the way how old are your old batteries? I don't remember if you said or not?? Not close. One is 200AH, the other is 125AH. So I will add another 125AH to the one which is about 3 years old. But I pamper it, have protection circuit to keep it above 40% DOD, and the VMAXTANKS are rated for about 7 years or more. |
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Post by tattoo on Aug 7, 2019 14:14:34 GMT
I don't know because of the kind of batteries you have and they are 3 years old...... If it were me I would put the two old ones together and buy two at least 200ah batteries for the system you use the most......
I hope someone else chimes in........
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Post by mediadogg on Aug 7, 2019 14:23:46 GMT
I don't know because of the kind of batteries you have and they are 3 years old...... If it were me I would put the two old ones together and buy two at least 200ah batteries for the system you use the most...... I hope someone else chimes in........ But would you parallel a 200AH with a 125AH? Wouldn't that actually be worse than having two of the same capacity at a different age? |
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