Yes I did a search and found some info but no definitive answer to 'best way' or 'does it matter' questions:


Will I charge both batteries by hooking a slow charger up to one or will that only charge that battery?

Or should I run the charger across the two batteries? Positive charger lead to positive on one battery and negative to the negative on the other battery?

 

I would guess since this is a one time thing and something you won't be doing all the time. Disconnect them both and charge them one at a time.

Charging them both at the same time could cause one to drag the other down if one of them has an issue.

Why are you having to do this?
Lights get left on?
Kids play with the electric seat?

 

I did that because I left the contolller for the plow in the 'on' position and both batteries were stone dead after a week.



I understand that from a search but which is the best way to keep them both 'up'? Will the other battery get charged with the charger across just the passenger side battery?

A charger on one battery or a charger across both?

The truck is sitting for now.


Thanks for the reply!

 

Since you know what killed them, I'd just put a charger on one.

The batteries are in parallel, so that will charge both.

If the batteries went down for some unknown reason, then I'd unhook them and charge them seperately so I could detect if one had a shorted cell or didn't hold a charge...

Some will say that when charging a bank of batteries in parallel, it would be best to put the positive clamp on one battery and the negative on the other to make sure they charge equally. In this case, though, the cables connecting the batteries together are so huge relative to the amps available from a typical battery charger that I don't see that making any difference...

 

If you have a meter, check the other battery for the increased voltage reading of the charger. That should answer your question. If the voltage is elevated on each battery, they will charge equally.

Cya

 

running batteries down can damage your batteries in a hurry. sulfides are formed possibly preventing you from getting a full charge.

best to charge your batteries up separately with a quality charger. for sulfided batteries allow at least 12-16 hours for a proper charge. then within 24-48 hours, recharge again.

you can get a fairly accurate measurement of charge by taking a voltage reading after battery has rested 4-8 hours after charging.

here's the chart... http://www.batteryuniversity.com/partone-13.htm

 

Thanks all! I get it now.