24v Campervan - Battery charging?

[dewaltman]

Hi, I have just acquired a campervan which has 2 12V batteries linked up (in series?)

My question is, if I didn't disconnect the batteries from each other, and I put a battery charger on one of the batteries, will it charge both/one/neither of them?

Thanks in advance!

[ColinM50]

Are you really, really, really sure the two batteries are in series, i.e. from battery one the red cable goes to your fuse box and black goes to the red of the other battery and the black on battery two goes to earth? Normally they're in parralel, i.e. red to red and black to black.

If the set up really is 24v (i.e. in series) then to use a 12v charger you'll need to disconnect the battery before charging. If they're parallel, then connect the charger to either battery with it all still connected and both will charge but it may take a while to get to full charge.

[dewaltman]

mmmmm, Colin you have me thinking now. When I get home later I'll have a look to see where the wires go to and report back.

Thanks

[dewaltman]

Right, I've looked at the batteries and the + on one of the batteries definately goes to the - of the other. So does this mean series or parallel? And can I charge them together??

Edited by dewaltman on Tuesday 31st August 17:58

[ColinM50]

OK well that means they're in series and therefore your system's running at 24v as you said in the OP.

In that case I'd disconnect the link cable (the one that goes from + on one batt to - on the other) then charge the batteries seperately. I don't think you'd do any harm if you just connect the charge to the system as is without disconnecting the link, I just can't think the charger would have any effect.