Charging the batteries

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by tkeithlu

Having them in parallel is not ideal for charging or using, given different characteristics and tasks for the two. But as Thomm says, it's not awful, either. If you want to improve the system, remove the hard wiring and design a system that lets you connect each battery to each energy source and each use, and to put them in parallel when you need both at the same time, either for use or for charging. It's not complicated; it can be switches, or Thomm's alligator clips, or jumper cables. Just get control over your system, and enjoy being able to do what you want with it.

I used that system early on.

Now I have the 65 watt panel and a 20 watt panel hooked up in parallel to a Victron MPPT Controller. (in parallel because the 20 watt panel is sometimes stowed in the port lazarette when not in use)

I have a 50 watt panel hooked up to a PWM controller with adjustable float. That panel is unhooked when not in use also like when the boat is at the marina.

Both controllers are hooked up to my two so called group 27 "deep cycle" batteries which are always in parallel regardless of where the battery selector switch is set

I have another 20 watt panel that if needed I hook up directly to the battery bank with alligator clips

OP just needs to spend a bit more time learning about batteries, battery charging, and solar. It can be sort of fun to experiment .......