Sometimes it is not so easy to balance correctly where wire length and location is an issue.
Please remind me why it is bad (or not) to have the load wires on one set of posts and the charger go to another set of posts in a parallel set-up.
Also, if you have everything on one end unbalanced so the downstream battery takes less weight, does it even out over the years if you swap ends each year?
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With just two in parallel and right next to each other connected with 8" of 2/0 I don't worry too much. With more batteries, longer connection I would make more effort. Full time boondocking would also make it more important.
smkettner wrote: With just two in parallel and right next to each other connected with 8" of 2/0 I don't worry too much. With more batteries, longer connection I would make more effort. Full time boondocking would also make it more important.
It is just as important (if not more) for short runs to be the same length as long runs. Let's say you have about an 8" run and one wire is 10" and the other is 9". Even though it is only 1" difference, it is a 10% difference. Now if you have a longer run of say 100", that 1" difference is only 1%. The current is proportional to that difference. We have the same issue when we test generators. We have to make sure the load bank cables are almost perfect for the shorter runs.
When someone says, "I'm not book smart, I'm street smart." All I hear is, "I'm not real smart, I'm imaginary smart."
It is better to do your connections away from the battery. One single connection per battery post is the preferred method. This reduces the risk of corrosion significantly. The cost of junction post stud connectors such as the 3/8" or 1/2" is less than ten dollars.
As it turns out, batteries are very sensitive to the circuit resistance. The FMCA did a great article about this in the January issue. You would do well to find a friend that has it. The link I had does not work anymore.
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie
A sailor, his bride and their black dog going to see some dry places that have Geocaches in a coach made the year we married.
What I meant to say was I believe if the batteries are next to each other with fat wire it is less of a concern compared to a second battery 10' away with small jumpers even if equal length.
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