Battery question

[troutslayer]

I have a new group 24 battery (that came with the RV) and just bought a new group 31 battery. Both batteries are wet cell type. Can I hook these two batteries up in parallel with no serious consequences? In other words, will it extend my boondocking capabilities without harming me or the batteries? It's a rookie question, I know

[RVhiker]

It's best to connect two batteries together that are the same type, size, and age. Batteries that are different recharge in different time periods - for example, a small battery might be overcharged when a larger battery still needs more charging. A group 24 battery may be in the range of 75AH and a group 31 battery in the range of 120 AH. So the group 31 battery needs quit a bit more charging (at the same rate) than a group 24.

However, practically speaking connecting in parallel a group 31 and a Group 24 wet cell battery will work OK - just keep an eye on the water level in the group 24 in case you need to add distilled water. And the additional battery will extend your run time. It's probably a good idea to replace the group 24 with a group 31 when and if you can.

[tlhdoc]

Yes it is alright to connect them together. Some people think they have to be the same size, but they don't. They will drain together and charge together. I often take 2 batteries when dry camping, but I started leaving them separate. That way if the battery I was using was getting low I could guess how careful we needed to be with the second battery. When group camping it common for friends to borrow my spare battery if they drained their battery.