Thanks for this info. Will look into this further.This is what I use for my batteries. 12 volt system, not 24 but you might be able to make it work. Picked it up on sale at CTC. It comes with a controller.
View attachment 59832
Yes my trolling motor is 24vdc which comprises of 2 12 voltage batteries in series.
Nice setup, had similar on a previous boat. Just don’t park under any walnut trees in the summer and fall. One nut from 30’ up finishes them.This is what I use for my batteries. 12 volt system, not 24 but you might be able to make it work. Picked it up on sale at CTC. It comes with a controller.
View attachment 59832
You shouldn't need to disconnect terminals. I have a 24v system with two 12v batteries in series. The two bank charger charges each one separately. No problems with the old lead acid or the LiFePO4 lithium batteries I got last year.
Thanks for this info. Could you clarify your set up for me as I'm also running 2 x 12v batteries in series. Wondered what you use for panels. Do you run from panels to charge controller to the 2 bank charger? Thanks in advance.
In my experience you will need to disconnect the batteries IF you're using a 12 vdc solar system because the charge controller will only output 14.2 volts. Not enough for a 24 volt system. I do believe there is a 24 vdc solar charger available but I've never used one. You would probably have to buy solar panels with a higher voltage output as well.Sorry, to clarify, I don't have solar panels, just a 2 bank charger running off shore power. But my point is that it charges each 12v battery separately at 12v, without needing terminals disconnected, even though they are connected in series.
In fact they aren't technically connected in series until I turn the trolling motor on, which closes the 24v circuit. When I press the trolling motor's ON button, it closes the 24v circuit to energize the relay that provides the power to the motor. I think this will be true for most 24v setups, as long as they are not separately powering some other 24v device.
Further, I have in the past wired one of the batteries to power a fish finder up front, so that while I was trolling at 24v it was also drawing 12v from one battery.
So, assuming the likely scenario that your setup is similar, I don't think you would need to disconnect your 24v terminals to connect your solar panels individually to each battery. Of course, someone who is actually an electrical engineer might know better
Have you actually done this?? And it works?? I can't see how, you'd be connecting the + and - of the two different charge controllers to the same connection between the two batteries. Also, one panel for each battery will not charge the batteries completely. Perhaps maintain, but you need way more than one panel each to bring a discharged battery up to fully charged status. Then there's the days with little or no sun, gotta have enough solar panel capacity to be able to charge anyway!!
Yes, I agree with most of what you're saying, but can you answer my questions ... have you ever connected two chargers to the same terminal connecting the two batteries together? Do you use solar to charge? I'm interested to know what happens when you connect + & - from the solar charger to a common connection on the batteries, because it doesn't seem right.
