Charging 24v with a 12v charger

Tikvah · May 14, 2011, 08:34:03 AM

I assume that I can put my 12v battery charger on just one battery. The question is, will that charge both batteries or do I need to switch from one to the other?
Can I leave the coach main switch on and the batteries connected while I charge with my 12v ?

thomasinnv · May 14, 2011, 08:36:13 AM

connecting to one battery will not charge both of them in a 24v system. you must charge each one idividually with a 12v charger, or both together with a 24v charger.

Tikvah · May 14, 2011, 08:55:30 AM

Thanks for the quick response. That was my guess, but I don't want to screw up the batteries.

eddiepotts · May 14, 2011, 08:57:56 AM

I take the one cable off that goes to the pos and neg. I hook up my jumper cables like you would to your car. pos to pos neg to neg then hook my charger to one battery. works no problem.

Tikvah · May 14, 2011, 09:00:04 AM

Oh, so you suggest that I separate the batteries?
I suppose I would have left everything connected so I could still use the power inside the coach
Let me know... before I damage something

thomasinnv · May 14, 2011, 09:02:44 AM

what eddiepotts is saying is if you want to charge both batteries at the same time, remove the cable connecting the two batts together and use jumper cables from one to the other. if you are wanting to leave power to the bus while charging you cannot do it that way. you would have to charge each one separately one at a time.

eddiepotts · May 14, 2011, 09:06:09 AM

YES. you have to take one side of the cable that makes it 24v. you will destroy your charger if you don't. But using the jumper cables will let you charge them both at one time. You will not be able to use 24v power while you charge. You will have 12v power if you take the correct side off. 12v comes off of one battery

Tikvah · May 14, 2011, 09:08:33 AM

I understand.... thanks

Just Dallas · May 14, 2011, 10:00:28 AM

I hate to rain on the parade, but you can charge two batteries in a 24V system with 2 12V chargers.
+ from one battery to the + from one charger. - from one battery to - on the other charger. the other +/- are connected together. Waa-Laa! it charges.
I learned this the easy way when we would have to jump trucks in the winter with a couple of pickup trucks.

Good Luck!