[Myst]

Are you using deep cycle batteries, or car starter batteries ?

[babisuu]

Hi Jim,
I actually tried that method out a couple of months ago and it went OK for about 5 days and then the 4024 turned itself off due to low battery voltage. Apparently I use too much power during the day to make use of that method. It should have run the battery charger automatically when the batteries got low but it didn't. I have gone back to the default mode and things are OK again for now.
Niel, you're right, I was hoping I could use something I already had, but I guess not! Thanks- more

[billy3321]

I used to have stacked SW2512's and did exactly what your talking about using the grid timer and it worked fine. Although with my solar input and much lower loads I rarely had the battery bank get below 80% full. It sounds like you have enough loads to run the batteries down when power is expensive.

[coinguy]

Ah but "can" they go to the same ground. I'd be inclined to say yes but, its a DC system so a 12V negative lead will have a different potential than a 24V negative lead. which might just cause a current flow that "could" be detrimental depending on several factors. One of which is if there are batteries in the loop somewhere and if those bats are on both loops or not. I'd be inclined to think that if only the lower voltage system on the same ground has a higher resistance by virtue of the batteries natural inclination to act as a diode bridge that any residual higher current moving in the wrong direction "up" the ground would meet that resistance and not damage anything except maybe slightly shorten the life span of the batteries. Basically I'm thinking that if an alternator only produces what is "drawn" from it then it will only produce the minimal amount of juice.

[friendartiste]

and can I run the motors directly off the alternator? no batteries, no regulator. more

[unsolicited]

As for GROUNDing both 12-volt and 24-volt together, I may be wrong, but my limited knowledge says it won't work.

[chrisadamshtm]

Hey guys, I got a new trolling motor for my boat but it is 24 volts so I got 2 deep cycle batteries and I will be linking them in a series circuit. For charging the batteries I have a float charger for 24v but power is not always available which brings me to my diagram: Charging batteries linked in a circuit with a 12 volt source. I am not sure if this will work, I am open for other solutions if this is not possible.

[loneranger]

Has this been resolved ? To save a lot of messing about trying to get 24v from 12v to charge them why not just go old school and use a multi pole relay (with a 12v coil)to disconnect the bridge and connect the batteries in parallel to the charging system.

[nikitakit]

You can purchase automatic series parallel switches to do this job. See www.trollbridge.info more

[Troutner]

Purchase a 12v to 24v converter. If the system is going to be installed inside the vehicle, get one that is designed to be used in a moving vehicle so that it can withstand bumps and other movements on the road. Some of these converters will have different input and output options (8v, 12v, 24v, etc), so purchase one that specifically accepts 12v as input and will output to 24v. more

[plupumbl0ck1978]

Connect the output of the converter to the 24v battery with standard terminal wire. The inverter end should be wrapped around the bolt at the output, then secured by re-tightening the screw. The battery end should employ a standard 24v battery connector. here

[BlueSky]

Unscrew the screws on the terminal block of the converter, this is the point where the input and output wires connect to the converter. If the converter has more than one input and output, unscrew only those denoting 12v input and 24v output. here

[Martian]

While most vehicles use a 12 volt (12v) electrical system, many buses (and some boats) utilize a 24 volt system. Some 24v systems actually employ a series of linked 12v or 8v batteries. The 24v systems that employ 12v batteries can be recharged with a 12v alternator by simply being plugged in like any other 12v battery. If the 24v system uses an actual 24 volt battery, the electricity will have to pass through a voltage converter before it goes from the 12 volt alternator to the battery. more