Serial/parallel battery cabling?

[Glenn Ashmore]

I have four L16H 6V batteries for my 840AH 12V house bank. Due to space
and balance limitations two are on the port side of the companionway and two
on the starboard. The fuse, battery switch and power connections are on the
starboard side. I am running 5' of 4/0 cable between them. It has been
recommended to me by several people that I parallel each pair and then
series across the companionway. That does not seem right to me as it would
put the full amp load at 6V on the longest cables.. I am thinking it would
be better to series wire each side so the longer cables are carrying 12V and
half the amps

Am I missing something?

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

 

[Glenn Ashmore]

I agree with you. For adequate parallel installation, make sure the
cables from each pair to the strips are identical, also re total
length (total length of both + and - cable should be identical). That
way you prevent different charging and draining of each 12-v set

Which brings up another quandary. The voltage drop across 5' of 4/0 will be
small but my house alternator is capable of delivering over 200 amps and the
inverter can draw pretty close to the same thing. Electrically the ideal
place to tap in the alternator and house loads is under the sole in the
middle of the companionway but I am a wee bit worried about having those
high power connections down in the bilge.



--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

 

[Glenn Ashmore]

Did that. At maximum output I am loosing about 0.05 volt across the cables
if the pairs are series and the sides are parallel. When it drops to
absorption stage it gets pretty insignificant. But you always strive for
perfection don't you? ;-)

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com