Charging both batteries.
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Joined: Mar 2021
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Charging both batteries.
Whats the correct and safe way to charge the two batteries on a diesel? In the past I have charged each battery with a smart charger but I'm not sure that's the best way to do it.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 17,836
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From: Jersey Shore
As Mark said, as long as cabling is good, either way works with good batteries and will take the same amount of time. I'll do both for a routine top-off, but twice a year I like to do them individually and check their capacity.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,951
Likes: 512
From: Foothills, CA
I wrote to CTEK and asked this question, but framed with three possible charger hook-ups and leaving the batts connected in parallel (I also told them exactly what cabling mods I've made).
Here's the 3:
1) connect the charger to the passenger batt. Pos. and the ground to the Alternator leg.
2) connect the charger direct to the battery and then rotate which battery I charge (connect to).
3) connect the charger to the positive of one battery and to the neg. of the other battery - as it turns out this is a not-possible connection for my MUS25000 as the cables won't reach both at the same time.
Their answer back was all three were perfectly fine ways to charge. So I'm mostly doing #1 and once in a while go direct to the driver's batt, just "because"...
Here's the 3:
1) connect the charger to the passenger batt. Pos. and the ground to the Alternator leg.
2) connect the charger direct to the battery and then rotate which battery I charge (connect to).
3) connect the charger to the positive of one battery and to the neg. of the other battery - as it turns out this is a not-possible connection for my MUS25000 as the cables won't reach both at the same time.
Their answer back was all three were perfectly fine ways to charge. So I'm mostly doing #1 and once in a while go direct to the driver's batt, just "because"...
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 65,938
Likes: 1,432
From: Millersville, MD
Again, any of the above 3 is good. Once fully charged, or after I have driven it until charged I have a cheapy solar panel I plug into the power point and leave it as I just do not drive it enough anymore. It sets a lot undriven and I found that the solar charger keeps it charged well. I have left it sit for a few weeks at a time (Yeah, I know - not good, but....) and it starts right up every time ! Where it is parked is in full sun every day. And even when it's cloudy the red charge lamp is showing it's charging. This will ONLY work after the batteries are FULLY charged ! The solar charger is only a battery MAINTAINER !
It's MY way and it works for me. BTW, I also do this on my Lincoln MKZ Hybrid.
It's MY way and it works for me. BTW, I also do this on my Lincoln MKZ Hybrid.
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