Dual Battery Banks?

[Lojanica]

Hi All,

I was hoping to tap into the collective consciousness of CF with regard to dual battery banks.

At present I have a generator and a yanmar both charging a single 980 AH bank---4 group 8d batteries hooked up in series.

Does it make sense to divide the banks into 2 banks of two versus the current 4 in series for redundancy purposes? With a generator and diesel aux power I have redundancy with regard to charging. I was also gonna add a couple solar panels as well.

Hoping to avoid power outages as I have been reading about vessel abandonment with regard to power failures and redundancy seems like a good idea.

Thoughts?

[DeepFrz]

I would leave it all in one bank.

[Lojanica]

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

I would leave it all in one bank.

Thanks for your reply. What are the advantage and disadvantages to a single bank vs. 2 banks?

[MBLittle]

My first reaction is simplicity.

I like simplicity.

Sent from my LG-E980 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[mcarling]

I would go with a single bank of LiFePO4 batteries. Don't charge at any voltage higher than 14.0V and they will probably outlive most of us. Peace of mind. A 400AH LiFePO4 bank would have a similar useable capacity as your current 980AH lead-acid bank.

[DeepFrz]

There have been volumes written on CF on single versus dual battery banks. Just pop this into the google custom search box.
single vs dual battery banks

[Stu Jackson]

Largest House Bank 101 (by Nigel Calder)

stereo-battery connection

[Lojanica]

Question answered. My current set-up is optimal according to Nigel Calder. Thanks all for the info!!!

[Cavalier]

Originally Posted by Lojanica

Question answered. My current set-up is optimal according to Nigel Calder. Thanks all for the info!!!

A larger single bank will discharge less for the same Ah use. The result is fewer deep cycles for all batteries in the bank and therefore longer life expectancy for all batteries.

Stick with what you have!

[smac999]

is this the only bank you have? your engine and your gen start off this bank?

if so you certainly don't have any redundancy...

if so then add a starting battery. like a group 31 depending on your engine. I would move the engine and gen onto this bank. and leave the current bank for the house.

you'll need more switches, wiring, and a way to charge both banks from the alt. and a way to start the engine / gen from the house if the engine one were to fail