Multiple Batteries, Multiple Banks, Single Charger

[dakno]

hi -I have been charging my 2 house deep cycle and my 2 engine starting batts with an auto charger and it is a pain getting to batts and moving wires around. What i would like to do is install a marine multi bank charger. Since i have 2 banks with 2 batts each, do i use a 2 bank charger with 1 lead from charger going to each bank, or would a lead go to each battery. Also, since the house batts (deep cycle) will charge at different rate than starting batts, would this affect chargers performance? The house batts are frequently discharged more than engine batts. batts are lead-acid. Also, i have noticed the batts seem to charge much quicker if removed from grid and are stand alone. All 4 batts are same age/brand.. 12mts old and gp 24's

[Ex-Calif]

I am not a battery expert by any stretch but I would probably go buy something like one of these. The 6X6A or 10X10A look good.

You would wire each channel to each bank.

12 Volt Smart Battery Chargers: Multi-Bank and Multi-Battery

[DotDun]

I'm using the Xantrex XC5012 and you can set each battery bank for it's type (flooded, gel, etc.), hence it will charge each bank accordingly.

[FrankZ]

Do you have a selector switch (off-1-2-both) on each bank or are the two batteries paralleled

If you are using a switch the charging source can go to that. If they are in a single permanent bank then you need to bring the cables in correctly.

The XC5012, which I also have, switches between banks as it charges. It will charge bank 1 (my house bank) then switch to bank 2 (my starting bank). It does allow you to have different profiles for each bank, some do not. It also has separate temperature sensors for each bank.

The XC5012 is probably more charger than you need for group 24 batteries, they do have a XC3012 as well.