Hello,
Just a stupid question (1 more) but if I want to add 8 more batts, will the charging time take longer than with 8 batts?
I understand that whatever the batts number, this is the kWh I used and need to recharge that matters but with 2 strings of 8 instead of 1, is the charging pattern and time to get float different than with 1 string of 8?
Simply, yes more batteries could take a little more time...
Say you are using 1000 Ahr from the 2 times bigger bank,
you should be able to return the same number of watts in approx. the same time but there are more losses as each battery needs between ~110% and ~130% of what you used....
Additionally, now you have 16 instead of 8 batteries to fully charge and not all will be in the same condition as the others and to predict the end point of the full charge gets difficult...
In reality the time may not be much different but there are 2 x as many cables etc. to take into account...
The big issue will be matching the age and SoC of the 2 sets... the older set will probably pull the new one down faster than expected.
hth
In my opinion, this is a simple question with a lot of "ifs". So my reply is "maybe".
More batteries is like adding a larger fuel tank to a vehicle.
Takes more to fill it. So takes longer to charge.
Goes further on that fill. You have to put back in what you use.
However, as mentioned by Westbranch, there are inefficiencies (leaks) in both cases. So the bigger tank has a slightly bigger leak than the smaller one.
Plus, in a perfect world, mixing battery ages may have negative consequences that may or not matter.
As in all things in life, not everyone will agree.
Just my opinion and a simple analogy for an imperfect world.
Best of luck.
Tom
I would like to ask a question as stated adding more to second bank makes more resistence making all the batteries charge at a different rate i guess. So if one replaced the wires with thick copper strips as jumpers would that help aid in the charge of both banks. Im going to add a second bank and was thinking of how they would charge evenly.
Wayne