On 06 Nov 2004 11:10:38 GMT, Folklore killer wrote:

....snip

Connectng the batteries in parallel is perfectly safe, quite normal, will
achieve what is desired and is used in millions of installations the world
over.

If one connects a battery near the end of it's life in parallel with a
relatively new, fully-charged battery, are you saying that the old battery
will not discharge the new one? By your own calculations, it appears that
it will. If that's the case, then shouldn't one be careful paralleling two
batteries of different age and condition?

Of course one could prevent this by the use of high current diodes, but
that lowers voltage by about 0.7 volts per diode.

I think that's the reason the practice tends to be discouraged, but I'm not
an expert.
--

Larry
email is rapp at lmr dot com
11/06/04 9:38:03 AM