Quote:
Originally Posted by skids
Is this true for charging 6v batteries in series and for 12v in parallel?
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Yup.
When you consider it, two 6 volt batteries (3 cells each) connected in series (3+3=6) is electrically the same as one 12 volt battery (6 cells connected in series). Mechanically, they are different because the cells are divided into two "containers of 3" but electrically, they are essentially the same....
So, just a a "single bad cell" can destroy a "6 cell 12 volt battery housed in one container", a "single bad cell can destroy a "6 cell 12 volt battery that's housed in two separate containers"
The difference is, even if you catch a bad cell in a 12 volt battery, you have to replace the other 5 cells...
In two 6 volt batteries, if you catch the bad cell soon enough, you only have to replace the two cells contained in the same box... You
"SHOULD" replace the other box of 3 cells, but it may/may not remain undamaged and may/may not remain functional with a replacement of the battery with the bad box....
It's the same as with two 12 volt batteries in parallel. You may/may not get lucky and not see any damage to the other box of cells....
BUT: without regard to "luck", 6 cells in two boxes "interact and can be damaged" if connected in series just as easily as 6 cells in the same box "interact and can be damaged" They also are connected in series.
Having four 6 volt batteries, in series/parallel arrangement would effectively be the same as two 12 volt batteries in parallel. No matter if there are two 6 volt batteries or four 6 volt batteries or eight 6 volt batteries, just like their "12 volt brothers" they all interact electrically and one bad cell can damage the other 5 or 11 or 23 or .... cells in that circuit......