Do the Ground Connections Have to be Bridged in a Parallel Battery Setup

Question:

Two batteries in parallel. Instead of running ground from one battery to another. Can I run both grounds to chassis?

asked by: James

Helpful Expert Reply:

The negative battery terminals in a parallel setup will need to be attached to one another and then one of them would then be connected to a ground like your chassis. You cannot connect both negative battery terminals to the ground without bridging them together in a parallel setup as this would create a ground loop.

I have attached a photo of how a parallel battery setup will look. If you need a battery charger for your setup then I recommend taking a look at the Redarc In-Vehicle BCDC Battery Charger part # 331-BCDC1225D which has a 200 amp hour rating and will be sufficient for two group 24 batteries which is common in most RV's.

I have attached a review video of the battery charger for you.

expert reply by: Conner L