Sentry battery charger

[ian w]

Does a Sentry battery charger distinguish between two separate banks of batteries and only charge the one that needs it

[SEVEN]

Mine does

[Captain Ralph]

They are diode separated. Low batteries will draw more current from the charger and not the other battery banks. The charger has no idea what bank is what but will deliver to its max rating to supply the low bank. Then resume it's profile charge for all.
My question; Why do you ask? Suspect an issue?

[ian w]

I installed 2 banks of identical batteries on my 53
After a month the house bank needed no water
The other bank used only for starting was fried with little water left
6month old batteries

[Captain Ralph]

Easy to understand.
One of the banks batteries had an issue. Only one cell not up to all the others. All others over charged.
Of that problem bank, one cell stayed wet.
NOT a charger issue.
New batteries don't mean squat. You had one with an issue.

I luv flooded batteries, Hydro them frequently and you can see a problem cell coming and save the bank.

I load test my closed batteries when I can, about every 3-4 months now. I can test and see a poor battery coming. Usually the top 8V battery for a 32V bank.

All that charger knows is to put out it's voltage. IE; a 24 Volt bank Has 12 cells. At 2.3 Volts per cell, the whole bank charges evenly.
One cell shorts out, now 2.5+ volts per cell.
Pull out the BBQ sauce cause something is cooking..

[ian w]

Thank you for the advice Capt Ralph
The batteries were very dry Would you replace all of them or try and find the bad one
The batteries are 6 months old
After charging and refilling I am only getting 24 volts per the engine gauge

[Captain Ralph]

6 months old? Return / exchange them.

If they cooked, replace the whole bank.

[SEVEN]

Get yourself a battery hydration system and check your batteries at least once or twice a month. It takes me less than three seconds to fill 32 holes.