Dual Battery Question

Originally posted by RichC I store our R Pod. I learned (the usual way) to take the battery home between trips to maintain charge. I have a "Battery Tender Junior". I will be adding another battery for up-coming boon docking trip.  My question is: When home can I (should I) charge them together or just alternate with the "Tender"?

The way I read it, you are going to get another 12V battery and wire them in parallel when in use. Please correct me if I am mistaken and you are going to get a pair of 6V batteries and wire them in series instead.
The advice about a battery cut-off switch is valid if your storage is such that it will not be sitting for months at a time. If you need to leave it for extended periods, taking the batteries home is probably a better choice. If so, then I think you would be okay with wiring 12V batteries in parallel much as you would if it were connected in the R-Pod and charging both at the same time. The same applies to 6V batteries wired in series. I have done that with my 6V batteries with no problem.
The caveat: Check the battery tender instructions to see if it can support the batteries so wired. It may have a maximum battery amp-hour rating it will support.

We have two 12V batteries, and I wire them in series for 24V, and I have a 24V smart charger to "top them up". About once a month, I hook them up and run it for a few hours. Once the batteries are charged, the smart charger turns itself off. I check it every hour or two to see if it's done.

Thanks for the responses.