Jump to content

What battery do I put the diode on?


Colin Donahue

Recommended Posts

  • Premium Members

I am rewiring my Archer and I want to wire two AB plates in parallel. I have purchased a couple of diodes but I am not sure If I need to put them on both battery plates or just one.

If it is just one, do I put it on the battery plate at the end of the power run or the one in between? I have researched quite a few posts by guys who have done this, but can't seem to get this straight. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Colin Donahue

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

By my reasoning, you'll need diodes on the + line from each battery. In parallel, the load draws from both batteries, so the two batteries are directly connected (the + on each battery is connected and supplying power to the load, and - on each battery is functioning as neutral). Since both + are connected, both must be protected from power flowing back to charge the other battery.

 

For example, if battery A has a diode on the +, it only allows power to flow out. However, if battery B doesn't have a diode on the +, then it can still accept power from A. If you diode only B, then vice versa. So you need a diode on the + of both batteries A and B.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

Will is right with the functionality of the diodes and how they should be set correct. But actually I wouldn't recommend to use diodes for the batteries. Because you will lose 0.7V on each battery with a regular diode and you will reduce the possible amperage. That all depends on the type of diode you use but you will lose power anyway. And given that you probably like to have more power with two batteries parallel I would leave the diodes out. Your batteries don't suffer as long as you always take two fresh ones together and two of the same type. My 2 cents.

 

Best.

Lukas

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

Will is right with the functionality of the diodes and how they should be set correct. But actually I wouldn't recommend to use diodes for the batteries. Because you will lose 0.7V on each battery with a regular diode and you will reduce the possible amperage. That all depends on the type of diode you use but you will lose power anyway. And given that you probably like to have more power with two batteries parallel I would leave the diodes out. Your batteries don't suffer as long as you always take two fresh ones together and two of the same type. My 2 cents.

 

except the lower voltage of the two AB's will go into protection mode if you don't run the diodes.

 

1 diode on each V+ lead on the battery plates and you will be fine. Diodes don't reduce amperage either

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

Eric, yes you're right, diodes don't reduce amperage. But every diode has a current rating and with regular diodes you don't have the high strength of current anymore you want when shooting with a very power hungry camera, focus motor and wireless transmitter.

 

And as I said: always use two batteries of the same type and same voltage! Then there shouldn't be a problem with protection mode of a battery.

 

It is just my opinion (as an electronic engineer).

 

Peace.

Lukas

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

Lukas,

What if your batteries won't hold the same charge dues to age and cycle of use?

What if one of the battery is not fully charge?

 

Better have the diode installed for peace of mind and extra protection.

You can mix different charge and capacity battery without frying the circuit and damaging the battery.

The 0.7v drop is not a big deal.

I used Dual Schottky Diode 80A/45V. It can handle all kind of power or current hungry equipment.

 

Cheers,

 

Ken Nguyen.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...

By my reasoning, you'll need diodes on the + line from each battery. In parallel, the load draws from both batteries, so the two batteries are directly connected (the + on each battery is connected and supplying power to the load, and - on each battery is functioning as neutral). Since both + are connected, both must be protected from power flowing back to charge the other battery.

 

For example, if battery A has a diode on the +, it only allows power to flow out. However, if battery B doesn't have a diode on the +, then it can still accept power from A. If you diode only B, then vice versa. So you need a diode on the + of both batteries A and B.

 

I'm adding a second battery to my rig and was looking into wiring to prevent backcharge so this thread is of interest to me. I am however concerned over it's acuracy as electrons are negatively charged particles and therefore attracted to the positive terminal so the electrons flow from negative to postive and not from the postive to the negative. It's been a while since I've studied electronics so I can't say anything more than that or what should work with diodes but thought someone who know more than I do might explain in more detail how the diodes function in this circuit to protect form backcharge.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 years later...

Lukas,

What if your batteries won't hold the same charge dues to age and cycle of use?

What if one of the battery is not fully charge?

 

Better have the diode installed for peace of mind and extra protection.

You can mix different charge and capacity battery without frying the circuit and damaging the battery.

The 0.7v drop is not a big deal.

I used Dual Schottky Diode 80A/45V. It can handle all kind of power or current hungry equipment.

 

Cheers,

 

Ken Nguyen.

Hi Ken, did you just splice the a diode into both positive wires?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

Without the diodes its easy to trip the protection circuit in Dionics.

 

As long as you orient the diode in the right direction it will oppose reverse current flow regardless of which terminal you put it on. Also we are trying to prevent reverse current flow so that would be electrons moving from the positive to negative terminal ;-)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...