[Al Skierkiewicz]

Mike,
I respect Mr. Buchmann and read through the Battery University article you linked to above. It still goes against the training I have received so I am researching a little deeper. I have Mr. Buchmann's book at home so I will go through that. What I find interesting is the difference in belief between older engineers and those much younger as if there has been a disconnect (no pun intended). The fact that so many hold true to connecting batteries in parallel as a bad idea and the fact that so many products exist to make this happen (diode arrays, high power Shottky diodes, etc.) makes this a worthy subject of detailed analysis. It may have more to do with battery chemistry than a blanket statement about all batteries. I have observed self discharge in parallel gelcell batteries and wet lead acid batteries when people in the field (field TV production) tried to extend production time. Sometimes this discharge took place over night but certainly over a few days. All production vehicles with a battery supply use either a high current contactor to switch batteries or a diode array to put batteries in parallel. Of course, batteries are charged separetely.