Help setting up on-board charger

[BigAngus752]

I bought my Ranger aluminum last summer (just slightly used/one year old) from a dealer.  It is set up for a 24V TM but I only have a 12V.  It has a three bank Dual Pro Professional Series on-board charger.  I used it all summer and fall without much thought and when winter came I pulled my cranking battery and my single TM battery.  When I pulled the TM batter I discovered that the dealer (or someone) had hooked up TWO charging leads to the ONE deep cycle battery (there is a spare set of leads because I only have one TM battery).  I thought it was odd but assumed it was okay since it came from a Ranger dealer.  Spring has arrived and I found that my TM battery is toast at exactly two years old.  I wondered if having two chargers hooked up to it was bad so I posted this question on another forum and a moderator told me it didn't matter.  But then I went to the Interstate dealer and bought a new battery and he told me that it is very bad idea to have two 12V chargers hooked to one battery.  I didn't know who to believe so I did some Googling and found numerous sites that claim that having two 12V chargers hooked up to the same battery is guaranteed to damage the chargers.  So now I've emailed Dual Pro to ask them if it will damage my third bank charger if I have it plugged in and just tape the leads and leave them hanging with no battery attached.  

 

Does anyone else have a 3 bank with only one TM battery?  Do you have two sets of leads on one battery?  Or do you have them hanging unattached?  Thanks in advance.   

[iabass8]

You shouldn't have 2 leads hooked up to both batteries though dual pro chargers have a float/maintenance mode at the end so it's not going to blow but it still isn't a good idea.

 

You can tape up the unused leads and leave them hanging. It won't hurt anything. Just hook up your two batteries, tape the unused bank up, and you'll be fine. 

[slonezp]

See what Dual Pro says. Pro Mariner recommends installing the unused leads on the battery.

 

As far as the battery being bad, we have no idea if the charger caused it or not.

Make sure you charge the batteries to full after each outing. Check the water levels periodically and top off as necessary.

[BigAngus752]

4 hours ago, iabass8 said:

You shouldn't have 2 leads hooked up to both batteries though dual pro chargers have a float/maintenance mode at the end so it's not going to blow but it still isn't a good idea.

 

You can tape up the unused leads and leave them hanging. It won't hurt anything. Just hook up your two batteries, tape the unused bank up, and you'll be fine. 

I was wondering if one charger would put the other into 'float'.  That seemed logical.  If dual pro says that it's okay then I will definitely feel better taping up the extra leads and leaving them to hang.  Thanks much.  

2 hours ago, slonezp said:

See what Dual Pro says. Pro Mariner recommends installing the unused leads on the battery.

 

As far as the battery being bad, we have no idea if the charger caused it or not.

Make sure you charge the batteries to full after each outing. Check the water levels periodically and top off as necessary.

You're right.  If I don't get a response via email from Dual Pro right away then I will call and ask.  I want to get it in and get both batteries charging so I can get on the water this week!  Thanks.  

[RUSS9999]

If you have the room put 2 batteries in it for the TM and use all 3 leads so you will have a longer running time on the TM.

 

[BigAngus752]

So here is the response from Dual Pro:

 

"Depends on the size of the battery and the maker of the battery.  If you are in no hurry, I would just take one of the leads off, although I doubt it is hurting the battery."

 

So there you have it.  I am going to take the safer route and leave one set of leads unattached.  I'll just cover the positive to prevent arcing and tuck them somewhere out of the way.  Thanks for the suggestions.