2-Batteries

This is how I finally set up my glider--with two main battery switches.
But if you want to run this way without bouncing the logger, the two
switches should be on for the whole flight. You don't want to run one
battery down like a fuel tank, then switch when it is empty. If you do,
you will get a big current spike when you switch them both on. At best,
this wastes energy from the new battery by dumping it into the dead
one. You can also burn-out your switch, weld the contacts, or blow a
fuse.

What you want to do is run two identical batteries, bought at the same
time from the same production batch. Then always charge and run them
together. They should age together, and share the load properly this
way. You only want to use the two switches in opposite positions to
separate the batteries for testing, or if one battery fails.

wrote:
By all means a second battery should be installed in our electrically
driven modern sailplanes. After many years of quickly flipping my
3-position battery switch, and trying not to have my logger to
momentarily dropout, I have concluded that is best to use 2 single-pole
battery switches. That way one can have either or both batteries
connected at the same time.

I saw the light when Jim Hendrix brought his sailplane to Caddo Mills
for Wing Deturbulator flight testing, and it was wired like that. You
will hear much more about that amazing new invention at the coming SSA
Convention.

Thermally,

Dick Johnson