The series connection of two identical batteries allows to get twice the rated voltage of the individual batteries keeping the same capacity. A 60 volt charger will recharge five 12 volt batteries.
Truecharge Battery Charger Truecharge2 20a 40a 60a Xantrex
Charging 2 12v batteries in series. These are available in 12 24 36 48 and 60 volt models. For a plethora of information. You do not need to disconnect the series connections to do this as long as you can access just the lowest battery. Following this example where there are two 12v 200ah batteries connected in series we will have a total voltage of 24v volts and an unchanged capacity of 200ah ampere hour. Charging time will be the same as charging a single battery. Thats the pat answer.
If the load is 24v no power taken from the tap between batteries then a single 24v charger will work. In theory a 6 volt 5 ah battery and a 12 volt 5 ah battery connected in series will give a supply of 18 volts 6 volts 12 volts and 5 ah. Next time you charge you should see the batteries are then closer in voltage at the end of the charge cycle. You need to overcome the total voltage of the series batteries 12 v 12 v 24 v to drive electrons. For the final battery connect the negative end of the battery to the negative output in black of the charger. Connect the appropriate voltage charger across the positive terminal at one end of the series and the negative terminal at the other end of the series.
To charge two 12 volt batteries in series youd need a 24 volt charger. The two 12v batteries connected in series have one load of 24v. The only way to properly charge two 12v batteries that have different loads is with two independent 12vbattery chargers. Two 12 volt batteries wired in parallel continue to produce 12 volts but the capacity doubles. Then connect the negative end of the battery to the positive end of the next one and continue to do so for the rest of your batteries. Two 12 volt batteries wired in series produce 24 volts but the capacity remains the same as one for a 12 volt battery.
Batteries may be wired in parallel or in series. Charging 12 volt batteries wired in parallel requires a 12 volt battery charger. Voltage if there is one. The easiest way to fix a voltage difference is to charge the pack fully then bring up the lowest battery with a 12v charger placed on just the lowest battery. One basic configuration for charging batteries in series is to connect the positive charger output in red to the positive end of one of the batteries. A 6 volt battery is often three 2 volt cells and a 12 volt battery is usually six 2 volt cells.
Discharging and over recharging described and shorten the life of the larger battery through under charging.