Well, I'm still having a think about it! The issue of connecting differing capacity packs in parallel, that is.
As far as each pack is concerned it is still simply being depleted in isolation. There is no issue with differing voltages across the overall pack as they are hard wired in parallel. So what would the issue be? Both packs would be forced to deplete at the same rate - that is rate of voltage drop, not current rate. They may be delivering different current - a 2.6Ah pack would deliver less current than a 10Ah pack for the same voltage drop - but would that matter? I'm actually coming round to thinking it would be okay to parallel up different capacity packs, as long as you are careful when connecting them together of course! The easiest way to do that is to put a current limiting resistor in between the two packs when you first connect them together.
Michael
As far as each pack is concerned it is still simply being depleted in isolation. There is no issue with differing voltages across the overall pack as they are hard wired in parallel. So what would the issue be? Both packs would be forced to deplete at the same rate - that is rate of voltage drop, not current rate. They may be delivering different current - a 2.6Ah pack would deliver less current than a 10Ah pack for the same voltage drop - but would that matter? I'm actually coming round to thinking it would be okay to parallel up different capacity packs, as long as you are careful when connecting them together of course! The easiest way to do that is to put a current limiting resistor in between the two packs when you first connect them together.
Michael