StephanS

It is because of people like me that I hate forums! 
I thought about lying to hide my stupidity...
I went up disconnected everything measured them separately getting 35v on relatively cloudy day. Connected it all back up and still had an issue...
Then I realised I had temporarily connected a 21v solar panel (on the ground and not in same location)also in parallel to charge the (12v) batteries individually while I installed the solar panels on roof. 
I total forgot that I had the spare old panel connected. It was only when you said I was getting leakage that I realised the problem (although I was convinced I had removed it)
Since the batteries 24v batteries had been run dead flat, I am assuming they were unable to charge more than the 21.6v of the 12v panel.
Once I disconnected the panel it all was good...
That's my version and I am sticking to it!!!
Coulomb, thanks for the help, really appreciated.

It is because of people like me that I hate forums! 
I thought about lying to hide my stupidity...
I went up disconnected everything measured them separately getting 35v on relatively cloudy day. Connected it all back up and still had an issue...
Then I realised I had temporarily connected a 21v solar panel (on the ground and not in same location)also in parallel to charge the (12v) batteries individually while I installed the solar panels on roof. 
I total forgot that I had the spare old panel connected. It was only when you said I was getting leakage that I realised the problem (although I was convinced I had removed it)
Since the batteries 24v batteries had been run dead flat, I am assuming they were unable to charge more than the 21.6v of the 12v panel.
Once I disconnected the panel it all was good...
That's my version and I am sticking to it!!!
Coulomb, thanks for the help, really appreciated.

It is because of people like me that I hate forums! 
I thought about lying to hide my stupidity...
I went up disconnected everything measured them separately getting 35v on relatively cloudy day. Connected it all back up and still had an issue...
Then I realised I had temporarily connected a 21v solar panel (on the ground and not in same location)also in parallel to charge the (12v) batteries individually while I installed the solar panels on roof. 
I total forgot that I had the spare old panel connected. It was only when you said I was getting leakage that I realised the problem (although I was convinced I had removed it)
Since the batteries 24v batteries had been run dead flat, I am assuming they were unable to charge more than the 21.6v of the 12v panel.
Once I disconnected the panel it all was good...
That's my version and I am sticking to it!!!
Coulomb, thanks for the help, really appreciated.