Connecting Batteries in Series or Parallel

Finally an illustrated description of what it means to connect batteries in series or parallel.

We frequently get asked the question, "How am I supposed to connect my battery if I want to double the
capacity but not the voltage?", or similar questions. It can be confusing if you've never done it, but
hopefully this'll make it simpler. Be sure to read the important notes at the bottom to protect yourself from
damaging any equipment!



Connecting in Series

When connecting your batteries in Series you are doubling the voltage while maintaining the same
capacity rating (amp hours). This might be used in a scooter, Power Wheels kids vehicle, or other
applications. Just use a jumper wire between the negative of the first battery and the positive of the
second battery. Run your negative wire off of the open connector from the first battery and your positive
off of the open connector on your second battery.








Connecting in Parallel

When connecting in Parallel you are doubling the capacity (amp hours) of the battery while maintaining
the voltage of one of the individual batteries. This would be used in applications such as laptop batteries,
some scooters, some ups backups, etc. Use a jumper wire between the positives of both batteries and
another jumper wire between the negatives of both batteries. Connect your positive and negative wires to
the same battery to run to your application.







Important notes: When connecting batteries in a pack there are some important things to keep in mind - -
Find out the requirements of your application. For example: Don't double the capacity on your Power
Wheels vehicle if you're not supposed to...you could burn up the engine. Follow the recommended
guidelines for your application. - Don't use two different chemistries when connecting a pack. Usually the
voltages will be different, but more importantly the charge rates will be different and the capacities may be
different, thus resulting in a shortened life span. - Try to match capacities as much as possible. When
connecting batteries in a pack you should try to match the capacities as much as possible to avoid
discharging one battery quicker than another. A pack operates at a combined voltage so your one cell
that discharges quicker will likely discharge deeper than it may be able to recover from.

Battery is an electrical element where electrical potential is produced due to chemical
reaction. Every electrochemical reaction has its limit of producing potential difference
between two electrodes.
Battery cells are those where these electrochemical reactions take place to produce
the limited potential difference. For achieving desired potential difference across the
battery terminals multiple numbers of cells to be connected in series. Hence it can be
concluded like that, a battery is combination of several cells whereas a cell is a unit of
a battery. For example, Nickel Cadmium battery cells normally develop about 1.2 V
per cell while lead acid batteries develop about 2 V per cell. So a 12 volt battery will
have total 6 number of cells connected in series.
EMF of Battery
If any one just measures the potential difference between two terminals of a battery
when, load is not connected with the battery, he or she will get the voltage developed
in the battery when there is no electric current flowing through it. This voltage is
generally referred as electromotive force or emf of battery. It is also referred as no-
load voltage of battery.
Terminal Voltage of Battery
Terminal voltage of battery is the potential difference across its terminals when the
current is being drawn from it. Actually when load is connected with the battery, there
will be load current flowing through it. As a battery is electrical equipment, it must
have some electrical resistance inside it. Because of this internal resistance of battery,
there will be some voltage drop across it. So, if any one measures the terminal
voltage of the load i.e. terminal voltage of battery when load is connected, he or she
will get the voltage which is less than emf of the battery by internal voltage drop of the
battery.
If E is the emf or no load voltage of the battery and V is the terminal voltage of load
voltage of the battery, then E V = internal voltage drop of the battery.
As per Ohms law this internal voltage drop is nothing but the product of resistance
offered by the battery and the current flows through it.
Internal Resistance of Battery
The entire resistance encountered by a current as if it flows through a battery from the
negative terminal to the positive terminal is known asinternal resistance of battery.
Series Parallel Batteries
Battery cells can be connected in series, in parallel and as well as mixture both series
and parallel.
Series Batteries
When in a battery, positive terminal of one cell is connected with the negative terminal
of succeeding cell, then the cells are said to be series connected or simply series
batteries. Here, overall emf of the battery is algebraic sum of all individual cells
connected in series. But overall discharge current of the battery does not exceed the
discharge current of individual cells.

If E is the overall emf of the battery combined by n number cells and E1, E2, E3,
En are the emfs of individual cells.


Then E = E1 + E2 + E3 + + En.

Similarly, if r1, r2, r3, rn are the internal resistances of individual cells. Then the
internal resistance of the battery will be equal to the sum of the internal resistance of the
individual cells

i.e. r = r1 + r2 + r3 + + rn.
Parallel Batteries
When positive terminal of all cells are connected together and similarly negative
terminals of these cells are connected together in a battery, then the cells are said to
be connected in parallel. These combinations are also referred as parallel Batteries. If
emf of each cell is identical then the emf of the battery combined by n numbers of
cells connected in parallel, is equal to emf of each cell. The resultant internal
resistance of the combination is
(r1
1
+ r2
1
+ r3
1
+ + rn
1
)
1
.
The current delivered by the battery is sum of currents delivered by individual cells.
Mixed Grouping of Battery or Series Parallel Batteries
As we said earlier, the cells in a battery can also be connected in mixture of both
series and parallel. This combinations are some time referred as series parallel
batteries. A load can require both voltage and current more than that of an individual
battery cell. For achieving the required load voltage the desired numbers of battery
cells can be combined in series and for achieving the required load current, desired
numbers of these series combination are connected in parallel. Let m, numbers of
series, each containing n numbers of identical cells, are connected in parallel.



Again assume emf of each cell is E and internal resistance of each cell is r. As n numbers of
cells are connected in each series, the emf of each series as well as the battery will be nE.
The equivalent resistance of the series is nr. As, m numbers of series connected in parallel
equivalent internal resistance of that series and parallel battery is nr / m.