Parallel Batteries

[garyinthehouse]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Quick question about circuit elements: When batteries are in parallel in a circuit, what happens to the total voltage output? Does it stay the same or increase or decrease?

I know in circuits with batteries linked in series, the effective voltage doubles (I could be wrong but if we had two 5V batteries in series, the total voltage is 10V? )

Thanks !

 

[NinjaMed]

The voltage stays the same with batteries in parallel, but you add the current together.

 

[NinjaMed]

for instance, you have 4 cells, 1.2V each, and 2200mAh each...recognize these guys? 😀

Put two of them in series, take the remaining two and put them in parallel, what do you get?

The first pair is 2.4V, 2200mAh, the second pair is 1.2V, 4400mAh.

 

[garyinthehouse]

for instance, you have 4 cells, 1.2V each, and 2200mAh each...recognize these guys? 😀

Put two of them in series, take the remaining two and put them in parallel, what do you get?

The first pair is 2.4V, 2200mAh, the second pair is 1.2V, 4400mAh.

I get it, thanks Ninja Med! I guess it's one of those things we should memorize. Because in a bunch of my practice, I can't really remember seeing 2 batteries hooked up together.

 

[EyEnStein 07]

if you have different batteries and say they have different Emfs in a circuit, and lets just say you have a bunch of resistors, you should know Kirchoffs laws.

 

[Vihsadas]

Hey guys,
remember to post these questions in the study Q&A forum. Thanks!

 

[Eye Cue]

for instance, you have 4 cells, 1.2V each, and 2200mAh each...recognize these guys? 😀

Put two of them in series, take the remaining two and put them in parallel, what do you get?

The first pair is 2.4V, 2200mAh, the second pair is 1.2V, 4400mAh.

Hmmmmmmmmm....

Say, we have two equivalent batteries in series.
If voltage is directly proportional to current, why would voltage increase, and not current? On top of that, according to an answer explanation on TBR 6, "When a second battery is added in series, the two voltages of the two batteries sum, so the voltage increases, causing current to increase."

What am I missing?

 

[Econ2MD]

Hmmmmmmmmm....

Say, we have two equivalent batteries in series.
If voltage is directly proportional to current, why would voltage increase, and not current? On top of that, according to an answer explanation on TBR 6, "When a second battery is added in series, the two voltages of the two batteries sum, so the voltage increases, causing current to increase."

What am I missing?

If voltage increases, current will also increase. V=IR (Ohm's Law)
Adding an identical battery in parallel will make the circuit run longer but provide the same voltage.

 

[Eye Cue]

If voltage increases, current will also increase. V=IR (Ohm's Law)
Adding an identical battery in parallel will make the circuit run longer but provide the same voltage.

That makes the most sense to me.

But how can I explain all these sources that say batteries in parallel means same voltage with increased current, and batteries in series means increased voltage with same current?

Here are some sources, for instance:
http://www.zbattery.com/Connecting-Batteries-in-Series-or-Parallel
http://www.gizmology.net/batteries.htm
http://www.ehow.com/about_5395156_parallel-vs-series-circuit.html

I must be applying these concepts incorrectly?

 

[Econ2MD]

That makes the most sense to me.

But how can I explain all these sources that say batteries in parallel means same voltage with increased current, and batteries in series means increased voltage with same current?

Here are some sources, for instance:
http://www.zbattery.com/Connecting-Batteries-in-Series-or-Parallel
http://www.gizmology.net/batteries.htm
http://www.ehow.com/about_5395156_parallel-vs-series-circuit.html

I must be applying these concepts incorrectly?

Current is measured in amps and is governed by ohms law. Capacity or run time those articles refer to is how long the battery will work or what they call its capacity. It is different than current. CuRent is the flow of electrons per unit of time. Multiply that by the length of time to get the capacity, usually measured in amp hours.

 

[Eye Cue]

Current is measured in amps and is governed by ohms law. Capacity or run time those articles refer to is how long the battery will work or what they call its capacity. It is different than current. CuRent is the flow of electrons per unit of time. Multiply that by the length of time to get the capacity, usually measured in amp hours.

So to put 2 and 2 together... batteries in series increase voltage & current, but do not increase capacity. Batteries in parallel don't effect voltage or current, but do increase capacity.
I appreciate your response, thank you!