Tech Thursday is back after a long break! We have been collecting a lot of topic ideas based on chats and emails.
Today’s topic is going to be about wiring batteries in series or parallel. Be sure to check out our support page on electrical wiring. The page contains a lot of helpful schematics, etc. including this one on the parallel versus series wiring. A relatively simple practice for some, but not so much for others. In order to do either you will need 2 or more battles.
Series Wiring
Running in series will result in increasing the voltage, but the ampacity (Amp Hours, Ahrs, etc.) of the batteries will remain the same. This can actually be done with two different voltage batteries, but they should have the same ampacity and discharge rate (C). In the example below we use two 11.1V 2200mAhr batteries. Running them in series will produce 22.2V at 2200mAhrs. We use our Electric Power Hookup Kit for the wire, switch, fuses, etc. The plus wire of one of the batteries is hooked up to the minus of the other battery. The remaining plus and minus leads are now you new loads at twice the voltage. We put a fuse as close to the battery as possible to protect the circuit.
Running Batteries In Series
Parallel Wiring
Running in parallel will result in increasing the Ampacity (Amp Hours, Ahrs, etc.), but the voltage will remain the same. This has to be done with batteries of the same voltage batteries, and they should have the same Ampacity and discharge rate too, but technically you can have different Ahr ratings. You can use more than 2 batteries too, you can string several batteries in parallel. In the example below we use two 11.1V 2200mAhr batteries. Running them in parallel will produce 11.1V at 4400mAhrs. We use our Electric Power Hookup Kit for the wire, switch, fuses, etc. In the example we put a fuse after each battery and run one battery to each pole of the switch (the switch contacts are rated for 25Amps, so it helps protect the switch on surges, etc.
