Batteries in series and parallel

Physics Index

Where are we going with this? The information on this page introduces how batteries work in series and in parallel.

Batteries in series and parallel

(I don't this will be shocking to very many people!)

Most people are familiar with batteries of some sort. Your wireless mouse and TV remotes might require AA batteries. You probably know your car has a battery. Your cell phone has a battery… so, yeah…

The dry cell battery is a convenient point of reference. You probably will think of a AA, AAA, or D battery. Maybe the C battery.

Current and Plumbing Analogy? Why not?

Voltage can be thought of as how much pressure is in a circuit. It is somewhat analogous to water in pipes. Higher voltage = higher pressure. 

Amperage, however, is not pressure. It is pretty much a measure of the number of electrons coming out of a circuit. Considering the plumbing analogy, it is how many gallons of water are coming out of the pipe at any time. 

So, amperage is the AMOUNT of electrons coming out. Voltage is, in this metaphor, kinda like how fast they are coming out or the pressure at which they are coming out.

The math on amperage is fairly intuitive.

If you have 2 hoses that put out 2 gallons per minute, then you are getting 4 gallons per minute in total. If you have 3 hoses at 2 gallons per minute, you are getting 6.

When batteries are connected in parallel, the amperage produced adds up.

Two batteries producing 2 amps each would put out a total of 4 amps. Three of them would produce 6 amps. Etc.

Voltage in parallel would still come out at the same pressure. 

Connecting batteries in series, though, is like having one of the hoses filling up the tank from which a second hose is being filled. The second hose can only put out a set amount of water per minute. The first hose just keeps refilling the second hose’s tank. Water comes out until both tanks are empty.

With regard to voltage,  more to come

Back to batteries…

When connected in series, the amperage for any given period of time is unchanged (but the total amount of electrical current is increased). You will get the same amperage for a longer period of time.

In series…

Amp(total) = Amps

In parallel…

Amps(total) = Amps(1) + Amps(2) + … 

Batteries in Series and Parallel (Batteries in the circuit are of same amperage and voltage)
	Series	Parallel
Amps	A(tot) = A1 = A2 =…	A(tot) = A1 + A2 +…
Volts	V(tot) = V1 + V2 +…	V(tot) = V1 = V2 =…