The question of combining batteries is of interest to many users who want to increase the power of the discharge current or change the operating voltage upwards. In the first case, you will need to turn them on in parallel, and in the second, create a sequential chain of several devices (photo below).
Each of these approaches has its own characteristics and nuances, the consideration of which will allow not only to achieve the goal, but also to avoid unnecessary troubles (product failure, in particular).
Parallel connection
When the batteries are connected in parallel, all their positive terminals are combined on one side and all negative terminals on the other. In this case, regardless of the number of connected devices, the voltage does not change, and the strength of the discharge current increases as many times as the battery is connected (photo below).
Important!The latter is possible only if all the batteries to be connected are of the same type.
In parallel, it is allowed to combine the same batteries with different capacitive indicators, since the discharge and charge currents for each of them are strictly individual. In this situation, it is much more important that the stresses of all combined elements are approximately equal.
This is explained by the following features of the ongoing processes:
- when two batteries with different capacities are connected in parallel, their voltages will also differ;
- this inevitably leads to uneven current load on each of them;
- the batteries will be charged unevenly, and with large scatter of parameters, this can lead to the failure of one of the cells.
The main thing that guides the parallel connection before charging several batteries is the need for preliminary voltage equalization.
Serial connection
With this method, the total capacity of a chain of several batteries remains equal to the same indicator for one element. And the total voltage of the batteries connected in series increases according to their number (photo below).
The current developed by a set of batteries will be the same for all elements connected in a chain. A prerequisite for the normal operation of such an assembly is the maximum coincidence of the values of their capacities.
Combined connection
When the battery is combined, both of the above techniques are used simultaneously. To implement it, you can act in the following two ways:
1. First, a sequential chain of elements is organized to obtain the desired voltage. And then, by parallel switching several such assemblies, the required capacity is obtained (photo below).
2. In the second case, these two operations are reversed.
Packing batteries in this way allows you to get any power sources, the parameter values of which are not limited by anything (in addition to the occupied space).