This is the BatteryStuff.com
battery bank tutorial.
What is a bank of batteries?
No, it's not some kind of financial battery
establishment. A battery bank
is the result of joining two or more
batteries together for a single
application.
What does this accomplish? Well, by
connecting batteries
you can increase the voltage or amperage,
or both.
When you need more power instead of
getting yourself a massive supertanker
of a battery, you can construct a battery bank. The first thing you need to know
is that there are two ways to
successfully connect two or more
batteries
The first a series and the second is
parallel.
Let's start with series. To connect
batteries in a series,
use a jumper wire to connect the
negative terminal of the first battery
to the positive terminal of the second
battery. Use another set of cables to
connect the open positive and negative
terminals
to your application. Never cross the
remaining
open and positive terminals with each
other as this will short-circuit the
batteries
and cause damage or injury.
Series adds the voltage of the two batteries, but
keeps the same amperage rating
also known as ampowers. For example,
let's say that each of these batteries
produces six volts
and have 10 amp hours. When joined in
series
they now produced 12 volts but they
still have a total capacity
of 10 amps. It is best to be sure the
batteries you're connecting have the
same voltage
and capacity rating. Otherwise, you may
end up with charging problems
and shortening battery life. Remember,
AMP hours refers to the electric charge
transferred by a steady current
of one ampere for one hour. AMP hours represent the flow
of electricity. Voltage represents the
pressure
of electricity. Some applications require
more pressure,
meaning higher voltage. The other type of
connection
is parallel. To join batteries in
parallel
use a set of cables to connect both the
positive terminals
and another set of cables to connect
both
the negative terminals of both batteries
to each other. Negative to negative
and positive to positive. You then
connected your load
to one of the batteries, but both drain
equally
parallel connections will increase your
current rating,
but the voltage will stay the same. Now
we're back to six volts,
but the AMPS have increased to 20. It's
important to note
that because the amperage of the batteries increased you may need a heavier duty
cable
to avoid the cable burning out. It is
also possible to connect batteries
in what is called a series parallel
configuration.
This is the way you can increase your
voltage output
and current rating. To do this
successfully
you need at least four batteries.
If you have to set the batteries already
connected in parallel,
you can then join them together to form a
series. By doing so,
we will have a bank that produces 12
volts
and has 20 AMP hours. Only one cable is
needed
a bridge between a positive terminal
from one parallel bank
to the negative terminal in the other
parallel bank. Don't get lost now.
Remember electricity flows through a
parallel connection
just the same as it does in a single
battery. It can tell the difference
therefore you can connect to parallel
connections in a series
as you would two batteries. It's alright
if a terminal has more than one cable
connected to it.
It's necessary to successfully construct
these kind of battery banks.
In theory, you can connect as many
batteries together as you want,
but when you start to construct a
tangled mess of batteries and cables
it can be very confusing. And confusion
can be dangerous.
Keep in mind the requirements for your
application
and stick to them. Also use batteries of
the same capabilities.
Avoid mixing and matching battery sizes
wherever possible.
Always remember to be safe
and keep track of your connections. And if it helps
make a diagram if your battery banks
before attempting to construct them.
And this concludes our battery bank series and parallel tutorial. Thanks for watching.
