Connect batteries in series, even lithium batteries, to increase the batteries' voltage level.
Knowing when to use batteries in series can help you design electronic products or save you in emergency power situations. Using batteries in series often depends on whether you need more voltage or more current. In general, if you need more voltage, use batteries in series, and if you need more current, use batteries in parallel. If you need more voltage and more current use batteries in parallel-series configurations.
Product Dimensions
Battery compartment size limitations on new electronic products will often determine when you have to connect batteries in series. When you connect batteries in series you can create a battery with a high voltage that is long and slender. This makes series battery connections more acceptable for high aspect ratio applications such as flashlights or electronic pens.
Portable Electronic Devices
Portable electronic devices such as laptops and briefcase solar systems can have complex battery arrangements that include batteries in series, batteries in parallels and battery monitors. For these systems the designer will often have to decide on the optimum scheme of series, parallel and series/parallel arrangements. The scheme will have to be decided based on factors like the overall package form of the electronic design, optimum user functionality and portability.
Emergency Battery Backup Systems
Emergency battery backup systems often require series arrangements backed up with redundant batteries that are switched in upon battery power failure. These circuits require that a battery monitor be connected across each of the batteries to find out if a battery is below its specified voltage level A new battery is switched in series if the battery voltage is low. The series battery backup switching arrangement is often accomplished with components such as high-voltage switches.
Boating Battery Systems
In boating applications you may need a series arrangement for devices requiring a higher voltage but the same amount of current. Spare batteries in boats can be placed in series to form a battery voltage that is the sum of the individual battery voltages. Boaters and cruise line power engineers often meticulously define electrical loads on batteries so that they do not run out of power during sea voyages. Automated power management systems are also used to switch battery connections from parallel to series in order to optimize power efficiency and provide reliable power backup.
Tags: batteries series, need more, more current, more voltage, need more voltage, series battery