What are the Battery Connection Methods?

How to Set Up Your Batteries in Parallel and Series Connections

When working with batteries, it’s important to know how to connect them correctly to meet your voltage and capacity needs. Two common ways to connect batteries are in series and parallel. Both have distinct purposes, and understanding their differences is key to maximizing the performance and lifespan of your battery setup.

Series Connection

In a series connection, batteries are connected end-to-end, with the positive terminal of one battery connected to the negative terminal of the next. The key outcome of this connection is an increase in voltage while maintaining the same capacity.

• Voltage: The total voltage is the sum of the individual battery voltages. For instance, if you connect two 12V batteries in series, the total voltage will be 24V.
• Capacity: The total capacity (measured in amp-hours, Ah) remains the same as that of a single battery. For example, if you use two 12V, 10Ah batteries, your total capacity will still be 10Ah.

Parallel Connection

In a parallel connection, all the positive terminals of the batteries are connected together, and all the negative terminals are connected together. The result is an increase in battery capacity (amp-hours) without changing the voltage.

• Voltage: The voltage remains the same as one battery. If you connect two 12V batteries in parallel, the total voltage will still be 12V.
• Capacity: The total capacity is the sum of the individual battery capacities. For example, if you use two 12V, 10Ah batteries, your total capacity will be 20Ah.

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