Connecting batteries and radiators in series


Why connect batteries

A battery, like a capacitor, can store energy. Unlike a simple galvanic battery, where the chemical reactions that generate electricity are irreversible, the battery can be charged. In doing so, the ions are divorced from each other, and the internal chemistry of the battery is charged like a spring. Subsequently, these ions, due to the "charged" chemical process, will donate their extra electrons to the electrical circuit, themselves striving back to the neutrality of the acidic electrolyte.

All is well, only the amount of energy from the battery that it is able to generate after a full charge depends on its total mass. And the weight depends on the performance - there are standards, and batteries are made according to these standards. It is good when electricity consumption is similarly standardized. For example, when you have a car that takes a certain amount of electricity to start the engine. Well, for their other needs - feeding the automatics in the parking lot, powering locks with anti-theft devices, etc. Battery standards and are designed to power various types of vehicles.

And in other areas where a stable constant voltage is required, the demand for power parameters is much broader and more varied. Therefore, having the same type and strictly identical batteries, you can think about using them in different combinations, and more efficient charging methods than it is banal to charge them all in turn.

Connecting power supplies

Like loads, for example, light bulbs, batteries can be connected both in parallel and in series.

At the same time, as one can immediately suspect, something must be summed up. When the resistors are connected in series, their resistance is summed up, the current on them will decrease, but through each of them it will go the same. Likewise, the current will flow the same through the serial connection of the batteries. And since there are more of them, the voltage at the battery outputs will increase. Consequently, with a constant load, a greater current will flow, which will use up the capacity of the entire battery in the same time as the capacity of one battery connected to this load.

Parallel connection of loads leads to an increase in the total current, while the voltage across each of the resistances will be the same. The same is with batteries: the voltage on a parallel connection will be the same as that of one source, and the current can all together give more. Or, if the load remains what it was, they will be able to supply it with current for as long as their total capacity has increased.

Now, having established that it is possible to connect the batteries in parallel and in series, we will consider in more detail how this works.

Parallel connection of heating radiators

Parallel battery connection

Parallel connection of radiators is most often used in apartment buildings. The heating system with this type of connection works according to the following principle: hot water goes up through one pipe on all floors, and down the other pipe. In this case, the coolant sequentially passes through all the radiators of the house.

The disadvantage of this design is the need to turn off the heating system in the entire entrance when repairing one radiator. The problem is solved by installing ball valves on the outlets, which simultaneously provide the ability to regulate the level of heat transfer from individual radiators.

Another drawback of parallel connection of heating radiators should be noted - a decrease in the pressure of the coolant in the line leads to insufficient heating of the batteries, which reduces the efficiency of such a heating system.

How a chemical power supply works

Food sources based on chemical processes are primary and secondary. Primary sources consist of solid electrodes and electrolytes that connect them chemically and electrically - liquid or solid compounds. The complex of reactions of the entire unit acts in such a way that the chemical imbalance inherent in it is discharged, leading to a certain balance of components. The energy released in this case in the form of charged particles goes out and creates an electric voltage at the terminals. As long as there is no outflow of charged particles outside, the electric field slows down the chemical reactions inside the source. When you connect the terminals of the source with some electrical load, current will run through the circuit, and chemical reactions will resume with renewed vigor, again supplying electrical voltage to the terminals. Thus, the voltage at the source remains unchanged, slowly decreasing, as long as chemical imbalance remains in it. This can be observed by a slow, gradual decrease in voltage across the terminals.

This is called the discharge of a chemical source of electricity. Initially, such a complex was found to react with two different metals (copper and zinc) and an acid. In this case, metals are destroyed in the process of discharging. But then they selected such components and their interaction such that if, after reducing the voltage at the terminals as a result of discharge, it is artificially maintained there, then an electric current will flow back through the source, and chemical reactions can reverse, again creating the previous nonequilibrium state in the complex.

Sources of the first type, in which components are irretrievably destroyed, are called primary, or galvanic cells, after the discoverer of such processes, Luigi Galvani. Sources of the second kind, which, under the action of an external voltage, are capable of reversing the entire mechanism of chemical reactions, and again return to a nonequilibrium state inside the source, are called sources of the second kind, or electric accumulators. From the word "accumulate" - to thicken, to collect. And their main feature, just described, is called charging.

However, with batteries, things are not so simple.

Several such chemical mechanisms have been found. With different substances involved in them. Therefore, there are several types of batteries. And they behave differently, charge and discharge. And in some cases, phenomena arise that are very well known to people who deal with them.

And practically everyone deals with them. Batteries, as autonomous energy sources, are used everywhere, in a wide variety of devices. From small wristwatches to vehicles of various sizes: cars, trolleybuses, diesel locomotives, motor ships.

Switching errors and their consequences

The most important thing is to avoid electric shock.

... Incorrect combination of chemical current sources will entail:

  • Formation of a short-circuited circuit. A chemical reaction will begin in galvanic cells, which will lead to leakage of electrolyte, distortion of the case, explosion, fire (typical for parallel connection).
  • Opening the contour. When the load is connected, a reverse current will be generated through an incorrectly connected source. This will lead to a rapid failure of the unit (typical for a serial connection).
  • Continuous short circuit. The result is wire melting, fire, case warpage, chemical reaction inside sources, ignition, electrolyte leakage and explosion.
  • Short-term circuit. The result is a decrease in capacity, damage to electrodes.
  • Overheating and melting of conductors.The result is a short circuit (if the cross-sectional conductor is incorrectly selected).

Some features of batteries

The classic battery is an automotive lead-sulphate battery. It is produced in the form of accumulators connected in series into the battery. Its use and charging / discharging are well known. Dangerous factors in them are corrosive sulfuric acid, which has a concentration of 25-30%, and gases - hydrogen and oxygen - that are released when charging continues after it is chemically finished. A mixture of gases resulting from the dissociation of water is precisely the well-known explosive gas, where hydrogen is exactly twice as much as oxygen. Such a mixture explodes at any opportunity - a spark, a strong blow.

Batteries for modern equipment - mobile phones, computers - are made in a miniature design; chargers of various designs are produced for charging them. Many of them contain control circuits that allow you to track the end of the charging process or charge all the elements in a balanced way, that is, disconnecting those that have already been charged from the device.

Most of these batteries are quite safe and improper discharging / charging can only damage them ("memory effect").

This applies to all, except for batteries based on the metal Li - lithium. It is better not to experiment with them, but to charge only on specially designed chargers and work with them only according to the instructions.

The reason is that lithium is very active. It is the third element in the periodic table after hydrogen, a metal that is more active than sodium.

When working with lithium-ion and other batteries based on it, lithium metal can gradually fall out of the electrolyte and once make a short circuit inside the cell. From this it can catch fire, which will lead to disaster. Since it CANNOT be paid off. It burns without oxygen, when it reacts with water. In this case, a large amount of heat is released, and other substances are added to the combustion.

There are known incidents of fire in mobile phones with lithium-ion batteries.

However, the engineering thought is moving forward, creating more and more new chargeable cells based on lithium: lithium polymer, lithium nanowire. Trying to overcome the disadvantages. And they are very good as batteries. But ... away from sin, it is better not to do with them those simple actions that are described below.

Restrictions, security measures, additional recommendations

Charger for 18650 batteries

Consider a typical car battery created using lead plates and an acidic electrolyte. Even when working with products of the same brand, significant differences in resistance and capacitance are noticeable. The differences increase in the course of operation. In particular, they depend on the actual density of the solution.

When connected in series, the same current flows through the entire circuit. However, the output terminals of each element will have a different voltage. This feature makes it difficult to recharge the charge.

If such a circuit is connected to a charger, a hazardous situation will arise. It is possible that the voltage on one battery will increase excessively. Under such conditions, the release of flammable gases is intensified. A small spark is enough for an explosion and fire. In some situations, even intensive ventilation of the room will be useless.


Current / voltage diagrams

The data presented in the figures clearly illustrate the example described above. Suppose you decide not to disassemble daisy-chain components to speed up the procedure. Connect to the charger 9 and 1 battery for 20 A * h and 10 A * h, respectively. The graphs set the standard auto shutdown to 138 V. Monitor the common output terminals, assuming a voltage limit of 13.8 V for each component.

With the same current in any part of the circuit, a battery with a smaller capacity receives the same amount of energy as other components per unit of time. The diagrams show that it will take about three hours to accumulate the nominal charge. However, the rest of the batteries will take twice as long to complete the process. The vending machine, using the above settings, will not disconnect the power supply. An increase in voltage on a battery with a lower capacity will be accompanied by the above-mentioned hazardous manifestations.

If the batteries are connected in series, they must be charged synchronously. This means that it is necessary to control the unity of containers, technical condition and discharge level. It is easier to fulfill these conditions if you use the same products (taking into account the model, manufacturer).

Let us consider the discharge process using the example of the same serial connection. In modern circuitry, circuit breakers are connected that open the circuit when the energy supply decreases below a certain level. This is necessary in order to increase the service life of batteries created using this technology.

If you connect different batteries, the smaller component will be discharged first. The disconnecting device captures the total voltage value, therefore, in this example, it will not be able to perform its functions in full. When set to 72 V, protection for a 10 A * h battery will not shut off consumers. The corresponding component will be excessively discharged. In this mode, it will be spoiled quickly enough.

Let's study the algorithm of how to connect a parallel cell battery to a charger. In this case, careful control of the equality of capacities is not necessary. Charging and discharging currents differ in each circuit, therefore, the respective manufacturer's limitations should be observed. The maximum permissible parameters are given in the accompanying documentation. You need to check the voltage level taking into account the capacity.

For your information. If the technical data for a specific model is lost, the necessary information can be found on the Internet.

Serial and parallel connection of batteries helps to successfully solve problems of autonomous and backup power supply. When working with these schemes, the recommendations presented should be taken into account in a complex.

Serial connection of sources

This is a well-known battery of cells, "cans". Consistently - this means that the plus of the first is brought out - there will be a positive terminal of the entire battery, and the minus is connected to the plus of the second. The minus of the second is with the plus of the third. And so on to the last. The minus of the penultimate one is connected to its plus, and its minus is brought out - the second terminal of the battery.

When the batteries are connected in series, the voltage of all the cells is added, and at the output - the plus and minus terminals of the battery - the sum of the voltages will be obtained.

For example, a car battery, having about 2.14 volts in each charged bank, gives a total of 12.84 volts out of six cans. 12 such cans (battery for diesel engines) will give 24 volts.

And the capacity of such a compound remains equal to the capacity of one can. As the output voltage is higher, the rated power of the load will increase and the power consumption will be faster. That is, everyone will be discharged at once together as one element.

Series connection of batteries
Series connection of batteries

These batteries are also charged in series. The plus of the supply voltage is connected to the plus, the minus to the minus. For normal charging, it is necessary that all banks are the same in parameters, from the same batch and equally discharged in unison.

Otherwise, if they are discharged slightly differently, then when charging, one will finish charging before the others and he will start recharging. And that could end badly for him. The same will be observed with different capacities of the elements, which, strictly speaking, are the same.

The series connection of batteries was tried from the very beginning, almost simultaneously with the invention of electrochemical cells.Alessandro Volta created his famous voltaic pillar from circles of two metals - copper and zinc, which he moved with cloths soaked in acid. The construction turned out to be a successful invention, practical, and even gave a voltage that was quite sufficient for the then daring experiments in the study of electricity - it reached 120 V - and became a reliable source of energy.

Solving problems using different types of connections

Connecting an LED through a resistor and calculating it

All conductive circuits have losses that are created by internal resistance. Instead of efficient transmission, energy is wasted in heating the surrounding space. The obvious solution is to connect the battery in series to increase the voltage. In particular, this option is used in the designs of converter blocks that are installed in uninterruptible power supplies for computer equipment.

Parallel connection of batteries is used to increase current and capacity. This solution improves the autonomy of the source. At the same time, they extend the performance of devices that are connected to the battery. By combining the required number of elements, the required power consumption value is obtained.

Parallel connection of batteries

With a parallel connection of power supplies, all the pluses must be connected to one, creating a positive pole of the battery, all the minuses to the other, creating a minus of the battery.

Battery part

Parallel connection
Parallel connection

With such a connection, the voltage, as we can see, should be the same on all elements. But what is it? If the batteries have different voltages before connection, then immediately after connection, the process of "equalization" will immediately begin. Those elements with a lower voltage will begin to recharge very intensively, drawing energy from those with a higher voltage. And it's good if the difference in voltages is explained by the different degree of discharge of the same elements. But if they are different, with different voltage ratings, then a recharge will begin, with all the ensuing charms: heating of the charged element, boiling of the electrolyte, loss of the metal of the electrodes, and so on. Therefore, before connecting the elements to each other in a parallel battery, it is necessary to measure the voltage on each of them with a voltmeter to ensure the safety of the upcoming operation.

As we can see, both methods are quite viable - both parallel and serial connection of batteries. In everyday life, we have enough of those elements that are included in our gadgets or cameras: one battery, or two, or four. They are connected the way it is defined by the design, and we do not even think about whether this is a parallel or serial connection.

But when, in technical practice, it is necessary to immediately provide a large voltage, and even for a long period, huge fields of accumulators are built in the premises.

For example, for emergency power supply of a radio relay communication station with a voltage of 220 volts during the period when any failure in the power circuit must be eliminated, it takes 3 hours ... There are a lot of batteries.

Similar articles:

  • Methods for converting 220 volts to 380
  • Calculation of voltage losses in the cable
  • Working with a megohmmeter: what is it for and how to use it?

Series-parallel connection of voltage elements.

The power supplies are connected in series-parallel circuit to increase both current and voltage. In this case, they are based on the fact that parallel connection increases the current strength, and the serial connection increases the total voltage.Figure 3.13 shows examples of series-parallel power supply circuits.

Series-parallel connection of elements

Figure 3.11. Series-parallel connection of batteries.

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Related materials:

  • Voltage sources
  • Applied voltage and voltage drop across the circuit.
  • Common wire or ground.

Comments (1)

# 42 ExTpABepT 09.10.2019 06:34 If we exclude all sorts of balancers and etc., I have 2 power supplies 1.10V, 1A 2.5V, 0.5A what voltage will I get at the output when connected in parallel (+ to +; - to -) ??

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# 41 Iiiiiii 06/01/2019 05:09 I quote Vladik:

I need to connect in series two 3.7 V batteries, but how to charge them if the batteries have different voltages

There are balancers for this Quote
# 40 Andr 05/18/2019 05:53 AM I quote Slava:

I need 12 volts to power the device. What will happen if you connect a 9 V 300 mAh "crown" in series and three 1.2 V 2600 mAh batteries (all rechargeable).

It will work, but when the crown is the first to give slack, the tension will drop Quote
# 39 Slava 12/18/2018 15:09 I need 12 V to power the device. What will happen if you connect a 9 V 300 mAh "crown" in series and three 1.2 V 2600 mAh batteries (all rechargeable).

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# 38 Yuriyts 11/23/2018 11:27 PM Hello, please tell me if you can connect the charger with the output of the secondary winding for 21 volts of akb with the output of a full charge for 24 volts? Thank you.

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# 37 Vladimir1987 08/26/2018 06:19 AM I quote nick:

Can you please tell me what current to charge the parallel batteries 3pcs of 1.5V 1000mAh?

300 mA you can't go wrong Quote
# 36 Vadim 06/06/2018 08:22 I quote Petr:

What will happen if you connect two current sources, for example, KRONA batteries with each other? Plus to minus, minus to plus?

It will close, and either it will explode, or it will heat up and the charge will disappear, or nothing, depending on the amount of electrical voltage.
# 35 Vladik 02/28/2018 19:09 I need to connect in series two 3.7 V batteries, but how to charge them if the batteries have different voltages

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# 34 Petr 12/18/2017 11:18 AM What happens if you connect two power sources, for example, KRONA batteries with each other? Plus to minus, minus to plus?

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# 33 Signal operator 11/04/2016 16:42 Tell me please, I want to assemble a charger for 24 V and 12 A batteries, there are 2 24 V and 6 power supplies And if they are connected in parallel, they will give out the required values ​​or does it not work with the blocks?

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# 32 vsb55 10/30/2016 14:07 4pcs. the batteries for the toy are connected in series, the voltage is 6 volts, the current is 0.75A, and I connect a stabilized power supply unit with a voltage of 6 volts and a current of 2A, the toy does not work, I return the batteries - everything works, why?

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# 31 Felix 08/29/2016 17:48 From the text of the article, I did not quite understand about the serial-obstructing connection of power supplies. It would be more accurate to say that I did not understand at all. After all, the connection of elements with the poles of the same name is a parallel connection. And what is consistently an obstacle? Can you draw a diagram?

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# 30 Maksimillian 05/10/2016 08:09 Good time! There is a machine on the control. 6 AA duraselchiks are connected in series. The multimeter in the DCA 200m mode gives 42.1 What parameters can you choose the battery with? To give the same parameters, or even better Thanks for your attention :)

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# 29 Mmmmm 11/21/2015 7:07 PM I quote mm:

Tell me, if you connect a 12 V battery in parallel, a 16 V power supply, what will be the voltage at the end of the load

I will join the question. Only battery 11.1 (7600 ma) and block 19.2 2a. In my case, this is a chance to power the laptop. The power circuit is burnt out. Quote
# 28 Alex42ru 08/10/2015 16:31 What happens if you connect 6 solar panels mixed, two in series + two in series + two in series? One outputs a voltage of 2.5 V, a current of 25 mA. How much will the pressure be and how many amperes?

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# 27 nick 06/22/2015 08:46 AM Please tell me what current to charge 3x 1.5V 1000mAh parallel batteries?

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# 26 Administrator 05/17/2015 00:45 AM I quote Agatha:

Three identical batteries connected in parallel are connected to an external resistor. How will the current through this resistance change if you reverse the polarity of one of the batteries?

See Kirchhoff's second law: Quote
# 25 Agata 04/27/2015 18:37 Three identical batteries connected in parallel are connected to an external resistance. How will the current through this resistance change if you reverse the polarity of one of the batteries?

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# 24 Tikhogrom 04/19/2015 10:04 PM Current when batteries and rechargeable batteries are connected in series. How it is in practice: we take the tester, set it to "10A" and measure the current of one (!! separately taken !!) battery or rechargeable battery, we get from 2 to 4 Amperes. We connect the last. 3 similar batteries or rechargeable batteries and measure their total current ... we get from 5 to 10 Amperes. It is extremely important for beginners to understand this! To understand why, instead of current, we represent the flow of water, batteries - by pumps, and conductors - by pipes.

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# 23 Administrator 04/13/2015 5:25 PM Quoting Rolin:

Sorry, maybe for the stupid question: There is a radio-controlled car. I want to increase the battery capacity. Initially, there are 4 batteries connected in series, I want to add 4 more batteries in parallel. how to do it correctly?

Connect four new batteries in series, and then connect this battery to the first (standard) one in parallel. Only batteries should be of the same capacity. Quote
# 22 Rolin 04/08/2015 12:23 PM Sorry, maybe for the stupid question: There is a radio-controlled machine. I want to increase the battery capacity. Initially, there are 4 batteries connected in series, I want to add 4 more batteries in parallel. how to do it correctly?

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# 21 Administrator 02/07/2015 16:17 In this case, it is difficult to calculate the current, since you do not know the internal resistance of the battery, which depends on many factors, including the degree of discharge. It is easier to put an ammeter in series in the circuit and measure the current.

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# 20 Roma 02/06/2015 03:17 and if you need to calculate what current will flow through a 21 V battery (nom. 24.8) if it is charged with a voltage of 30 V. I had such a problem at work.

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# 19 Administrator 01/16/2015 4:50 PM I quote Igor:

How to ensure the connection of batteries with a voltage of 3.7 volts so that the output turns out in the region of 12 volts, please explain

Igor connect three elements in series, get 11.1 volts Quote
# 18 Igor 01/16/2015 03:51 How to ensure connection of batteries with a voltage of 3.7 volts so that the output turns out in the region of 12 volts, please explain

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# 17 Administrator 12/23/2014 02:29 AM Not constant, but the same through all elements! Naturally, no one canceled Ohm's law

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# 16 Germont 12/22/2014 08:47 AM I don’t understand how the voltage can change, and the current strength remains constant, if, according to Ohm’s law, they depend in direct proportion?

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# 15 Administrator 02/13/2014 3:49 PM I quote mm:

Tell me, if you connect a 12 V battery in parallel, a 16 V power supply, what will be the voltage at the end of the load

There is little initial data to give an answer. What kind of battery? Power supply load current? Internal resistance of voltage sources? If you want theory, then I wrote and explained in a video tutorial here: In general, what is the purpose of such a connection? Charge the battery? Quote
# 14 mm 02/12/2014 12:28 PM Tell me, if you connect a 12 V battery, a 16 V power supply in parallel, what will be the voltage at the end of the load

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# 13 Sergey 11/30/2013 10:41 PM I quote Nikolai:

I quote Cyril: And if, with parallel connection, E1 = 5V, and E2 = 1.5V, then what is the total voltage?

5c. a larger value is taken then what if, with a parallel connection, E1 = 5B and E2 = 7B? is the total voltage 12, 5 or 7? Quote
# 12 Nikolay 05/30/2013 9:22 PM I quote Kirill:

And if, with parallel connection, E1 = 5V, and E2 = 1.5V, then what is the total voltage?

5c. takes on greater importance then Quote
# 11 Kirill 05/29/2013 07:57 And if, with parallel connection, E1 = 5V, and E2 = 1.5V, then what is the total voltage?

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+1 # 10 Administrator 12/04/2012 18:36 In theory I agree with you 100%, in practice you can investigate this problem. However, its solution is not of great practical importance, it is easier to put a more powerful battery. In general, a task for "fanatics" of electrical engineering and for students! In my life I have met only parallel connection of storage batteries, and that is not standard, when in "difficult times for our country" it was necessary to connect batteries of smaller capacity in parallel to start diesel generators. The starting currents were great!

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+3 natasha.webuspex 03.12.2012 18:45 I draw the following conclusion: parallel connection of batteries is harmful. If there is one low-quality one in the set, it will ruin the whole thing, and plant a good one. natasha.webuspex.ru/dva-istoch nika-toka.htm

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+1 Administrator 03.12.2012 17:27 Quoting natasha.webuspex:

With batteries, this number will not work (will not be charged), but for batteries the situation is real, motorists often use this. In this case, the lower emf will be the ballast, the current will not be delivered to the load.

Of course, the battery will not charge, I claim that a battery with a higher emf will be discharged. And at the expense of "lighting" it is correct. Quote
+2 Administrator 03.12.2012 17:05 I quote Dmitry:

I have a question. What happens if you connect two elements in series and the third is exactly the same but in reverse polarity?

See Kirchhoff's second law. If you have such a connection, then the voltage across the load will be: Rн = -E1-E2 + E3 = -12v Quote
natasha.webuspex 03.12.2012 06:13 This number will not work with batteries (will not be charged), but for batteries the situation is real, motorists often use this. In this case, the lower emf will be the ballast, the current will not be delivered to the load.

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-2 Dmitry 02.12.2012 10:46 I have a question. What happens if you connect two elements in series and the third is exactly the same but in reverse polarity?

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-1 Administrator 11/29/2012 4:30 PM I agree, but this current will lead to the "discharge" of the element with a high voltage to the level of the lowest voltage of the parallel connected element. And when the voltages become equal, the current between the parallel-connected elements will be zero. As for the batteries, one simply charged the other connected in parallel. In any case, the expression Itot = I1 + I2 + I3 remains true, just the current of the element with a lower emf will be negative.

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natasha.webuspex 11/29/2012 09:35 AM In this case, you forget that the emf of real batteries is different, so there will be a significant current between the cells themselves. If interested, my views natasha.webuspe x.ru/dva-istoch nika-toka.htm

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Administrator 28.11.2012 15:21 Dear Natasha, do not hesitate, everything is checked on practice! In general, everything is checked using Ohm's law for a complete circuit, that is, when a load is connected to a circuit, the current will depend not only on the load itself, but also on the internal resistance of the source. The total internal resistance of parallel connected sources is always less than one, hence the conclusion: the current in the circuit will increase.

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natasha.webuspex 11/26/2012 09:55 am With a parallel connection of batteries, the recommendation is dubious.

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