Society of Robots - Robot Forum
Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: saintjon on July 17, 2013, 04:24:54 PM
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Hello.
I am trying to increase the amount of current to my circuit. Would it be better to hook up 2 batteries in series or in parallel? I know this is a basic question but I am a newbie.
Thanks!
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When connecting batteries in series you add the Voltage of the two batteries (double if both bateries are the same).
When connecting identical batteries in parallel the Voltage is the same as with one battery but double the capacity (A-Hr). This can increase the current the batteries can deliver to the load.
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Hooking up the batteries in parallel won't increase the current; it'll just last longer, and less current will run through each battery.
There are 2 ways to increase current in a circuit; either increase the voltage, or decrease the resistance. Unless you have a resistor in series with whatever you're trying to power (eg. LED) that you can swap for a lower value, you'll have to increase the voltage by hooking up the batteries in series.
Be careful not to increase the voltage beyond any of the circuit devices' ratings. Devices may also have a max current and/or max power that you do not want to exceed.
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Hooking up the batteries in parallel won't increase the current; it'll just last longer, and less current will run through each battery.
That is not entirely true. If, for example, one battery can provide 20C max discharge, then two same batteries in parallel are able to provide 40C. In saintjon situation where he suspects that motor current draw drops voltage to the level where microcontroller cannot operate properly, adding same voltage battery(ies) in parallel would likely help to resolve it. So, in escence, if circuit is capable of drawing more current than it is available, adding another battery in parallel would increase "current in a circuit".
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Why are you trying to increase the current? What is limiting the current right now? What kind of circuit is it?