Cell/Battery question. Mixing types - Electronic Circuits Projects Diagrams Free

3v0 · 30th October 2009, 07:30 PM

In many places on the net you can find warings like the following but with no explanation.

Warning: Do not connect batteries of different chemistries, voltage or capacity in series.

I can see where this is true for parallel batteries but not series.

What happens if the series cells are identical but with a different level of charge ?

3v0

MikeMl · 30th October 2009, 07:54 PM

As the series string discharges, ulitimately, the discharge current will reverse polarize the lower capacity cell. May cause it to leak or even explode.

Externet · 30th October 2009, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3v0

What happens if the series cells are identical but with a different level of charge ?

3v0

The weakest or less charged cell will conduct the same current as the most charged cell as they are in series, and will be depleted first to zero voltage.

Further discharge below zero becomes negative contributing nothing to the series string which starts to charge that one in reverse polarity.

3v0 · 30th October 2009, 08:20 PM

That makes sense to me. Thanks to both Mike and Externet.

3v0

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30th October 2009, 07:30 PM	#1
3v0	Cell/Battery question. Mixing types In many places on the net you can find warings like the following but with no explanation. Warning: Do not connect batteries of different chemistries, voltage or capacity in series. I can see where this is true for parallel batteries but not series. What happens if the series cells are identical but with a different level of charge ? 3v0 __________________ Please post questions to the forums. PM's are for personal communication. BCHS/3v0's Tutorials Junebug USB PIC programmer kit., USB Bit Whacker, The 15 Minute Printed Circuit Board! (+drill time) Last edited by 3v0; 30th October 2009 at 07:44 PM.

30th October 2009, 07:54 PM	#2
MikeMl	As the series string discharges, ulitimately, the discharge current will reverse polarize the lower capacity cell. May cause it to leak or even explode. __________________ Mike ML.

30th October 2009, 08:20 PM	#4
3v0	That makes sense to me. Thanks to both Mike and Externet. 3v0 __________________ Please post questions to the forums. PM's are for personal communication. BCHS/3v0's Tutorials Junebug USB PIC programmer kit., USB Bit Whacker, The 15 Minute Printed Circuit Board! (+drill time)