How do I connect a lead acid battery?

There are three ways to connect your lead acid batteries—parallel, series, and a combination known as series/parallel. We cover each of these battery configurations in greater detail in our Battery Basics tutorial section of the site should you want to delve in a little deeper or reinforce what you already know.

How do you connect a battery in series?

When connecting batteries in series, the general advice is to use batteries of the same ratings and the same make and model in order to minimize differences in exact voltage and amperage. Note, we say ‘minimize’, because even batteries coming off the same production line can vary slightly in these measurements. Another factor is battery age.

How do you connect multiple batteries?

There are two ways to connect multiple batteries: series connection or parallel connection. Most battery chemistries handle either type of connection, but sealed lead acid batteries have been the battery of choice for creating high voltage or high capacity battery banks for many years. Series Connections

How do you wire a battery together?

There are two ways to wire batteries together, parallel and series. The illustrations below show how these set wiring variations can produce different voltage and amp hour outputs. In the graphics we’ve used sealed lead acid batteries but the concepts of how units are connected is true of all battery types.

Should a lead acid battery be positive or negative?

Safety Rule #2 -- When Installing a Battery Start with the Positive There is a serious amount of stored potential energy available in a sealed lead acid battery. A shorted car battery, for example, can deliver several hundred amps in the blink of an eye. To put that in perspective that is more than an arc-welding machine.

What type of connection does a battery use?

Most battery chemistries handle either type of connection, but sealed lead acid batteries have been the battery of choice for creating high voltage or high capacity battery banks for many years. Series Connections Two or more batteries connected in a series increase the voltage of the battery system, but the amperage, or capacity stays the same.