Simple current question for series vs parallel

[dmielke]

i think this should be simple electrical question, but have been stuck reviewing electrical books and internet searches on this one...

let's say i have a bank of 10 batteries and am drawing 10A from those batteries. no matter how i configure the batteries i should be drawing 1A from each battery, correct? current is distributed equally from batteries? so if i have all 10 in series, or all 10 in parallel, or 2 sets of parallels containing 5 in series, etc... all of these configurations should see 1A being drawn from each battery cell?

Thanks!

 

[davidbeach]

If the 10 are in series you will measure 10A at any point. Current doesn't change in a loop.

I’ll see your silver lining and raise you two black clouds. - Protection Operations

 

[dmielke]

Thanks davidbeach, so for the example of having 2 parallel sets of 5 battery cells in series (2P5S)...if I get a total of 10A from the system, having 2 parallel sets splits that amperage up and each individual cell will be supplying 5A?

 

[crshears]

Correct; you should be able to find almost countless examples of series / parallel theory on the internet, in high school physics textbooks, etc., etc.

CR

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." [Proverbs 27:17, NIV]

 

[phamENG]

This is a site for working professionals, not for answering high school questions.

Yep. But then they created a student forum for posting student questions, where this question was posted.

Also, if the OP is in high school, I applaud his/her parents' foresight in establishing their child's Eng-Tips account at the age of 3.

 

[waross]

Some assumptions:
The batteries are identical.
The batteries are each 2 Volts.
The load or resistance is 2 Ohms and is linear.
1st example: 10 cells in series, 20 Volts applied to load, current 10 Amps per battery.
2nd example: 5 cells in series, 2 series groups, 10 Volts applied to load, current 5 Amps per battery bank, 2.5 Amps per series string.
3rd example: 3 cells in series, 3 series groups, 6 Volts applied to load, load current 3 Amps per battery bank. 1 Amp per series string, 1 Amp per battery.

--------------------
Ohm's law
Not just a good idea;
It's the LAW!

 

[rb1957]

is the 2nd example two sets of 5 batteries in parallel ?

"Hoffen wir mal, dass alles gut geht !"
General Paulus, Nov 1942, outside Stalingrad after the launch of Operation Uranus.

 

[crshears]

That's the inference I draw when I do the math . . .

CR

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." [Proverbs 27:17, NIV]

 

[waross]

Yes. The second example is two groups of five batteries in series in each group for a voltage of 10 Volts.
The two groups are in parallel and each group supplies half of the load current.

--------------------
Ohm's law
Not just a good idea;
It's the LAW!