Battery configuration?

[I'm Hooked]

Recently I pulled off the web a diagram showing 6 (EA) 6 volt (200 AH) batteries in a series-parallel configuration resulting in 12 volts @ 600 amp hours. Why is it my brain is trying to tell me that the voltage output for this configuration should be 18 VDC? Admittedly, I was never very strong in math...

Thanks,

Mike

[nadja]

Recently I pulled off the web a diagram showing 6 (EA) 6 volt (200 AH) batteries in a series-parallel configuration resulting in 12 volts @ 600 amp hours. Why is it my brain is trying to tell me that the voltage output for this configuration should be 18 VDC? Admittedly, I was never very strong in math...

Thanks,

Mike

Mike, I would like to see the diagram you pulled up. Correct wiring for these batteries to make 12volt by wiring them in both series and parrallel

[I'm Hooked]

Mike, I would like to see the diagram you pulled up. Correct wiring for these batteries to make 12volt by wiring them in both series and parrallel

Here it is NADJA:

http://www.otherpower.com/otherpower_battery_wiring.html

[12vman]

This is correct.. Follow the lines and look at the polarity of the connections..

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/4030/serpar6vdiag.jpg

[DavidOH]

This was a long search.....

Here is a good link for Battery Configuration:
http://www.usbattery.com/usb_config.html

I will be using configuration 2 or 3

[nadja]

This was a long search.....

Here is a good link for Battery Configuration:
http://www.usbattery.com/usb_config.html

I will be using configuration 2 or 3


Well, you are there allright.

[Proud_Poppa]

Here it is NADJA:

http://www.otherpower.com/otherpower_battery_wiring.html

The last example....12 volts at 600 amps will work if you are using 6 volt batteries.

CAUTION: These batteries are capable of huge amounts of power....be VERY careful to arrange everything to protect against any metal surface or tool getting across the plus to minus contacts. It's also a VERY good idea to remove any jewelry (rings/watches....etc) when working with batteries.....although 12 volts DC generally will not harm you because of the relatively high resistance of your skin, when you sweat the liquid of the sweat greatly reduces your skins resistance to the flow of electricity. Most people sweat to some degree under their ring or wrist watch.....thus the suggestion to remove them prior to working with these batteries.

[grumble]

I'll sure second that, P Pappa. 12v won't shock you, but it will sure heat up your ring or metal watch band to red hot in about 1/10 of a second.

[I'm Hooked]

The last example....12 volts at 600 amps will work if you are using 6 volt batteries.

CAUTION: These batteries are capable of huge amounts of power....be VERY careful to arrange everything to protect against any metal surface or tool getting across the plus to minus contacts. It's also a VERY good idea to remove any jewelry (rings/watches....etc) when working with batteries.....although 12 volts DC generally will not harm you because of the relatively high resistance of your skin, when you sweat the liquid of the sweat greatly reduces your skins resistance to the flow of electricity. Most people sweat to some degree under their ring or wrist watch.....thus the suggestion to remove them prior to working with these batteries.

Thanks PP - very worthwhile caution!

[Proud_Poppa]

I'll sure second that, P Pappa. 12v won't shock you, but it will sure heat up your ring or metal watch band to red hot in about 1/10 of a second.
Many years ago (Around 30 years ago!! Seems like another lifetime!) I was a tech at a car stereo place. One of the installers got across a car battery with a wrench that was touching his wedding band. It instantly burned a nearly complete circle around his finger. When he got back from the emergency room he told us the Doctor had said if the burn had gone all the way around the finger (in his case it was about 80% around his finger), the finger would have had to be amputated because no blood would be able circulate to his finger.

[nadja]

Having lived on solar for so many years , I long ago learned to tape really heavy the wrench that I use for my battery cables in order for the oppisite end not to hit the oppisite terminal. It stays right on the bench next to my batteries and has been there now for over 15 years. If you have as many or even more batteries hooked together and you cross the terminals even for a second, you will be in for more then a rude awakening I assure you.

[I'm Hooked]

Having lived on solar for so many years , I long ago learned to tape really heavy the wrench that I use for my battery cables in order for the oppisite end not to hit the oppisite terminal. It stays right on the bench next to my batteries and has been there now for over 15 years. If you have as many or even more batteries hooked together and you cross the terminals even for a second, you will be in for more then a rude awakening I assure you.

Noted - will tape the wrench with some of that good rubber tape that sticks to itself.

[keydl]

There are composite ratchets that don't conduct. Shrinkfit will work well on the extensions, anything close enough for a socket to connect both sides needs a plastic separator.

Fellow in the shop lost a watch and burned his wrist and hand reaching past the starter with the battery connected. Some in the shop put their watch in the tool box and others went to nonconductive bands or pocket watches, nobody wore metal on the hands after that - the foreman saw to it.