How to Connect 9V Batteries in a Series

Connecting a battery in series doubles the voltage output while keeping the same capacity rating as one battery. In the case of a 9V battery, this means the output of two batteries connected in series will be 18V. This can be useful for devices that do not run on a voltage that equates directly to a standard battery size, and for devices that need more power at a rate similar to a smaller battery. Connecting in series does not have to end at two batteries, and you could potentially chain together as many batteries as you needed in this way. To make a series connection between two 9V batteries you only need a few 9V battery clips.

Things You'll Need

• 2 9V batteries
• 2 9V battery clips

Instructions

1. Connect the positive terminal to the positive 9V clip of the device you wish to power, but leave the negative terminal disconnected.

2. Take a second battery clip and jump the connections running from the positive and negative clips by twisting the ends of the lead wires. This will allow this clip to act as a bridge between two separate batteries.

3. Connect the negative terminal of the battery to the negative terminal of the jumped battery clip. Connect the positive terminal of the clip to the positive terminal of a second 9V battery.

4. Connect the negative terminal of the second battery into the negative battery clip that is connected to the device. The batteries are now connected in series.

Tips & Warnings

• You can substitute the battery clips for regular copper wire that is directly soldered to the battery terminals in the same fashion as the clips are connected.

• Check your devices power ratings for proper input voltage. Running too high a voltage into a circuit could damage or destroy it.

• Be sure the device to which you are connecting battery power is turned off to avoid electric shock when connecting the batteries.

References

• ZBattery.com: Connecting Batteries in Series or in Parallel