How to Connect a 12V Battery Bank
Battery banks are batteries wired together either using parallel or series wiring, depending on the purpose of the battery bank. The two wiring methods are similar but produce very different results. Parallel wiring enables you to get more endurance from your batteries while keeping the same voltage as one battery; two 12-volt batteries in a bank last double the time of one battery. Series wiring increases voltage; two 6-volt batteries produce 12 volts, but the batteries still last the same as one battery.
Things You'll Need
- Batteries
- Pen
- AWG 16 gauge wire
- Knife
- Wire strippers
- Adhesive electrical tape
Instructions
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Prepare Battery Bank
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1
Choose the wiring method you want to use to connect your battery bank, depending whether you wish to increase voltage or endurance.
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2
Put the number of batteries you intend to use to make your battery bank on a table. For example, if you're connecting the 12-volt batteries in parallel, you can use as many as you want; the greater the number of batteries, the longer they will last. However, if you're connecting your batteries in a series, then the total output must not exceed 12 volts, so use eight 1.5-volt batteries, four 3-volt batteries or two 6-volt batteries. Label the batteries numerically, using a pen.
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3
Cut strips of wire with a knife in preparation to connect your battery bank. If you're series wiring, you need two long strips of wire --- long enough to reach between the battery bank and the electrical unit --- plus short strips of wire. The number of short strips is always one fewer than the batteries you are using, so if you're wiring two batteries to make 12 volts, you need one short wire strip. If you're parallel wiring, you need two long strips, as mentioned before, plus short strips. Calculate the number of short strips by multiplying the number of batteries you are wiring by 2 and then deduct 2. For example, if you're wiring two batteries, multiply 2 by 2 to get 4, then deduct 2 to get 2.
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4
Use wire strippers to remove the plastic coating off the ends of all the strips of wire; ¼ inch is fine. Put the two long strips to one side for the moment and get the short strips next to the batteries.
Series Battery Bank
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5
Connect a short wire strip to the "+" terminal of the battery you labeled "1." The easiest way to connect it is using a strip of adhesive electrical tape. Place the wire on the terminal, then put the tape over the wire and terminal before sticking the tape down the side of the battery.
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6
Connect the opposite end of the short strip of wire to the "-" terminal of the next numbered battery, using the same method.
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7
Continue to connect short wire strips, using tape to the "+" and then the "-" battery terminals sequentially until you attach the end of the last wire strip to the "-" terminal of the last-numbered battery.
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8
Use one of the two long wire strips and attach one end to the "-" terminal of battery one, using tape. Connect one end of the second wire strip to the "+" terminal of the last battery, using tape.
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9
Connect the opposite ends of the two long wires to the "+" and "-" terminals of the device your battery bank powers.
Parallel Battery Bank
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10
Attach a short strip of wire to the "+" terminal of the first 12-volt battery, using a strip of electrical tape, and then attach the opposite end to the "+" terminal of the second battery. Continue attaching short strips of wires to the "+" terminals of the batteries sequentially until you attach the end of a short wire strip to the last-numbered 12-volt battery.
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11
Attach a short wire strip to the "-" terminal of the first battery, using tape and then attach the opposite end to the "-" terminal of the second battery. Continue attaching short strips of wires to the "-" terminals of the batteries sequentially until you attach the end of a short wire strip to the last-numbered battery.
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12
Attach the end of one of the long strips of wire to the "+" terminal of battery one. Attach the other long wire strip to the "-" terminal of battery one.
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13
Attach the opposite ends of the two long wire strips onto the terminals of the 12-volt electrical item you want to power, using your battery bank.
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1
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images
