Cells convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy and are the basic electrochemical unit that produces voltage. Batteries are formed by connecting multiple cells electrically in either series or parallel configurations. Connecting cells in series increases the overall voltage while keeping the current the same, whereas connecting cells in parallel increases the total current while maintaining the same voltage.

1. Cells and Batteries
Engr. Maria Romina P. Angustia

2. Electrical Cells
• An Electrical Cell is a power
generating device which converts the
stored chemical energy into electrical
energy.
• A single unit of electro-chemical
generator.

3. Batteries
• The combination of several cell units
connected electrically.
• Several cells are combined and
connected electrically in series or parallel
to form a battery which have two main
terminal electrodes one Positive and one
Negative.

4. Series Connected Batteries:
• Figure 1: Series connection of four cells.
Adding cells in a string increases the voltage;
the current remains the same.

5. Cells must be connected the right way round if
their voltages are to add up. If a cell is the wrong way
around, then it will push against the others and we have to
subtract its voltage.
Look at the batteries below. They are all made from 1.5 volt
cells. In each case, decide what its voltage will be. Choose
the correct voltage from the drop down list.

7. Parallel Connected Batteries
• Figure 2: Parallel
connection of
four cells.
With parallel cells,
current handling
and runtime
increases while
the voltage stays
the same.

8. Series-Parallel Connected Batteries