I'd initially planned on wiring a couple of 3. 7V batteries in parallel, but have read that for lithium batteries that this is a really bad idea. I've tried to find information on wiring them in series, but the results all seem to be suggesting that either 1)it's fine, and 2)don't try to charge them in series.
So, in review, wiring lithium batteries in series is just as simple as wiring lithium cells in series. The difference is that lithium batteries have a BMS which contains MOSFETs that might not be able to handle the higher voltage that they would experience when one battery dies.
What happens if you wire a lithium ion battery in series?
Either way, once you wire a set of lithium-ion batteries in series, it will form an open-ended chain. At the ends of the chain, you will find your main negative and positive connections. When battery cells are wired in series, their voltages are added but their amp hours are not.
Is it possible to connect lithium batteries in both series and parallel?
Yes, it is possible to connect lithium batteries in both series and parallel, and this is called a series-parallel connection. This type of connection allows you to combine the benefits of both series and parallel connections.
Charging lithium battery cells while they are in a series configuration is not only possible but very common. It's how ebike, laptops, and just about any other battery chargers work. When charging lithium batteries in series, the charge voltage is divided among the number of cells in series.
Connecting battery cells in series is a pretty straightforward process, but there are some key elements that should be understood before doing so. To connect lithium-ion batteries in series, all you have to do is connect the positive connection of the first cell to the negative connection of the next one.
Does putting lithium batteries in series increase power?
Adding battery cells in series adds their voltages together while not changing the amp hours. It's important to consider, however, that because power is a measure of volts multiplied by amp hours, putting lithium batteries in series increases the overall power by increasing the overall voltage.