subject: How To Raise Voltage Of Batteries [print this page] Sometimes you just need more battery voltageSometimes you just need more battery voltage. You may need to light more LED Christmas lights, or you may have an electronic device that requires more voltage than your battery can put out. One of the easiest ways to increase voltage is to use more batteries. Kirchhoffs Voltage Law, a fundamental law in electricity, states that the sum of the voltages in a closed electrical loop is equal to zero. This means that when you connect two batteries end-to-end (in series) the total battery voltage will equal the sum of the voltages of the individual batteries.
Determine power requirements in terms of total output voltage and current capacity (mAh or milliamp-hour rating).
Use the information in step 1 to select the appropriate battery type in terms of chemistry (Zinc, NiCad, Lithium-ion, etc), single cell voltage and amp-hour rating.
Connect the batteries in series by arranging them so that the positive terminal of one battery is in contact with the negative terminal of the next. In practice it would be easier to use a standard battery holder, if one is available, that accommodates the required number of batteries.
Measure the voltage of each battery: Connect the positive terminal of a DC voltmeter to the positive terminal of the first battery and the negative terminal of the DC voltmeter to the negative terminal of the first battery. Record the voltage measured. Repeat the procedure for the second battery. Add the two measured voltages together and write down the result.
Measure the voltage of two batteries in series: Connect the ground connection of the second battery to the negative terminal of the DC voltmeter and the positive terminal of the first battery to the positive terminal of the DC voltmeter. Record the voltage. Verify that the voltage measured is equal to the calculated voltage in Step 2 (the sum of the voltages of the two individual batteries). If not, check the connection.
Repeat the process by attaching short wire strips to the negative and then the positive terminals of the batteries in sequential order. The end of the last wire strip attaches to the positive terminal of battery eight.
Attach the end of the second long wire strip to the negative terminal of battery 8. Use a strip of electrical insulating tape to attach the wire to the terminal, ensuring the terminal and exposed wire is completely covered in tape. The other end of the long wire attaches to the negative terminal of the device you intend to power.
Attach the end of a long wire strip to the positive the positive terminal of battery 1. Use a strip of electrical insulating tape to attach the wire to the terminal, ensuring the terminal and exposed wire is completely covered in tape. The battery terminal is labeled "+." The other end of the long wire attaches to the positive terminal of the device you intend to power.
Cut nine strips of AWG 14 gauge wire using a knife. Two wire strips need to be long enough to reach between the batteries and the device you intend to power using your high voltage battery. The other seven strips need to be long enough to reach between the battery terminals.
