 |
 |
Voltage, Parallel, Different Cells
Name: Jitendra
Status: student
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
What will happen when we connect two voltage sources in
parallel combination? What if the voltage ratings of both
sources are different?
Replies:
Jitendra,
If you connect two voltage sources in parallel, the little bit of
resistance within each voltage source and the tiny resistances of the
wires will serve as a very small resistance. Each voltage source would
be more like a voltage source in series with a tiny resistor. If the
voltage sources do not match, at least one will have a huge current. In
most cases, both voltage sources will have huge currents in opposite
directions. The voltages across the tiny resistances will balance out
the two unequal parallel voltages.
Doing this will produce extreme currents within the sources, causing the
sources to overheat. It is this sort of thing that can destroy a
battery. A very simple example is a series circuit composed of two
unequal voltage sources in opposite directions and a very small
resistance. Consider 9 volt, 1.5 volt, and 0.2 ohms. You would end up
with more than 35 amperes, for a short time. The heat would destroy the
batteries.
Dr. Ken Mellendorf
Click here to return to the Physics Archives
| |
Update: June 2012
|
|
