The Cells Per Battery Calculator is a tool used to calculate the number of cells needed to create a battery pack with a specific voltage and capacity. When designing a battery pack, cells can be connected in two ways: in series to increase voltage, or in parallel to increase capacity.
- Series connections add the voltages of individual cells, while the parallel connections increase the total capacity (ampere-hours, Ah) of the battery pack.
- The calculator uses the number of series and parallel connections to compute the total number of cells required for the pack, ensuring it meets both voltage and capacity specifications.
The calculator simplifies the process of battery design, helping you avoid trial-and-error and ensuring that the battery pack you create is both efficient and capable of handling the energy requirements of your device.
Formula for Cells Per Battery Calculator
To calculate the number of cells in a battery pack, both in series and parallel, use the following formulas:
1. Number of Cells in Series (to achieve the desired voltage):
Number of Series Cells = Desired Voltage / Cell Voltage
2. Number of Cells in Parallel (to achieve the desired capacity):
Number of Parallel Cells = Desired Capacity / Cell Capacity
3. Total Number of Cells in Battery Pack:
Total Cells = Number of Series Cells * Number of Parallel Cells
Where:
- Desired Voltage = The target voltage for the battery pack (in volts).
- Cell Voltage = The nominal voltage of a single cell (in volts).
- Desired Capacity = The required capacity for the battery pack (usually in ampere-hours, Ah).
- Cell Capacity = The capacity of a single cell (in ampere-hours, Ah).
- Number of Series Cells = The count of cells connected in series to meet the voltage requirement.
- Number of Parallel Cells = The count of cells connected in parallel to meet the capacity requirement.
- Total Cells = The total number of cells needed for the battery pack.
This formula allows you to determine the exact number of cells you need based on your specific voltage and capacity needs, simplifying the design of the battery pack.
General Terms and Conversions Table
Here are some of the key terms and conversions that are important for using the Cells Per Battery Calculator:
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Desired Voltage | The voltage you want for the battery pack. |
| Cell Voltage | The voltage provided by a single cell. |
| Desired Capacity | The total capacity required for the battery pack, measured in ampere-hours (Ah). |
| Cell Capacity | The capacity of a single cell, typically measured in ampere-hours (Ah). |
| Series Connection | Cells connected in series to increase voltage (total voltage = sum of cell voltages). |
| Parallel Connection | Cells connected in parallel to increase capacity (total capacity = sum of cell capacities). |
| Voltage (V) | The electrical potential difference between two points in the battery. |
| Capacity (Ah) | The amount of charge a battery can store, measured in ampere-hours. |
Example of Cells Per Battery Calculator
Let’s walk through an example to understand how to calculate the number of cells for a battery pack.
Example Data:
- Desired Voltage = 24V
- Cell Voltage = 3.7V
- Desired Capacity = 20Ah
- Cell Capacity = 3.5Ah
Step 1: Calculate the number of cells in series: Number of Series Cells = Desired Voltage / Cell Voltage Number of Series Cells = 24V / 3.7V = 6.48 ≈ 7 cells in series
Step2: Calculate the number of cells in parallel: Number of Parallel Cells = Desired Capacity / Cell Capacity Number of Parallel Cells = 20Ah / 3.5Ah ≈ 5.71 ≈ 6 cells in parallel
Step 3: Calculate the total number of cells: Total Cells = Number of Series Cells * Number of Parallel Cells Total Cells = 7 * 6 = 42 cells
So, you would need 42 cells in total to create a battery pack with 24V and 20Ah using cells with 3.7V and 3.5Ah.
Most Common FAQs
Connecting cells in series increases the overall voltage of the battery pack by adding the voltage of each individual cell. For example, if you connect 3.7V cells in series, the total voltage will be 3.7V * the number of cells.
The number of parallel cells determines the total capacity of the battery pack. Connecting cells in parallel increases the total ampere-hours (Ah) of the battery pack, but the voltage stays the same as a single cell.
Yes, the formulas for calculating the number of cells in series and parallel apply to all battery types, but you must use the specific voltage and capacity values for the individual cells you are using.