Nate Electrical Practice Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

When connecting batteries with differing voltages in series, the system does not simply operate at the voltage of the lower battery. Instead, the total voltage across the series connection combines the voltages of both batteries. The series configuration will result in the higher voltage battery providing its full voltage, while the lower voltage battery can affect the performance and lifespan of the series setup.

In this arrangement, the device or load connected to the series will receive a voltage equal to the sum of the two batteries' voltages. However, the presence of the lower voltage battery can lead to rapid discharge or failure, especially if the voltage difference is significant. This means the higher voltage battery may drain more quickly due to the stress caused by trying to push current through the lower voltage battery, which can also result in heat generation and potential leakage of the lower voltage battery.

The concept of equalizing voltages refers to a process that occurs over time but is not applicable in a simple series connection without additional circuitry to balance them. The total voltage across the series connection is not an average, but rather the arithmetic sum of the voltages of each battery in the series chain. Thus, it is essential to be cautious when combining batteries with different voltages, as it can lead to premature failure