Recreational Vehicle (RV) Technician Practice Test

When batteries are connected in series, what remains the same across all batteries?

1. Voltage

2. Current

3. Resistance

4. Power

The correct answer is: Voltage

When batteries are connected in series, the current remains constant across all of the batteries. This means that the same amount of current flows through each battery in the series connection. It's essential to understand that while the total voltage increases (being the sum of the individual battery voltages), each individual battery maintains the same current flowing through it. In a series connection, the total voltage produced by the batteries is the sum of the voltages of each battery. For example, if three 12-volt batteries are connected in series, the total voltage output would be 36 volts, but the current throughout the entire circuit remains equal to the current drawn by the load connected to the batteries. As for resistance, it is the sum of the resistances for each battery and any additional resistive elements in the circuit. Power, which is a product of voltage and current, can vary depending on the load in the circuit but does not reflect a constant characteristic across the individual batteries themselves. Therefore, the correct understanding of series connections highlights that while voltage rises with each added battery, the fundamental property that remains uniform across all batteries in a series arrangement is indeed the current.