Recreational Vehicle (RV) Technician Practice Test

How does connecting batteries in parallel affect the system's voltage output?

1. It doubles the output

2. It remains the same as a single battery

3. It becomes zero

4. It triples the output

The correct answer is: It remains the same as a single battery

When batteries are connected in parallel, the voltage output of the system remains the same as that of a single battery. This happens because each battery contributes its voltage to the circuit at the same potential level. For example, if two 12-volt batteries are connected in parallel, the overall voltage of the system is still 12 volts. The primary advantage of connecting batteries in parallel is the increase in available current capacity. Each battery can contribute to the load, effectively increasing the total amp-hour rating while keeping the voltage constant. This configuration allows for longer run times and increased load capability without changing the voltage. In contrast, connecting batteries in series would increase the voltage output, which is not the case in a parallel connection. Therefore, the answer indicating that the voltage remains the same as a single battery accurately reflects how parallel connections work in a battery system.