understanding battery connections

loss1234

Ok. I just finished up my cracklebox perfboard and I am ready to mount it into some old toy box i found. Now the cracklebox needs 9volts and the toy has two AA battery compartments that ARE NOT connected.

each of the two battery compartments has two tabs on the top, two tabs on the bottom.

What I dont understand is how to wire the two together to create a total of 9 volts and one common ground. There are 2 tabs on each compartment at the top and bottom. Originally one compartment powered a lamp and one powered a motor, but now i want to connect them all as one.

is this possible and if so, how do i do it?

just so you know, the batteries go in + - + (facing top) on both compartments. so only the middle one on each is negative at the top
a i correct in assuming that each tab is a different polarity?

thanks

here is what it looks like (equal signs are tabs)

_=___________________=_
]
]
box a-3 aa's
]
_=__________________=__

_=___________________=_
]
]
box b-3 aa's
]
_=__________________=__

______________________

Dan Lavin · Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 10:27 am Post subject:

Well, ultimately you need to have the 6 AA batteries wired in series so you get 1.5V*6 = 9V. How those tabs work, I could only guess, but I'd suggest getting a Digital Multimeter and taking measurements. Then you'll need to connect one set of 3 AA's "+" side to the other's "-" side so they can all be in series.

If you don't have a DMM, run down to Sears or Radio Shack and get one. You'll absolutely need one for SDIY stuff. Sears has one that does transistors, caps, and has a temp probe for about $20 on sale ($24 normally).

loss1234 · Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 11:51 am Post subject: multimeter

so if i set my meter to volts, and use the red probe to find which points are positive, i then connect those to negative points on the other battery holder?

i think i get it.

hey, you know there are some really great people on this forum. i really appreciate you answering as any of my silly questions as you do.

i am trying to get through the books on on electronics, and i am breadboarding and soldering like mad. its not easy when u have NO math knowledge ( i barely passed algebra one in high school and never took geometry) but I have already built more cool things then i ever thought possible and a lot of that is due to this forum!!!

thanks

Dan Lavin · Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 12:38 pm Post subject:

loss1234 · Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 5:03 pm Post subject: thanks!!!

thanks to you, it is now working
!!

awesome.