<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ElektroLumens:
Hi Vic,
I only checked the current draw, and not the voltage drop. I usually think in terms of current usage with these. In series, each LS is connected to the others. The negative from the first goes into the positive lead on the second, so on and so forth. This is in series. Each individual LS, if I check the voltage, will be drawing 1/3 of the total voltage. So, if the voltage under load were, say, 10 volts, each LS would be pulling 3.3 volts. If the total current draw is 1 amp, each individual LS would be pulling 1/3 of the total, or, 333mA. I did not check the current draw on each individual LS, as I would have to undo the wiring to do this test.....<snip>
Wayne <A HREF="http://www.elektrolumens.com" TARGET=_blank>www.elektrolumens.com
</A><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
In a series connection, each LS has the same current flowing through it.
From the picture your LS's do look like they are in series. Therefore each one will have roughly 1/3 of 12 volts across it, or 4 volts. You can picture this in your head - 8 batteries x 1.5v = 12V, and 3 LS's x 4V = 12V. The numbers balance like a check book. Now the batteries might be more like 10V under load -> 3-1/3V per LS, but you get the idea.
Now, if you measured one Amp leaving the batteries, and the LS's are in series - then each LS has one amp passing through it. Think of it this way, you need to connect the meter in series with the LS's to measure the current. Pick a spot, cut the wire and put the meter in. You'll measure one amp any place you chose to cut that wire to insert the meter. Even between two LS's. Say you have new batteries that can maintain 12V with the LS's on. That's 12Vx1A=12Watts of power leaving the batteries. Let's balance the check book again. Each LS will have 1Ax4V=4W. Add it up 4W+4W+4W=12W.
If you had the LS's in
parallel, then each LS would roughly take 1/3 of the total current (assuming the LS's were identical), and have the same voltage across them. In
series, though, each LS will have the same current flowing through it as the others, and roughly 1/3 the voltage.
Having said that - you're seriously overdriving those LS's
!!