Im assuming these batteries aren't in series as they would cancel each other out if plugged in like that, so they must be in parallel. Maybe it's some way to avoid a blowup if someone plugged in a battery with too large of a voltage or something? Not too sure... I'd love a technical answer!
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Single cells in a multiple cell pack are connected in series. The most compact and efficient way to connect them (+ to - to + to - etc.) is by having each cell the opposite way around to its neighbour. This saves space and the amount of wire required to connect the cells together and to present the terminals to the same point for the equipment. If you want to make it complicated, then for a 4 cell serial same direction pack the wire required would be 4 x cell length to have + and - presented at the same point, whereas for the same 4 cell pack in "opposite way around" construction the wire required will be only 3 x cell diameter.
Multi-cell serial cell packs where the batteries are in the same direction exist but these are long and thin and are only used where space within the equipment permits, such as a portable stereo (boom box).
Multi-cell serial cell packs where the batteries are in the same direction exist but these are long and thin and are only used where space within the equipment permits, such as a portable stereo (boom box).
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You have some strange (and incorrect) ideas about series.
They probably are wired in series, and the direction that each holder faces is purely arbitrary, up to whoever designed the unit. The designer probably wanted to minimize the wires connecting the battery holders.
And I disagree that half are connected in one direction and half in the other ON ALL DEVICES, as you imply.
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They probably are wired in series, and the direction that each holder faces is purely arbitrary, up to whoever designed the unit. The designer probably wanted to minimize the wires connecting the battery holders.
And I disagree that half are connected in one direction and half in the other ON ALL DEVICES, as you imply.
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Think about making a tall stack. Would you want the bottom of one block near the bottom of the next? Of course not. You'd put the bottom of each block on the *top* of the previous block. Installing them in opposite directions puts the + end of the next battery next to the - end of the previous battery. This is what you want for a proper series circuit.
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Usually they *are* in series. It is just easier to connect the end of one cell to the start of the next if they alternate. Usually it is a short strip of metal, or a springy wire.