in series you start off with 8.4 volts right and you shouldnt run cells below 3.5 volts well then that would be 1.4 volts from 8.4v to 7v which puts each cell at 3.5v ok now for parallel you start off at 4.2 and to get down to 3.5v you only went down .7 volts as opposed to 1.4 volts in series to get your cells to 3.5v now how come series battery life is actually shorter than parallel... i hope you under stand what im asking as i dont know how to ask any other way thanks.